Conclusion: 12 Ways To Protect Your Business From A Cyber Security Attack

Monica Morris • April 10, 2018

As we wrap up our weekly series of 12 Ways To Protect Your Business From A Cyber Security Attack, here’s a quick review of what we covered. Hackers tend to consistently target small businesses because they have more assets than individuals and are also less protected compared to big corporations. According to the US House Committee on small businesses, 71% of all attacks are targeted at companies with less than 100 employees. So, it’s important for small business owners to continually protect their business’s assets. Below we’ve provided a summary of the 12 ways you can protect your business from cyber attacks.

1) Routine Security Assessment

One way to know the state of your business’s security is by conducting a regular security assessment of all your business assets. Threats could stay hidden and undetected indefinitely if you do not assess your business’s network’s security. It bolsters the security of your organization and the information you learn from the assessment can be used to develop preventative measures against a future attack thus increasing your awareness and those of your employees.

2) Email Filtering Protection

Email is at the heart of many business communications and operations. Unfortunately, a significant amount of emails received turn out to be spam or worse a phishing email used for stealing credentials. Valuable time is often wasted opening and deleting spam messages and some attackers do package malicious code that can hijack a system as email. Installing an advanced email filtering program can help in cutting down time wasted treating junk mail and prevent your organization’s system from being hacked.

3) Give Your Users Powerful Passwords

Businesses use passwords to restrict access to confidential data and resources but the purpose of a password can be defeated if there is no consistent powerful password policy across business operations. You can improve your business security by improving the password creation and resetting process. Your business should create policies that ensure periodic password change and enforces the creation of difficult to hack passwords. If attackers crack any of your business’ network passwords, they can inflict maximum damage, you can prevent such from happening by disallowing the creation of weak passwords.

4) Cybersecurity Awareness Training

To keep your business safe from attacks, awareness training is a must because employees are the weakest link to business security. Even if you have installed state-of-the-art security systems, attackers can still gain access to your networks if your employees don’t know about cybersecurity or they don’t follow the laid down rules due to ignorance. You need to organize or enroll your employees in awareness training so they are conversant with latest security threats and the best way to handle such threats.

5) Advanced Endpoint Protection(AEP)

Due to a large number of attacks being directed at businesses, simple security systems may not protect your business. You should install an AEP which is an advanced system that can block malicious files and programs from being executed on your systems. With its container technology, it is able to analyze and run suspicious files in a virtual container thus keeping your systems safe from infection. Its cost-effectiveness and its ability to reduce the incidents of data breaches make AEP an important arsenal in the defense of your business.

6) Enable Two-Factor Authentication

Hackers can get a hold of you or your employees’ passwords and operate like legitimate users undetected. Two-Factor Authentication(2FA) was developed to make such attacks less successful by making passwords useless without an additional verification method which is usually harder to get. 2FA makes your business more secure by requiring two separate means of confirming a user’s identity.

7) Updating Your OS

You need to update your OS to stay ahead of evolving threats. New viruses are being released every day and PC’s do slow down with time due to the accumulation of bugs and software errors. This is why OS vendors release regular updates to fix OS problems and protect your PC from latest attacks.

8) Dark Web Research

It is unusual to be able to use the tool of cybercriminals against them. But researching on the Dark Web can help your business stay secure. Monitoring the dark web can help you spot the latest attack methods and also discover if your business is on the radar of attackers or has been compromised. Due to the safety of the dark web, cybercriminals have set up their illegal business trading in stolen data and malicious software, your business can benefit from getting timely information to help you prevent attacks or manage them.

9) Business Class Firewall or Security Appliance

Most businesses have some form of firewall to prevent unauthorized access to their network. However, basic firewall can’t withstand sustained and sophisticated attacks, this is where Security Appliance comes in. Security Appliances or Unified Threat Management (UTM) appliances provide a consolidated and manageable interface for software security bundles. UTM combines the functions of firewalls, IDS, and network vulnerability scanners into one package thus making it more effective than single software solutions.

10) Encrypt Files and Portable Devices

Portable devices are popular and convenient to use but they come with the risk of getting lost and falling into the wrong hands. A smart security policy is to do full device encryption to protect your business data in case of data loss or theft. Many encryption software and hardware are available from which you can choose based on your business needs.

11) Update Your Backup Process

Because your systems can crash, get its data corrupted or lost, you should always backup important data on a regular basis. The frequency of backup should be as short as possible, important applications should be backed at shorter interval periods while a system-wide backup should be scheduled during off-peak hours. To be effective, the backup process should not only cover important applications and data but other less used ones and backups should be stored on both on-site and off-site servers whenever possible.

12) How Cyber Insurance Can Help

All the security methods discussed above cannot guarantee a perfect protection against all attacks. There is the possibility that some slip-ups may aid attackers in gaining access to your business networks. Should that happen, a cyber-insurance can help mitigate the impact of such a breach by helping to offset the costs associated with the hack and also shortening business recovery period. You definitely need cyber insurance for a complete system protection.

In Summary

All in all, small businesses are at a major risk of being hacked, the methods we discussed above can help deter attackers from targeting your business and looking elsewhere for softer targets to test their exploits on. It’s important to conduct a system-wide assessment to determine the current state of your business’s security so as to know the next steps to take. If you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by the above processes, or just don’t have the extra time to implement them into your security plan, please give us a call at 866-957-3835, or you can contact us online by clicking here. We can help get you on the right path to protecting your business from becoming a target of a cyber attack.

