What is network infrastructure security?

Your organization or enterprise has put in a great deal of time and effort to establish your network’s infrastructure. Countless hours have been invested in developing the proper resources to ensure your network provides connectivity, operation, management, and communication. The intricate architecture and strategy of your hardware, software and services are all now functioning for optimal and reliable use.

But how do you protect all of this dynamic and hard-earned effort?

We examine an understanding of how you can secure your network infrastructure in this article. This discovery involves defining network infrastructure security and offering insights into the benefits and necessity of prioritizing your network’s security.

Introduction to network infrastructure and security

Let’s first define what security will cover.

Your network infrastructure is comprised of numerous parts. Networks contain hardware, ranging from routers and switches to cables, LAN cards, and more. These structures also consist of network software, including operating systems, intrusion detection systems, management systems, firewalls, or security applications. The final primary component of a network infrastructure relates to its services. Examples of such services may involve T-1 lines, IP addressing, satellite, DSL, or wireless protocols.

Each of these necessary components—hardware, software, and services—may contain vulnerabilities that can be exploited by intentional or unintentional actions. Network infrastructure security is designed to offer complex and multifaceted resources for securing against internal or external threats. Infrastructures can be vulnerable to attacks such as denial-of-service, unauthorized access, spam, or malware.

These threats are mostly associated with external attacks, but network security measures should also consider internal issues. Examples may include deletion, modification, data leakage, accidental downloads of malicious content, or illegal activities.

The function of network infrastructure security

Network infrastructure security is a set of procedures that cannot be approached as a stagnant process. Establishing a security strategy for your network involves regular and perpetual effort. To implement a security method is only the first step. Your network’s underlying infrastructure should consider a variety of approaches to implementation, maintenance, and ongoing active processes.

We recommend the following practices when considering how your network infrastructure security should function successfully and reliably.

Validate and monitor hardware/software: Any network security function relies on valid hardware and software. We recommend that there be formal and regular practices to verify and monitor your network’s hardware and software. Some illicit products can be manufactured with malicious content that may intentionally present vulnerabilities. Confirming the good character of any new products should be conducted before installation. And to ensure the ongoing integrity, security strategies should perform continuous monitoring and validation efforts on hardware and software.

Dynamic security access: An advisable function of any network security is to take an active security access approach. This relates to the level of access offered to members of the organization or business. Administrative access or constraints can be applied in a dynamic method, managing access privileges and administrative credentials. Further securing the authenticity of users through multi-factor authentication is highly recommended.

Structured subdivisions: A core function of network security also employs a structure of subdivisions. Creating segmented portions in your infrastructure provides an opportunity to mitigate the spread of a potential threat. Suppose one segment of a network is attacked. In that case, the other components can be shut down or warded off to avoid the risk’s proliferation. These segments can be executed using physical or virtual resources. Multiple physical routers can be established to manage varying network segments, or virtual designs can be implemented without hardware.

We have covered a few core functioning principals to network infrastructure security, but there are numerous other functions for developing reliable protection. It is also recommended to adhere to industry standards concerning encryption, strong passwords, securing routers, backing up data, and finding ways to restrict access to hardware components.

Any network infrastructure security strategy can also benefit from a team of experts in technology and business, such as the services provided by Network Coverage.

Varieties of network infrastructure security

Different varieties of security are involved in network infrastructure. These varying types include both physical and virtual security measures. We have listed some of the most common varieties below.

Firewalls: At its most basic, a firewall functions to monitor and mitigate traffic through a network. Firewalls can consist of hardware and software resources. In many cases, firewalls serve as a buffer against unauthorized access from the internet. They can also be used on routers to permit the safe transfer of data on private networks or secure remote access to a network.

Antivirus Protection: These are solutions designed to monitor, identify, and discard threatening software. Implemented initially to combat viruses on computers, antiviral software can also institute protection from adware, keyloggers, spyware, URL threats, spam, and common phishing threats.

Virtual Private Network (VPN): Using advanced methods for encrypting connections between endpoints, a VPN can generate secure data transfer channels through the internet.

Detection Systems: Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems monitor, record, defend, and report any potential destructive activities in a network. These intrusion detection systems can observe the network, document information about an activity, implement response protocols, and submit exhaustive reports that detail its observations.

There are numerous ways to categorize varieties of network infrastructure security. This list covers a few of the most common and critical. Other security types regard control to access and application, analyzing behavior, or securing wireless devices and activities.

Resources

The benefits of network infrastructure security are broad and essential. A company or enterprise stands to reduce costs, improve productivity, secure internal communications, and ensure critical data remains protected.

Implementing and maintaining a viable security strategy for your network infrastructure can be complicated and require significant effort. Specialists can assist in this essential and ongoing process.

For experienced advice and support on designing and implementing effective security measures, you can explore expert technology solutions for business strategy by setting up a consultation with Network Coverage.

Understanding Ransomware

We are all familiar with media representations of kidnap and ransom. A child of a wealthy or powerful parent is taken from the playground, and then a note is sent demanding cash for their release. Imagine something similar happening to your business—except the child is your data, and it doesn’t matter if you’re filthy rich or not. But the demand for money remains the same.

In more technical terms, ransomware is a type of malware that will take your data hostage. It will typically accomplish this by infiltrating your system with a phishing scam or website infection—taking advantage of even small vulnerabilities. Cybercriminals can halt your computer or phone or other devices by moving from one endpoint to the next, discovering and collecting data before securing it through encryption. These hackers are commonly well-equipped to leave no trace behind, permitting them to safely ransom the mined data back to its owner or sell it on the dark web.

A critical challenge with ransomware is that there are very few solutions available once it gains access to a given system. Almost any effort to mitigate costs to a business is impossible.

Thankfully, because many of the vulnerabilities associated with ransomware tactics are well known, there are courses of action that can be taken to avoid and manage the impact of this cybercrime.

How much of a threat is ransomware?

The Small Business Administration estimates that “ransomware attacks are the fastest growing malware threats. On average, more than 4,000 ransomware attacks have occurred daily since January 1, 2016.”

A recent IBM study estimates a 6,000% uptick in ransomware attacks. Despite this astonishing rise of the threat, most businesses and people are ill-equipped to deal with it. Researchers concluded that one in four people “have no idea” how to respond if they are victims of a ransomware attack. US statistics point to a stark 63% of businesses professing a ransomware infiltration, and 47% saying they had multiple invasions, according to a cyber and technology expert at Hiscox USA. The cost of crimes is commonly in the hundreds of billions each year.

In more straightforward, less statistical terms, ransomware is a massive threat. The necessity for businesses to recognize this reality is critical to survival.

How to protect your business from the threat of ransomware?

We will begin with some basics and progress toward more advanced and technical strategies.

Basic Measures

Because ransomware is so insidious and effective once it has infiltrated your system, a bulk of how to protect against the threat is a proactive effort at defense. The front line of many protection efforts can begin with educating employees. Informing your staff about the warning signs, safest practices, and the most effective responses are massively helpful toward threat prevention. Make it a policy to use strong passwords on all accounts, utilizing at least eight characters, in a combination of letters, symbols, and numbers. Encourage employees to exercise caution with any email links. In addition, use strong, multifactor authentication whenever and wherever possible.

Advise employees against opening any attachments or downloading files from addresses that are not well known and trusted. If your business does not have a dedicated IT department or outside IT support, hold employees accountable for keeping all business-related devices updated with software and automizing updates for antivirus and antimalware solutions. This is not a complete list, but it is a good starting tutorial for building a staff that can be the first line of defense.

Also, take an organizational and managerial approach to protect against the threat of ransomware. There are myriad ways of employing these strategies. Managing the use of privileged accounts is vital, restricting users from installing or running software applications on network devices. Make sure to perform regular and routine system backups—offline and online—to speed up any potential recovery process. Be sure to store the backup data on a separate device and offline. Annually running tests on your system for any plausible penetration zones is highly recommended.

In a worst-case scenario, consider options for Cyber Liability insurance to minimize the impact of a possible attack.

Advanced (more technical) Measures

Any efforts to protect your business against ransomware are about having a plan and executing it, whether to avoid an attack, thwart an active attack, or recover from an attack. It is essential to be able to identify the scale of an attack, mitigate it quickly, and protect any technology that has avoided infiltration. Isolating tech that has been infected will assist in containing the extent of an attack. Once you have followed the earlier steps, you can restore from offline backups with care, while updating and patching machines in the places they are vulnerable.

It is vital to make law enforcement aware of any breach. Management can contact the FBI amid an invasion, and a police report can be filed after the fact. Because it is never a guarantee that your data will be returned if you pay a ransom, the FBI advises against this action.

