9 Cybersecurity Solutions for Businesses

March 18th, 2019 by Function4

It doesn’t matter if you’re running a small-town business or a large, multinational corporation. If you own a business of any size, you’re at risk for threats such as cyberattacks and data breaches. Cyberthreats do not discriminate.

For a business, just one cyberattack can be devastating. Recovery from an attack costs a business time, money, and resources. Cyberattacks can also put your customers’ sensitive information at risk and damage your reputation.

Let’s face it – cyberthreats are escalating year after year. It’s vital that businesses of all sizes prioritize cybersecurity. That’s why we’ve put together a helpful list of solutions to consider to help protect your business.

9 Common Cybersecurity Solutions

1. Network security

   Virtually all of your business’ information passes through a network. It’s important to keep that network safe from all forms of cyberattacks, such as viruses, Trojan horses, spyware, denial of service (DoS) attacks, and phishing.

   Network security implements layers of defenses that allow authorized users to access the network while blocking traffic from malicious actors.

   Staying safe from such a variety of attacks requires a robust defense system, including:

   • Firewalls to prevent unauthorized access to the network.
   • Anti-virus software to protect against malware.
   • Intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS/IPS) that restrict access to your network.
   • Virtual private networks (VPN) to provide secure access for authorized users.

2. Cloud security

   As it stands, upwards of 70 percent of all businesses currently use the cloud for some part of their operation, which means cloud security is a must.

   Having a system in place to monitor for unauthorized access is a good start. It’s also wise to conduct security testing to identify and fix any vulnerabilities in the system.

3. Endpoint security

   “Endpoint” refers to items on a network, such as printers and computers. Endpoint security involves monitoring these items. It also includes monitoring network events, such as someone accessing a network drive or running a program.

   This is often with the use of software that watches for issues, such as data search and investigations, unknown programs running, unauthorized access, suspicious activity detection, and data exploration.

4. Mobile security

   As employees continue to use their smartphones and tablets on the job, making sure those devices are secure is incredibly important. While some companies restrict or even prohibit the use of personal devices at the office, this is often not the best practice nor realistic. Instead, mobile security defenses should be put in place.

   Mobile security can be tricky because it involves securing a variety of different devices – with varying security requirements – on a single network. Mobile security is particularly important because these devices come and go from the office all the time.

   Mobile security should involve a mix of solutions like endpoint security, network security, email security, and cybersecurity awareness training.

5. IoT security

   The Internet of Things (IoT) is a great idea. After all, what’s more convenient than using your phone or tablet to control everyday items like thermostats, light bulbs, and security cameras? Of course, keeping these items safe from attacks can be a challenge. Anyone who gains access to these devices can also get into your business network.

   Every device you add represents a new security concern that needs to be addressed. Staying on top of IoT security from the beginning can save a lot of hassle down the road. To help protect your IoT devices, make sure you use strong passwords and that all passwords are stored securely.

6. Email security

   All it takes is one person to click on the wrong link in their email – and your entire operation could be compromised. In fact, a considerable percentage of attackers get into systems via email-based phishing attacks. How serious is the threat? According to one study, 97 percent of people don’t recognize that they’re being targeted for an attack, and one in 25 people actually click the links.

   Taking the time to educate employees about email security can help keep your information safe.

7. Identity and access management

   Identity and access management means keeping tabs on who can access your network, what kind of access they have, and which parts of the network they’re allowed to access. It also means doing things such as:

   • Ensuring that employees use strong passwords that involve a mix of letters, numbers, and characters such as “@” and “$”.
   • Keeping an eye out for any unusual activity in parts of the network where passwords are stored.
   • Monitoring access by employees who are onsite, offsite, and using a variety of different computer systems to access the network.

8. Disaster recovery and business continuity

   It’s critical that you can quickly get things running again after a catastrophe, whether it’s caused by a hurricane, a computer virus, or a supply chain issue.

   Solutions for disaster recovery and business continuity include things like:

   • Having a plan in place in case of emergencies.
   • Training staff to be able to help in emergencies.
   • Testing your response plan, especially if you’re in an area that is prone to natural disasters.
   • Backing up your systems regularly.

9. Cybersecurity awareness training

   The more time you can spend educating your employees about cybersecurity, the better. Even sporadic cybersecurity training can result in a 10 percent to 15 percent reduction in these attacks succeeding.

   Spend time educating employees on things like:

   • Recognizing phishing attempts and other security threats.
   • Choosing secure passwords and changing them regularly.
   • Understanding the importance of mobile device security.

   The most important thing is making sure that everybody is involved, from the newest hires to the company CEO.

What solutions does your business need?

Keeping your business safe isn’t as hard as it might seem. A robust security plan that deals with the specific issues your company faces is a great place to begin.

If you need security for your business, but you don’t know where to start, give us a call. We’re here to help.

Tags: cloud-based, data backup and recovery, email, mobility, tips & training

Posted in: Cybersecurity