The internet levels the playing field for budding entrepreneurs to enter the business world. With a laptop and an internet connection, you can offer products and services with minimal overhead and no physical storefront. You have multiple reasons to invest in tools to protect your company. The digital marketplace has security threats that mirror the dangers facing a brick-and-mortar establishment. Review the security solutions that can protect your business from ruin.
Cloud-Based Security
Storing data in the cloud has become a cost-effective solution for accessing information from any location. Small companies can gain enterprise-level security and technical support without needing to onboard their own infrastructure and internal teams.
Review your security requirements and decide the protection level your business requires. Investing in the maximum level of safety from your provider gives you peace of mind that you receive every possible defense from an attack. Remember that your cloud storage practices may be governed by compliance in a specific industry. Ensure you’re compliant with PCI regulations for credit card processing and HIPAA laws if you deal with data storage in medical fields.
Email Security
The supposed demise of email was exaggerated as the method remains a practical way to communicate internally and externally. Unrestricted access to emails through CRMs and other productivity software can compromise sensitive data at rest. Use data loss prevention software to prevent or detect data breaches. Expert security providers can search for sensitive content in email archives and redact the information so team members and stakeholders can access necessary data with no loss in productivity.
Your company also needs gateway security to block ever-present malware and ransomware. A secure email gateway through the cloud or a local service detects and prevents the opening of fraudulent emails, phishing, and malicious URLs. You must train your team members in safe email practices, as only one careless error can compromise the entire system.
Domain Name Service Protection
DNS protection ensures that any internal or external network communication is with the intended parties and not diverted to an interloper seeking to steal confidential info. DNS protection defends you from connecting with ransomware and malware sites. Top services can flag questionable sites, allowing users to double-check their activity and avoid new threats.
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Next-Gen Firewalls With Intrusion Protection
If you’re using yesterday’s firewalls to combat today’s dangers, you may be fighting a losing battle. Your firewalls must be up-to-date to protect you. The firewall can block actions based on deep packet inspection or advanced analysis, but they are only the first line of defense for monitoring traffic on your network.
Even the best firewalls can only reduce your risk exposure so far, so never rely on them to offer complete protection from attackers. As the most basic defense, expert hackers design their attacks to be invisible to firewalls, meaning your deeper security solutions must pick up the slack.
Endpoint Protection
Endpoint Detection and Response tools halt threats from entering your network. EDR also tracks each file and system process on your company’s endpoints. Most companies access EDR solutions through malware and anti-virus protection. VPNs enhance safety by encrypting the data stream on a device. A VPN increases mobility because you can use public Wi-Fi signals without fear of exposing yourself to a security risk.
Endpoint technology is not always foolproof. A VPN can be compromised by a trusted local machine connecting to the network because of hidden infection. When risks are exceptionally high, businesses need to rely on a zero-trust security model, which verifies a device’s right to access every step of its journey through your network.
Asset Discovery and Management
Before taking any preceding steps, you must identify the assets and devices that need protection and monitoring. Providing access to employees and partners without understanding the attack surface needlessly exposes your organization to the most basic dangers. Maintain a check on active and inactive assets in your network and their usage.
Continually review existing security threats and the technology that eliminates and responds to those challenges. With the right tools and vigilant attention, you can prevent a catastrophic attack against your business.
