Anti-Virus Software and Going Beyond the Norm
Anti-virus software is one important component of a safe network, but it’s not enough. It does a great job of finding known viruses and removing their threats, but there’s a huge gap in the protection anti-virus software offers if you don’t understand how it works. Your employees must also take measures to prevent viruses from hitting your system at all.
Suppose you open an email attachment and it contains a virus that has been floating through cyberspace for the past few weeks. Your anti-virus software will likely catch the virus and quarantine or delete it, protecting your system and your business. But what happens if it’s a new virus? If it’s so new that your software doesn’t identify it as a threat, it could wreak havoc across your system. Viruses can delete vital information, send information to outside parties, or even install Trojan horse programs to allow hackers access to your data and resources.
There are some simple practices you can implement to go beyond your anti-virus software. Even when it is regularly updated to obtain definition files.
With Anti-Virus Software the following steps are still important.
- The first step is to make sure you are regularly updating all of your other software. Viruses are specialized to exploit loopholes in your operating system and the other programs you run. Updates are provided for download when these loopholes are discovered, making it much harder for viruses to attack your network.
- Another method to decrease your vulnerability to viruses is to restrict employee access to the Internet. Some sites that are truly inappropriate for the workplace are the most likely to contain viruses, but sometimes mainstream sites an employee may visit on break could contain a virus. Depending on the level of protection you want, you can restrict all non-business related Internet use to reduce the risk of contagion.
- Yet another route viruses take to infect your system is when employees open attachments that are either unexpected or are from unknown sources. They should be trained to ask the sender if an attachment comes unannounced before it is opened to make sure that it is indeed legitimate. Even known attachments can still be scanned to make sure that there is no hidden infection.
No matter how vigilant your employees are, it is likely that a virus will make it into your network at some point. Your employees should be trained to immediately contact the System Administrator for help in minimizing the damage. They should also contact everyone in their email address book, as a virus is likely to replicate by sending itself back out via email. Even if your system is infected, you can help your business associates and colleagues keep safe.
Going beyond anti-virus software is a must to protect your network and your business. Just a small amount of maintenance and some smart training can really make a difference in your level of vulnerability to this threat.
Social Engineering and How Hackers Use it to Get Inside
Ensuring that you have adequate network protection is vital, but protecting your system from hackers who use social engineering to get inside should also be a priority. Even the best employee may create system vulnerabilities if they aren’t aware of the threat, and companies often overlook this hacking angle.
Hackers can be smooth operators. They may call looking for advice, offering flattery in the attempt to gain your employees trust. They use this connection to talk their way into getting information about the security your company has in place and the programs you run. They may also prey on your employee’s confidence in the network in order to gain specific details and shortcomings about your system operations. By using social engineering to obtain even small amounts of information about how your system operates and what programs you use, the hackers can run software on their end that will not only give them greater detail on your system, it can show them how to get inside.
Suavely manipulating an individual isn’t the only social engineering method hackers use. Some hackers are far more direct. It’s hard to believe, but they may directly call a business and impersonate an authority in the company. Employees can be easily swayed by a person issuing a direct request in an authoritative tone. Employees have been known to do what the hacker says because they believe they are being asked on behalf of the company. They may change passwords or issue new ones, allowing the hacker access to your system. The hacker may start small and simply ask for access to their email account, which is generally that of a system administrator. Once they have access to this account, they can issue credible commands to gain further access to and control over your business systems.
No one wants to think that getting access to their company’s system could be so easy, but it can and does happen. Using these tricks to gain access to business networks is actually quite common. The key to limiting this risk is comprehensive training for your employees so they learn to see through the hackers ploys.
Social Engineering and How can you help limit the risk of these threats compromising your security?
- Educate your employees about how hackers utilize social engineering in order to obtain access to a system. Your employees cannot fight this problem if they don’t know it exists.
- Decide what information about your system is too risky to make public, and train your employees not to release this data.
- Formalize procedures for obtaining and changing passwords and access to email accounts. If you can ensure that no outside party is gaining passwords, you’ve thwarted one major hacker tool.
Your company cannot fight this problem if it isn’t aware of it, but once your employees understand the risks they will be in a better position to fight it. Training your employees is a small step that will net large results in limiting your business vulnerability.
IT Vulnerability Threat Concerns and the Steps you Need to Follow to minimize any damage
There are a variety of IT vulnerability threat concerns that businesses are forced to contend with, but by understanding what these risks are and forming a preventative plan of action to mitigate the damage, you can put your company in good stead to fend off and recover from an attack.
Regardless of how it happens, the net effect of an attack or disaster is time and money lost, and possibly your clients trust, as well. An attack or disaster could cause your system to crash or your data to be deleted. If your operation comes to a standstill, you will be losing money as you try to get your network and systems running again. Lost sales and lost work hours all affect your bottom line.
If your data is stolen, the thieves may gain access to your proprietary information. This could mean loss of market share on your part. IT vulnerability threat concerns are more than just your personal data, however. The data stolen could also be personal information such as client and customer addresses, social security numbers, and other confidential data. Having to track down where this went will take time and resources, and will inevitably cause a loss of trust in you on the part of your clients.
If an attacker gains access to your system, they may destroy, copy, or share your data. Worse yet, they may use your hardware as a jumping off point to attack other companies. This could put your reputation on the line, and with your reputation goes your customers and clients.
IT vulnerability threat concerns and what can you do to mitigate the damage in the event of an attack or a disaster?
- Create a comprehensive disaster recovery plan to utilize in the event of a loss. It should outline the most important systems and software, and plan for getting your business operating again as quickly as possible.
- Back up your data on a regular basis. This way you have a starting point for recovering any additional data lost without having to start from scratch. Store your data off of your network to keep it safe from hackers.