Implementing endpoint solutions is also crucial in defending against an attack and providing the offense to derail malicious efforts. Solutions should help you find, patch, and report on all endpoints, without being restricted by location, bandwidth, or connectivity. And despite what operating system you are using or your network’s capacity, any endpoint solution you implement should provide software inventory and asset capabilities that permit you to efficiently spot patch levels, software versions, and configurations. Also, explore options that integrate with other prominent applications for security, including network access control (NAC), incident response (IR), or security information and event management (SIEM).

You may want to consider configuring access controls based on privilege. Limit access to writing files, directories, or shares for only those employees who necessitate for their job responsibilities. Take into consideration the disabling of macro scripts and Remote Desktop Protocol. Look into employing Software Restriction Policies (SRP) or other similar methods to limit programs that execute from common ransomware locations, including temporary folders that support Internet browsers or compression and decompression programs.

Keep in mind that criminals and ransomware are continually evolving. It is important to remain proactive and systematic with any approach, regularly seeking education and research on new vulnerabilities and infiltration methods.

Resources

Identifying, managing, or rebuilding from the threat of ransomware is an ongoing and exhaustive endeavor. If you are looking for further guidance on technology and business solutions, you can schedule a consultation with Network Coverage today.

Moving your data and operations to the cloud is often described as a means of improving scalability, reducing infrastructure costs, and making it easier to stay updated. However, the implications for security can be a major concern for businesses, especially if you prefer to be in charge of your own security infrastructure.

Cloud Security Myths Debunked: Why Cloud Providers Can Be More Secure Than Hosting Your Own Data Center

Is migrating your data to the cloud less secure than a data center located on-premises? In general, moving to the cloud is actually more secure than doing everything in-house! In this article, we explore why the cloud is in fact more secure, and talk about the specific advantages of moving to cloud infrastructure.

What Makes The Cloud More Secure?

Let’s first define what we mean by “cloud” in this context. 

The cloud is an abstracted set of computational and data storage resources, which are available on demand. Clouds dynamically allocate these resources to users as needed, allowing them to host applications and transfer data from any authorized devices that can access the Internet. Clouds may come in private form, where they’re hosted on company premises, or in public form, where multiple companies share the resources of a cloud service provider.

An on-premises private cloud is still accurately considered a cloud. However, in practice, this is not very different from an on-premises data center, as your company is still in charge of setting up the cloud’s security. For this article, we consider the cloud to be an off-site cloud service provider whom you contract to provide software, data storage, and other services over the Internet. 

Cloud service providers host applications and store data on large shared data centers, which are all kept up to the same high standards of security. These high standards are what make the cloud a much safer place for your data, and to achieve them, cloud providers have several tricks up their sleeve.

Expertise

Even if you have a highly skilled dedicated IT team for your company’s network, it’s unlikely that they’ll have the same security expertise as a team of cybersecurity pros. These professionals have spent their careers learning how to avoid and defeat cyberattacks, securing client data, and setting up airtight networks. 

Large cloud providers may have hundreds of these professionals with literally thousands of man-years of combined experience. All this expertise goes into ensuring the security of their network. This is one area that almost no IT department can match.

Updates

One of the advantages of using a cloud provider is that you never need to worry about software updates, as these are performed by your provider automatically. You can rest assured that you’ll always be running the latest version of your applications and security layers. This means that you’re also secured against the latest exploits and security flaws that older versions may be vulnerable to.

Physical Security

Physical security – protecting who has access to the actual hardware that hosts the cloud – is equally important to the integrity of a data center. Once an intruder has gained physical access to hardware, it becomes vastly easier to intercept and steal data.

The biggest cloud providers go the distance when it comes to physical security. They maintain 24/7 security teams who keep a watchful eye over their data centers, set up surveillance cameras, and even design their buildings with limited entry and exit points. The server rooms themselves have extensive access control systems that only allow certain employees to gain access to server rooms. Every activity is audited and logged with the identity of every person who enters the room.

While having your data physically located on your company premises may feel reassuring, it’s hardly a guarantee for security. To even approach the security levels of a cloud data center, you need to invest enormous resources in maintaining around-the-clock teams, setting up access points, and tightening the overall security of your company premises. 

