The world is becoming more connected every day, and to stay competitive, businesses in every industry need to develop and operate complex network infrastructure. But protecting these networks from cyber attacks can be challenging and costly, especially if your business is spending more time and resources responding to data breaches rather than preventing them.
Due to bad actors and poor risk management, there are constant risks affecting network security for Oklahoma businesses and beyond. Protecting your network against cyber attacks can seem overwhelming, but it’s critical that your business takes proactive steps to prevent a major breach.
Learn how to protect your business networks from cyber attacks with a people-centric security approach that integrates cybersecurity best practices.
Cyber attacks have become increasingly costly, making it essential that businesses invest in comprehensive network security. According to research from Ponemon Institute, data breaches cost businesses an average of $4.2 million in 2021, the highest average in 17 years.
Not only do targeted organizations have to pay for staff hours spent identifying and remediating breaches, but cyber attacks and data exposures can also harm a business's reputation.
That damage can have real-world financial impacts that take years to recover.
To stay ahead of existing and emerging cybersecurity threats, businesses need to implement risk management practices. Your business needs security experts in place that can:
But before your business can start developing and implementing a comprehensive network security strategy, you need to identify common risks and cybersecurity threats for your location, industry, and IT infrastructure.
With increased online risk management and data security, you can essentially password protect your business by engaging with a skilled team of experts to ensure the best proactive security solutions online, just like in person.
As cybercriminals develop new ways to gain access to protected networks, modern businesses need to account for and protect against a variety of cybersecurity threats.
There are two main types of cyber attacks you need to understand.
These attacks rely on deception to gain access to protected networks and protected information, instead of just computer skills alone.
Social engineering attacks frequently take the form of phishing emails, which bait authorized users to share credentials with offered rewards or click links that install malware on the device.
Social engineering can also include voicemail, email, and website pop-up scams requesting sensitive data to repair or restore system functions.
When individuals think of hacking, this may be their mental picture.
These kinds of attacks often don’t involve internal people working at the targeted business or site. Instead, bad actors exploit system and network vulnerabilities to gain access to protect networks or disrupt ongoing work.
Hackers use techniques like man-in-the-middle, denial of service (DoS), or a brute force attack to gain access, extract information, or hold data for ransom.
Both social engineering attacks and technical hacking pose significant threats to business networks. To combat these two categories of cyber attacks, your business needs a network security approach that covers your people, processes, and systems with the appropriate protocols, training, and security solutions.
When it comes to your network, you may be facing a lot of different threats — some of which may be coming from within your organization.
Top network security threats include:
Learn more about how you can improve network security from our recent blog post.
To protect your network from cyber attacks and prevent data breaches, your business needs an end-to-end security approach.
With the right skills, training, and resources, your IT experts and non-technical staff can work together to keep your network and IT infrastructure secure.
To effectively protect your networks, you need to have IT security experts supporting your organization.
Whether you fill these skill gaps with in-house personnel or via managed IT services from providers like Standley Systems, you need to hire security teams and an information security leader (like a CIO) to keep your systems secure and operational so the rest of your business can focus on value-generating activities.
Once you have a security team with the right skills to protect your network, your business can take steps to implement a layered security strategy.
Control access to protected information systems, databases, and devices by using multiple methods to confirm a user’s identity (such as login information, one-time passwords, mobile apps, or email). Using multi-factor authentication software makes it more difficult for hackers and unauthorized users to gain access to sensitive information.
In addition to having access to security experts, your business also needs non-technical staff that understands fundamental security practices.
Make sure you train all your employees on best practices for using email, signing on to secure systems, leaving workstations and other devices unattended, how to create a strong password, and reporting security risks as soon as they are identified.
Network security and risk management are essential for safely conducting business using internet-connected systems. Your network security should be proactive, consistent, and comprehensive, which means conducting regular network and system audits.
You don't have to wait until the problem arises to start planning a solution; Standley Systems can help you conduct thorough audits that help you identify and patch vulnerabilities before they result in a major incident.
Because businesses often don’t identify that a breach has occurred until long after the actual incident, it’s important to do everything you can to implement access control using solutions like virtual private networks (VPNs) and firewalls to implement access control for protected systems. And if a breach does occur, you can use antivirus software to routinely scan your systems.
Finally, make sure that all your software updates are installed as soon as possible. Unsupported and unpatched software makes cyber attacks and data breaches more likely to occur, so work with your cybersecurity team to develop a consistent update schedule to stay on top of updates and plan them around business operations.
Data breaches happen to even the best companies, but preparation can help you avoid the worst of them. Failing to proactively protect your network and IT infrastructure will cost your business more in the long run. Get your risk management on track by partnering with Standley Systems.
Learn how our team of cybersecurity experts can act as your first line of defense and prevent bad actors from gaining access to your systems and computer networks — contact us today.