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Protecting sensitive data is more critical than ever before. As cyber threats continue to rise, governments and regulatory bodies have introduced compliance frameworks to ensure businesses take appropriate measures to safeguard data. However, understanding these requirements can be overwhelming, especially since they vary by industry and location. We'll discuss some of the most common IT security compliance frameworks—such as HIPAA, CMMC, and CCPA—and explain their relevance to different industries. Whether you work in healthcare, manufacturing, or serving California residents, this guide will help you navigate the complex world of IT security compliance.

How IT Support Services Can Enhance Your Business's Cybersecurity Strategy

October 23, 2024

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, cybersecurity is more than just a necessity—it's essential to business survival. Cyberattacks are becoming more frequent and evolving in sophistication, leaving companies vulnerable to data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage. A robust cybersecurity strategy is critical to safeguarding your business from these growing threats. One of the most effective ways to enhance your cybersecurity defenses is by leveraging the expertise of professional IT support services. The Importance of a Strong Cybersecurity Strategy Every business, regardless of size or industry, is a potential target for cybercriminals. The consequences of a successful cyberattack can be devastating, ranging from financial losses and operational downtime to legal liabilities and damage to your brand's reputation. This is why developing and maintaining a robust cybersecurity strategy is more important than ever. A strong cybersecurity strategy helps your business: Protect sensitive data: Safeguarding customer information, intellectual property, and financial records. Ensure compliance: Meet regulatory requirements, such as CMMC, HIPAA, and SOC2, to avoid fines and legal repercussions. Maintain business continuity: Minimizing disruptions caused by cyberattacks and ensuring quick recovery when incidents occur. Build customer trust: Demonstrating to customers and partners that their data is secure, which can lead to stronger relationships and business growth. While some businesses attempt to handle cybersecurity internally, IT support services offer a more comprehensive, proactive, and scalable approach to protecting your business. Cybersecurity Services Provided by IT Support Teams IT support services can significantly enhance your cybersecurity strategy by offering a wide range of specialized services. Here’s how they contribute to protecting your business: 1. Risk Assessments and Vulnerability Audits One of the first steps in strengthening your cybersecurity strategy is understanding where your business is most vulnerable. IT support teams conduct risk assessments and vulnerability audits to identify potential weaknesses in your network, applications, and infrastructure. These assessments provide a clear picture of your business's risks, enabling you to take targeted action to mitigate those risks. 2. Implementation of Security Protocols Once vulnerabilities are identified, IT support services implement security protocols tailored to your business’s needs. This may include: Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS): Establishing barriers that prevent unauthorized access to your network. Data Encryption: Ensuring that sensitive data is encrypted in transit and at rest, protecting it from cybercriminals. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Adding extra authentication layers ensures that only authorized personnel can access critical systems and data. Endpoint Protection: Securing all devices (laptops, desktops, mobile phones) connected to your network from malware and other threats. Applying these and other security measures can help IT support services fortify your defenses against internal and external threats. 3. Ongoing Monitoring and Threat Detection Cyberattacks can happen at any time and often occur when businesses are least prepared. IT support services provide 24/7 monitoring to detect suspicious activity in real-time. Through advanced monitoring tools and threat intelligence, IT teams can quickly identify and respond to potential threats before they escalate into full-scale attacks. This proactive approach to monitoring reduces downtime, prevents data breaches, and minimizes the impact of cyber incidents. IT support teams can continuously update and patch systems to address emerging vulnerabilities, ensuring your cybersecurity defenses remain current. 4. Incident Response and Remediation Even with robust security measures, no system is entirely immune to cyberattacks. When an incident occurs, the speed and efficiency of the response are critical in minimizing damage. IT support teams are equipped with incident response protocols to quickly isolate affected systems, investigate the root cause, and restore normal operations. With a well-coordinated incident response plan, businesses can significantly reduce downtime, prevent further data loss, and recover quickly from attacks. 5. Security Awareness Training for Employees Employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity, with many attacks originating from phishing schemes, weak passwords, or social engineering. IT support services provide security awareness training to educate your staff about the latest cyber threats and best practices for staying safe online. Training employees on recognizing phishing attempts, using strong passwords, and securely handling sensitive data can dramatically reduce the likelihood of human error leading to a security breach. 6. Compliance Support For businesses in regulated industries, staying compliant with data protection regulations is not optional—it’s mandatory. IT support teams can help ensure your business meets all necessary compliance requirements, such as CMMC, HIPAA, or SOC2. This includes maintaining audit trails, ensuring data encryption, and implementing security controls to protect sensitive information. By working with IT support services, businesses can avoid costly penalties and demonstrate their commitment to protecting customer data. Conclusion A strong cybersecurity strategy is vital to any business's success in today’s digital world. By partnering with an IT support service, businesses can enhance their cybersecurity defenses through risk assessments, security protocol implementation, continuous monitoring, and employee training. These services protect data and help ensure business continuity and compliance with industry regulations. If your business wants to strengthen its cybersecurity posture, now is the time to consider working with an IT support provider. Doing so lets you stay ahead of evolving cyber threats and focus on growing your business with peace of mind. Ready To Strengthen Your Cybersecurity With SDTEK? Don't leave your business vulnerable to cyber threats. At SDTEK, we offer comprehensive IT support and managed cybersecurity services designed to protect your business and ensure seamless operations. Whether you need risk assessments, ongoing monitoring, or incident response, our team of experts is here to help. Contact SDTEK today for a free consultation and discover how we can enhance your cybersecurity strategy and safeguard your business. Protect your data, reputation, and future—partner with SDTEK now!