- Regularly review your security procedures and make sure they are being properly implemented. Your risks and concerns will change over time, so a thorough review of your procedures is key. The procedures do not work if they are not being used, and proper use of these procedures will lower your IT vulnerability threat concerns.
Addressing your IT vulnerability threat concerns is necessary to ensure the smooth operation of your business. The threats may come from many sources, but by using proper security measures, backing up your data, and having a plan of action you can reduce the risk of damage in the event of a disaster or an attack.
Understanding the Different Vulnerability Methods of Attack
Your business faces a variety of security risks, but there are ways of defining the different vulnerability methods of attack. By analyzing the three major categories of risk, you can make better plans about how to combat the attacks and keep your company secure.
One vulnerability method of attack is the inside view. This risk comes from people inside your company who have access to your network and data. Sometimes it is as simple as looking up another employee’s personnel record. Other times it’s taking data to sell to outside parties or to use to attract your clients to a separate business. Occasionally disgruntled, recently-fired employees try to take vengeance on their way out. This method of attack comes from all levels of employees, but there are a few ways to protect your business. First, run background checks on all employees to help determine their risk. Up to one-third of inside hackers have criminal records, so this very important. Be sure to change passwords often on a company-wide basis, and to remove network access from a terminated employee immediately.
Another method is user view vulnerability. This vulnerability method of attack relies on an outside party getting into your system and manipulating it as if they were an authorized user. This can happen if an employee gives out their login information or if they bring a virus into the system. The hacker may be on-site or at a remote location, but the damage they can do with access is the same.
The final method is outside view vulnerability, which is what most people think of when they worry about their network security. The person attempting the attack initially only has access to what anyone in the public would see. They may try to make it through your firewall and into your network through software loopholes, social engineering, or trial and error. The attacker may not have an inside connection, but is likely to be pretty sophisticated in their methods.
Recovering from any of these attacks, however, requires a plan. While the individual attacks will vary case by case, having a plan of action ready in the event of an attack is vital. Make sure your systems are backed up and that you have tested your recovery preparations to make sure you can get back to business as quickly as possible in the event of an attack.
Knowing what threats are out there and planning for them is necessary in the business world. Now that you understand the different vulnerability methods of attack, you can work to successfully combat them.
Managing your Information Security Team
Properly managing your information security team is a crucial step in maintaining the integrity and security of your network and applications. By definition, this team is highly specialized and has tremendous access to your data and resources. All the same, they should not be an autonomous unit. By utilizing some basic management techniques, you can respect their knowledge and skills and still ensure that they are properly handling the security of your system.
Information Security Team Tips
- When you hired your employees, they were on the cutting edge of IT knowledge. Part of managing your information security team is making sure they stay that way. It takes a relatively small amount of time and money to make sure your professionals are getting advanced training and maintaining their certifications. Not only will continued education keep your team happy, but your business will also reap the benefits of updated ideas and practices that increase the security of your system.
- Another important thing to remember is that IT professionals have skills that not many people in the workforce have. Part of managing your information security team is allowing them to work independently while still maintaining oversight of their operations. The problem with having such a specialized set of skills, however, is that individuals on the team may become overconfident in their abilities, putting your network at risk. While you may only have broad input at meetings if you are not security savvy yourself, you should still make sure that you meet regularly with your team. You can stay informed on their plans and practices, and make sure they, too, are meeting to discuss ideas and options about how to maintain and increase network security.
- Even if your team is operating beautifully, don’t be afraid to get outside IT consultation from time to time. No matter how well-educated and trained your team is, consulting with an outside expert can provide them with new perspectives and ideas. A consultant gains continual experience with a variety of businesses and systems, and by having your team work with an outside party, your entire business can reap the benefits.
Managing your information security team doesn’t have to be daunting. They provide your company with an invaluable service and need the space to creatively address your needs. All the same, they need training and oversight to properly do this, and by utilizing the ideas above you can help them stay productive while you help keep your business secure.
Outsourcing Your Information Security Team Needs
Outsourcing your information security team needs may not be something you’ve considered, but it can be a smart business move. Outsourcing can save you the time and cost involved in finding and hiring permanent employees, while still allowing you to keep the cream of the IT crop on-call and ready to address your business needs. Consultants are pre-screened and only charge for the services they provide which is almost always much less than what you can expect to pay for permanent IT staff. Not only is outsourcing cost-effective, but these professionals are current on the newest research, IT methods, and software and that’s a business advantage that’s hard to overlook.
One of the largest costs to any business is finding, training, and keeping employees. Even when you find qualified staff, it’s hard to know what training and qualifications they should be pursuing in order to stay up-to-date. These employees could easily leave if another company offers them a better deal, forcing you to start the cycle all over again. One way to avoid these problems and expenses is to outsource your information security team needs. With consultants, you only pay for the time and resources you actually use, and they use their skills and resources to find security loopholes and minimize or eliminate them. They can also work with you to develop a plan of action in the event of an IT disaster, saving you valuable time and resources as you get back up and running.
It’s likely that you already have a system administrator, and if so, this person is probably handling your security needs. A system administrator, however, is not a security professional. Sure, they can find and install patches, but they are an expert in keeping your system running smoothly, not in keeping it safe. When you outsource your information security team, you have access to people who can find your vulnerabilities, address them, and keep current on new vulnerabilities far better than any system administrator could. Security is a consultant’s sole business, and they do it best; a good consultant can mean the difference between eliminating a vulnerability and simply hoping it isn’t exploited.
Outsourcing your information security team needs is not only cost-effective, but it’s actually a better way to implement the most up-to-date security practices for your business. You can have the best in security and vulnerability assessment without having to fund a permanent employee or even train them. The IT consultant has the training and experience you need to show up, get started, and take your security to the next level.