Threats to your network continue to grow. As business’ reliance on technology increases, so does malware, spyware, zero-day attacks, hackers, and data theft. In 2017, new types of malware increased by 54 percent. By 2023, cybercriminals will steal 33 billion records.
Businesses now must be on the lookout for solutions to problems that don’t yet exist, but could pop up at any moment. However, by educating yourself and your company on network security fundamentals, you can rest easy with the knowledge that your network is protected.
Stay Ahead of Potential Cyber Security Threats
With all of the threats out there, it is imperative to be aware of potential issues and to find solutions to them. Up-to-date software contains the patches you need to fix those issues. When patches and updates are not current, data becomes more easily accessible to hackers and cybercriminals.
Working alongside a Managed or Co-Managed IT Service Provider enables your network to be monitored 24 hours a day. Instead of waiting for a problem to occur, an IT service provider like neteffect technologies discovers potential problems immediately and resolves them. That way, your business doesn’t lose revenue and productivity due to unexpected outages.
neteffect technologies’ cyber security experts attempt to exploit your business’ vulnerabilities and strategize with you to prevent any possible attacks. They specifically diagnose your network’s threats and offer ways to remediate them.
Contain Accessibility
In the 2016 Cyber Security Intelligence Index, IBM found that 60% of all attacks were carried out by insiders. Of the insiders, 75% had malicious intent and the 25% inadvertent actors. Possible data breaches require businesses to be vigilant protecting against cybercriminals, hackers, and both the negligent and the malicious internal threats.
Therefore, giving thought to who has access to what becomes vital. If someone does not need access to a particular document or piece of information, do not grant it. According to a study done by Hewlett-Packard and the Ponemon Institute, more than half of the included businesses continued to give employees access to unnecessary information. Neglecting to take the time to survey who has access is not worth the risk.
In addition, make sure inactive user accounts are deleted. This is a simple way for a potential hacker to gain access to your information. This will also help to prevent former employees from sharing data.
Educate Your Employees on Network Security
Oftentimes we find that security incidents caused by insiders are accidents. That means keeping your employees aware and knowledgeable can help prevent security breaches. Consider trainings on safe internet usage, and the importance of sensitive information remaining in-house.
Surprisingly, accidental incidents occur most often due to laptops and cell phones being left in public places such as transportation and restaurants. Teaching your employees the importance of keeping their technology safe and in good hands could save future headaches. Let them know the dangerous consequences of revealing confidential information, even in an accidental way.
Make sure everyone involved in your business is aware of safe internet usage. For example, only URLs that begin with https:// can be trusted when entering secure information. Links and attachments from unknown senders should always be avoided, as one of the most prevalent ways cyber attacks occur is through email.
Stay Vigilant
When neteffect technologies diagnoses your business’s vulnerabilities, you are given a comprehensive report on any findings and observations. You learn which devices are at risk, what potential threats to your network may be, and any malware that was found. Following that, neteffect technologies offers suggestions and strategies for your individual business to make your network as secure as possible. Such suggestions may include updates to firewalls, backup of data, and minimizing risks of a data breach.
Beyond the initial diagnosis and recommendations, neteffect technologies continues to monitor your network security, sending reports to make your business aware at all times of possible threats. This proactive approach helps to avoid problems before it is too late.
The type of continuous monitoring neteffect technologies offers is vital for any business, as in the case of a data breach or even just a lack of productivity caused by an outage, customers and clients are quick to leave and go somewhere else.
Therefore, it is important to run regular vulnerability scans to see possible ways outsiders could access information. Penetration testing should also be done regularly to see how accessible your network information is. In addition, keeping an eye on network traffic can help expose anything unusual that may have to be looked into and dealt with.
No Business Is Too Small For a Data Breach
You may be thinking your business has nothing of interest to cybercriminals. However, hackers test their skills on smaller organizations before trying at larger ones. In fact, according to Verizon’s 2018 Data Breach Investigation Report, 58 percent of cyberattacks are on small businesses. Cyber criminals assume they will have an easier time going after SMBs, as less time is spent on cyber security. They know that all it takes is one unprotected device to access a network. And, the consequences are more severe. A data breach for a large company is difficult to overcome, but eventually forgotten. SMBs are much more in danger of losing their companies altogether.
Many businesses wait until a security problem hits to look for a solution. They fix as they go, perhaps by adding more and more costly video surveillance or technology thought to enhance protection. What small businesses actually need is a strategy put in place. This strategy needs to include a way to become aware of any possible attack. It needs to recognize the business’s vulnerabilities and have a clear vision of solutions available.
Data is very appealing, to your business and to those outside of it. Aside from your business’s own data, there is credit card information, health care information, and other material that must be kept secure to comply with government and industry standards. Staying on top of and ahead of cyber security and threats, as well as actions of your employees, can help save your business, no matter the size.