Disaster Management

Protection from hackers and intruders isn’t the only definition of “security.” Your data should also be protected against natural disasters such as fires and earthquakes. Keeping all of your data in one place runs the risk of total loss if your company premises are struck by such a disaster. And even if you have offsite backups, it may take hours or even days to rebuild, resulting in expensive downtime.

With cloud providers, data centers are distributed all over the world, and there’s no single point of failure that can cause a disastrous shutdown. In fact, your company might never even notice if one cloud data center is disabled – oftentimes, the provider can seamlessly move your session to another data center with updated backups.

The Cloud’s The Limit

Every cloud provider has its own strengths and weaknesses. Naturally, you should choose carefully and research their security practices and features before you pull the trigger. But in general, choosing the cloud is a safer choice than hosting your own data centers. And in the long run, it may even be cheaper and more convenient.

Looking to take the next step towards cloud migration? We’ve got you covered. Contact Network Coverage now for a free consultation and let’s work together to find a cloud solution for you. Our cloud services offer convenience, scalability, cost-effectiveness, and security for your applications and data, and you can get started in no time at all.

As the first wave of lockdowns and quarantines sprung up all over the world, millions of people switched off their office computers and transitioned into remote work. This transition has had wide consequences for IT personnel, but the biggest and most worrisome of them is the issue of security.

A Quick Cybersecurity Checklist For The Remote Work Transition

In an office environment, IT has control over every device’s security – but when workers use their own machines at home, it’s difficult to maintain that previous level of protection. In this article, we’re going to share a few tips and tools that IT can use to improve the cybersecurity of their remote staff.

Enforce Two-Factor Authentication

Two-factor authentication is an incredibly important aspect of cybersecurity. Enforcing it in all of your remote workers is the first step in isolating many login-related security issues.

Employ VPNs For All Company Data Transactions

Back when everyone accessed data from company premises, online privacy might not have been a serious issue. But since remote workers will now be accessing company data from their homes, VPNs may be necessary to protect your data. It’s important to choose a highly secure VPN with good security practices and proven encryption methods if you want this measure to be truly safe and effective.

Standardize The Use Of Firewalls

There was never any doubt about the necessity of business firewalls. However, many users don’t have equivalent protection in their homes and are vulnerable to outside threats. The most basic built-in firewall for Windows might not be enough, so you should consider providing enterprise licenses for your employees.

Use Secure Video Conferencing Platforms

Video conferencing tools have become incredibly popular in the wake of the pandemic, and millions of users have adopted them in their daily lives for remote meetings. But many of the most popular tools, such as Zoom, suffer from significant security issues. It’s important to pick one with strong encryption to prevent outsiders from snooping in on your sensitive communications.

Avoid Social Media And Free Messaging Tools For Any Business Communications

Social media and free personal messaging apps are often used by companies to stay in touch. While this is very simple and allows people to use platforms that they’re already familiar with, these are not very secure methods of communicating. Stick to IT-approved channels, such as enterprise chat platforms with strong security and authentication methods.

Keep Regular Backups

A single ransomware attack or hardware failure can cause extensive data loss, and without the protection of cloud backups or redundant hardware, remote workers are especially vulnerable. Make sure that everyone understands the value of backing up their data, and that they back up to encrypted physical storage or to a safe cloud.

Stay On The Same Business Cloud

When it comes to cloud backups, the whole company needs to be on the same page. Have users stay away from personal cloud storage solutions, and make sure that all sensitive data is uploaded to the same cloud platform that the company uses.

Ask Users To Stay On Top Of Their Software Updates

Automatic updates for Windows and other software might seem like an annoyance, but they often come with essential security patches that protect against exploits and malicious attacks. Your remote workers need to turn on their automatic updates for all of their software if they want to stay ahead of the curve. On top of that, they should avoid using outdated EOL software that is no longer being maintained by vendors.

Don’t Use Remote Desktop Tools

Remote desktop tools are notoriously insecure, yet many offices still use them as an access point for company systems. It may be better to access your company cloud via VPN instead.

Secure All Devices

Some remote workers may share their homes with other people who shouldn’t be privy to company information. Have all of your users lock their devices in order to keep your data out of prying eyes. 

Educate Users On Phishing Attacks

Phishing attacks have been on the rise lately – often taking advantage of people’s generosity or desire for information about the pandemic. Instruct your users not to open any suspicious links that they receive, even if they appear to be from reputable sources. 

