Improving network security should be one of the top priorities
for every growth-oriented company nowadays, no matter if you’re running a small business or a global venture, simply
because the cybersecurity risks and threats continue to rise with each passing
year. Now that online hackers and scammers are using more sophisticated tools
to breach corporate IT infrastructures and even the latest firewalls, it’s
imperative that you assume a proactive approach and try to always stay one step
ahead of the game in order to avoid a data breach.
After all, it only takes a single successful cyberattack or a
single act of social engineering to work for your brand’s reputation to get
ruined, possibly for good. Add to that, the costs of getting back on your feet
after a data breach can be too much for your budget to bear. Your best bet is
to try to avoid this scenario, so today we’ll be taking a look at the best solutions
that will improve your company’s network security.
It all starts with the firewall
First things first, understand that your firewall is your first
line of defense that the hackers are going to probe for weaknesses on a regular
basis, so it’s important that you try to strengthen your firewall(s) as much as
possible. You might think that a software firewall is all you need to prevent
malware from entering your system, and indeed, every device in your company
that is connected to the web needs to have a software firewall installed. That
said, make sure that every firewall is optimized for the device in question,
and make sure to update it on a regular basis.
Yet, software firewalls aren’t enough to safeguard your network
as a whole, which is why you should consider integrating a hardware firewall as well. This is a physical
device that acts as a barrier and a gatekeeper for your entire network and can
safeguard all of the devices that are hooked up to the web in your office.
Lastly, make sure that your cloud provider is always implementing new cyber
security measures and that they are updating their security systems regularly.
Run frequent security tests
It should go without saying that you shouldn’t sit and wait
around for scammers and hackers to try to probe your security measures,
instead, you should keep up with your proactive approach and regularly test
your firewalls and other security systems. There are IT and cybersecurity
specialists out there that specialize in cybersecurity testing, so you can
hire them as full-time employees, or you can even outsource this task to a
company that provides cybersecurity solutions to their clients.
Whatever you choose, the most important thing is to employ the
latest probing mechanisms that will really put your cybersecurity measures to
the test, and even make them crack under pressure so that you can improve and
strengthen them as needed. Even if the tests show that your cybersecurity
system is flawless, that still doesn’t mean that it won’t become vulnerable
tomorrow, so be sure to keep testing.
Educate and train your IT staff
You might have a dedicated IT staff at your disposal that’s
tasked with system maintenance and upkeep, but how many of your IT employees
are actually certified cybersecurity experts that have the knowledge and the
expertise to fend off cyber attacks? It’s important to have a trained
professional at your disposal, so make sure to have your IT experts take a cyber security course online that will provide
them with all of the training they need to keep your data stores safe,
implement and innovate new solutions, and run an efficient IT infrastructure.
It’s important that your IT team receives the proper
certifications that will allow them to work in numerous network types and IT
environments, however, it’s best to conduct this training online so that they
can improve their skills seamlessly and without taking time off. This will add value
to your IT department and prevent extraneous financial expenditure.
Introduce a web filtering solution
Another powerful solution you need to include is to integrate a
web filtering tool that will allow you to manage your company’s network across
the board. Web filtering tools help keep your network safe by controlling all
inbound and outbound network traffic, while at the same time giving your full
control of the network itself, which means that you can even restrict access to
all non-work-related websites.
You can also use the tool to optimize
your bandwidth usage and inspect all traffic thoroughly, while at the same time
monitoring communication to spot social engineering even if it slips past your
employees. This way, your IT experts will have a firmer grasp on your entire
business network and will be able to act proactively to stop a potential cyber attack in its tracks.
Improve password strength
One of the most obvious changes you need to make is to update
your password policy. Too often do business leaders simply let their employees
make their own account passwords, but that creates too many cybersecurity
risks and invites hackers to try and breach your data center. Remember, you
mustn’t leave such an important task to your employees because their choices
will be far too predictable.
Instead, be sure to start using a reliable password management tool that will generate truly randomized strings of
letters, numbers, and special characters that will make it impossible to crack.
While you’re at it, make sure to update the passwords regularly, and don’t
forget to delete old employee accounts as soon as someone leaves your company
in order to close every back door to your data center.
Wrapping up
Elevating cybersecurity should be one of the most important
objectives for every growth-oriented company, no matter the size of business or
the industry you operate in. With these cybersecurity measures in mind, go
ahead and create a more robust IT infrastructure that will keep your company
out of harm’s way, and safeguard your brand’s reputation.
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