Cybersecurity Goes Beyond A Firewall

Many people believe that installing anti-virus software and a firewall on servers and personal computers is enough to protect their business from ransomware and data breaches. These IT solutions are just one part of a multilayered security strategy. Along with technological advances, human factors must be considered.

As technology advances at an alarming rate, cyberattackers find it harder to circumvent them. This is why they choose to attack the human element. This has resulted in phishing emails, phone calls, and impersonations, all designed to steal the technology from the firewall and other security hardware.

Numerous government offices have been in the news lately. Ransomware encrypted all files on the network of municipalities, forcing them to close down. In some cases, ransomware encrypts the files on the network and forces victims to pay it. An employee opened infected emails and was the first victim. These messages can often be mistaken for legitimate UPS or FedEx shipping emails or notifications.

Cybersecurity and Firewalls

Attenuating the Human Factor

Awareness and education. Regularly remind and educate your employees about fake email. You might consider hiring a company that specializes in training employees about safe cybersecurity practices.

Your employees should be able to identify common malware and phishing methods that disguise malware as an everyday task. UPS and FedEx will not send confirmations unless the package is being shipped. It’s better to delete any messages if your company has not shipped anything recently, or isn’t expecting any delivery.

Inform your employees about the IT support teams and how they can be reached. This will prevent impersonation. Cybercriminals are good at doing their research and will attempt to find out which IT support company or staff they can trust. These imposters are a danger to your employees and you should inform them who the legitimate IT support team is.

Look at the links in your emails to make sure they get to their intended destination. Microsoft 365 users may see an email regarding quarantine. Attached links should be sent to onmicrosoft.com or office.com. They will not direct you to an unidentified, random or unusual link.

Validating requests is also a good idea. Ask the sender to confirm that they sent the message.

Technology Factors

Many companies have an anti-virus and managed firewall in place as part of the strategy for cybersecurity. These should be regularly updated and properly managed. It is important to update servers and workstations regularly. However, you must be aware of how to recover data in the event of a data breach.

Make sure you test backups regularly if you have them. If it cannot restore your files, it is not considered a backup. Encrypted backups are also recommended. It is best to have backups every week, month, and annually on a cold medium such as a cloud.

SpartanTec, Inc. can help you set up the best cybersecurity strategies to protect your business and network from online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston

7 Steps to Protect Your Business from Information Security Attacks

Businesses are often subject to information security breaches. It’s quite common to hear about businesses having issues with information security breaches as hackers get more sophisticated. These threats are what make cybersecurity a top priority for businesses. It’s no longer the case that computers should be left unprotected. Businesses have cyber defenses in place to protect customer and company information from hackers. Businesses need to be aware of the risks associated with data breaches and take all steps to protect their information.

How businesses can keep data safe from prying eyes and information security breaches

This is an easy decision to make: Hire a cybersecurity specialist. Companies that are determined to keep their businesses afloat would hire the best cybersecurity specialists. Hacking and data security methods are constantly evolving, just like the business landscape. Businesses choose cybersecurity experts to keep hackers from getting in their way.

Separate business and personal accounts are best. This allows businesses to protect their data from the public. Emails can be easily passed around, but it will be much more difficult to locate the information if business accounts are kept separate from personal accounts. This simple security precaution can greatly impact your online security.

Hackers don’t just use bruteforce to hack into your computer and gain access to all your data. They also build awareness. Hackers use a variety of social engineering techniques to gain access to business and personal data. This can be avoided by raising awareness and recognizing information security breaches Fayetteville to be an imminent threat. To build a stronger defense against hackers, this includes using secure passwords and two-factor authentication.

Employees need to be taught about data protection. Data breaches are often accidental. There is a way to avoid this. Employees will be more involved in data protection programs if they are educated through the process. They will learn how to safely handle company information. While it may incur some additional costs, the benefits will be well worth the effort.

Data security should be a priority. Many businesses don’t have the right security protocols to protect their data. This mentality makes it unlikely that a data breach will occur. Many businesses are vulnerable to hackers because they lack data security protocols. They also don’t teach their employees how to encrypt data. All of this can be changed by instilling a sense urgency. It also involves educating employees on data security and information security breach prevention.

FINRA – The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (or FINRA) has a lot of cybersecurity items. Businesses large and small alike can learn how to secure their data from hackers around the world by visiting their website. If your business is just starting out, it’s a great place for you to start.

Data permissions must be restricted – A hierarchy of data permissions should always be in place. Only employees at the bottom level should have access to company information. Each tier has its own data permissions. Hacks are most common when employees have easy access to information on a network that doesn’t have data restrictions. Although it may sound like something the CIA would do, in reality restrictive data permissions are a great way to ensure data security and control who has access to what information.

SpartanTec, Inc. can provide more information about how to protect your company against data breaches.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Fayetteville, NC 28304
(910) 745-7776
http://manageditservicesfayetteville.com

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston