Cyber Security – A Concern For All Businesses

Cyber security is no longer an issue we can simply brush under the carpet. It is one of the biggest concerns for businesses of all sizes all over the world. It seems that every week there are new stories regarding hackers bringing various organizations to their knees. Not all security issues stem from criminal groups either, as insider attacks are often the biggest threat to an organization. Usually, these are unintentional as well, yet they have occurred because of a lack of security awareness and investment in security solutions.

The knock-on effect of a security breach can be truly devastating. Not only can companies lose an extortionate amount of money, but also the incident can have a long-term impact on your business in other ways. Your reputation can end up in tatters due to bad publicity. If customer information has been leaked then your customer relationships will take a big hit and this is something that can often be difficult to mend. Unfortunately, some companies pay the ultimate price of such cyber issues and they find it hard to come back from them. When you take all of this into consideration, it is not difficult to see why there has been a boom in the investment of net security services. Cybercrime is on the rise and it impacts all companies, big and small. Don’t make the mistake of thinking your immune from the threat.

Some Of The Biggest Information Security Risks

To really understand why security measures are so important we need to take a look at some of the biggest cybersecurity risks to companies. Cyber theft is one of the most common threats. Whilst the stealing of financial information is sadly nothing new, there are new opportunities for hackers in the present day, especially as you can now pay for goods via mobile payments and contactless payments. One of the first steps in ensuring your information security is tighter is to make sure that all passwords are more secure. This is one of the biggest risks. Easy-to-crack passwords provide people with an easy way into your system. This is where attacks can stem from employees without them even realizing it. It is vital to ensure all of your employees choose a password that is difficult for anyone to crack. You should use a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols, and you should never use full words. You also need to choose document imaging and storing companies with care to ensure someone reputable is handling your information. Another common threat to information security is of course malware and one type in particular that you need to be aware of is ransomware. This is kind of malware that will restrict access to the computer system it infects. Ransomware is only set to become more sophisticated, which is why companies need to take steps to protect themselves. Malware as a whole actually tops the list of cyber threats, with more than 50 per cent of malware remaining undetected by antivirus products.

Further Network Security Risks Companies Need To Be Aware Of

Unfortunately, the network security risks that have just been mentioned merely scratch the surface of what companies need to deal with nowadays. Web-based attacks are also common. This relates to a whole host of different techniques that are used, with redirection of web browsers to malicious sites being a common method. Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks are also occurring. These attacks aim to stop legitimate users from having access to their own system. Thus, if you are subject to such an attack you may not be able to enter your online banking account, website or email for example. Data breaches have significantly increased over the past few years. Cybercriminals tend to target valuable information for financial gain. As mentioned earlier, weak passwords are a problem, and this is one of the main causes of data breaches. However, there are other causes, including database errors, tampering, insider threats, incorrect user authentication, phishing, malware, and vulnerable applications and networks. A lot of cybercriminals are also using third parties of a way of getting to their intended target. Major data breaches at retailers, such as Home Depot and Target, occurred because the attackers were able to acquire valid network credentials from the third party providers. Thus, not only do you need to consider your own network security measures, but also you need to consider this when choosing any providers.

Advantages Of IT Security

Now you know a little bit about some of the main IT security threats. The advantages associated with cybersecurity may seem evident, i.e. you are attempting to minimize the chance of a threat to your business. However, the benefits are actually numerous. Whilst minimizing risk is the most obvious one, there are many other reasons why you should definitely make sure your business invests in IT security services. Of course, by ensuring that your system is more secure you would like to hope that you never fall victim to a cyber attack. Nevertheless, if one does occur, you will be in a much better position to deal with it. You will be to minimize the impact of the attack substantially. Another key benefit to be gained by investing in this type of service is improved customer loyalty and brand recognition. Security is of paramount importance to all consumers nowadays. We are becoming more and more skeptical regarding where we buy things online and where we input personal information. If you can show that your business is taking significant steps to secure your customer’s information, you will undoubtedly reap the rewards in terms of an enhanced and more professional brand image, as well as a loyal consumer base. One of the main reasons why people do not invest in network security is because they deem it to be too expensive. However, it can actually save you money. Think about how costly an attack could be and you will see why investment is worthwhile. You give your company a platform for future growth as well. Without security measures in place, how can you move forward?

Now you know a little bit about some of the main IT security threats. The advantages associated with cybersecurity may seem evident, i.e. you are attempting to minimize the chance of a threat to your business. However, the benefits are actually numerous. Whilst minimizing risk is the most obvious one, there are many other reasons why you should definitely make sure your business invests in IT security services. Of course, by ensuring that your system is more secure you would like to hope that you never fall victim to a cyber attack. Nevertheless, if one does occur, you will be in a much better position to deal with it. You will be to minimize the impact of the attack substantially. Another key benefit to be gained by investing in this type of service is improved customer loyalty and brand recognition. Security is of paramount importance to all consumers nowadays. We are becoming more and more skeptical regarding where we buy things online and where we input personal information. If you can show that your business is taking significant steps to secure your customer’s information, you will undoubtedly reap the rewards in terms of an enhanced and more professional brand image, as well as a loyal consumer base. One of the main reasons why people do not invest in network security is because they deem it to be too expensive. However, it can actually save you money. Think about how costly an attack could be and you will see why investment is worthwhile. You give your company a platform for future growth as well. Without security measures in place, how can you move forward?

This is a contributed post.