Final Thoughts

Most businesses are still reeling from this unprecedented large-scale transition to remote work, and IT may have some catching up to do. If you want the best shot at maintaining your security needs, you’ll need to stay on top of things and use these tips and tools as a basic checklist for cybersecurity!

The Cybersecurity Threats You Need To Watch Out For

The shift to remote work may be one of the biggest challenges faced by IT today! It’s a huge challenge to maintain security when an entire organization is using its personal devices to connect over the public internet.

Malicious actors in the world of cybersecurity are aware of this, and overall cybercrime rates have been steadily on the rise since remote work grew in popularity. 

In this article, we’ll explore some of the new cybersecurity threats that have emerged thanks to this new work environment.

Phishing

With online transactions on the rise, hackers are seizing the opportunity to steal sensitive information under the guise of reputable businesses or brands. They employ fake login pages and use fraudulent third-party links that trick users into entering their login information, or downloading a malicious attachment.

This practice of fishing for information by posing as a legitimate organization is known as phishing. It’s been a major problem in cybersecurity for years, but the recent pandemic has made it even more popular as more and more people use their home machines to do sensitive work.

Phishing attempts are usually made over email, and they have disastrous consequences for companies and clients. Recent technological improvements have made it more difficult to distinguish phishing scams from regular emails, putting people at risk of identity theft, credit card fraud, and blackmail. It’s important to educate your staff to avoid falling for phishing attacks and to discourage them from opening suspicious emails.

Email Fraud

Fraudulent emails compromise a victim’s safety by promoting scams, unauthorized products, and false “rewards”. This cyber tactic spams your inbox with all types of fake letters asking for money, information, or donations to organizations. Usually, suspicious links will lead you to a temporary website made to gather your information.

Spammers pay for bots to send emails in bulk to sell their personal agendas, and this business has become more lucrative during the global crisis. With more people online checking their inboxes for work or personal reasons, fake emails continue to stack up in cyberspace.

Inconsistent Security On Personal Devices

Working from home requires you to use your own personal devices like phones, tablets, or laptops to access company information and URLs. This puts workers and corporations at risk of security breaches, especially if an employee unknowingly visits a website that infects them with malware. 

While security measures can be effective against potential hacks, there are no guarantees that all employees will have VPN, anti-virus, and firewall software installed. While some businesses provide work computers, the majority of remote workers are taking risks by using their personal devices without added protection. And even if users do have the necessary software, they might not be diligent in keeping their applications updated.

To remedy this, you should establish consistent security protocols and software suites that all of your users should have on their systems. You should also ask your users to put PINs or password protection on all of their devices, set up two-factor authentication, and avoid unsecured biometric logins. 

Unsecured Home Or Public Wi-Fi

Public internet connections are never safe to use – hackers may use these networks to snoop on connected devices and intercept valuable information. When visiting high-density areas like airports, restaurants, libraries, or malls, your staff should never connect to a Wi-Fi network without a password. Hackers may also use fraudulent SSIDs that even experienced users might fall for.

Your staff should also secure their own home Wi-Fi connections, as many users still leave their Wi-Fi connections without password protection. And it’s not enough to use just any security – everyone should use at least WPA or WPA2 security, as the older WEP protocol has been rendered useless against attacks.

Weak Passwords

Even with the best encryption and security measures, a weak password without two-factor authentication is sometimes all it takes to break into a system. Many users still use weak passwords, such as birthdays, names of relatives, and common words that are vulnerable to brute-force dictionary attacks. Others reuse their passwords across multiple accounts on multiple sites; if any of their accounts fall victim to a data breach, all their other accounts are compromised.

Your remote workers should never use weak passwords, and they should also avoid repeating passwords they use across multiple site logins. Educate them on the use of strong passwords, which may include special characters, numbers, and a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters. If possible, try setting them up with password managers, or have them change their passwords very regularly.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a difficult challenge under any condition, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you want to stay on top of security and respond rapidly and effectively to threats, you may want to partner up with experts who know how to manage cybersecurity. 

At Network Coverage, we offer our expertise and years of experience in cybersecurity. Contact us now for a free consultation, and let’s work together to get your security compliance up and running!

What are the Top Cyber Security Threats in 2020?

Over 50% of small- to mid-sized businesses experience a cyber-attack at some point. These attacks cost on average $149,000 in downtime, lost revenue, or out-of-pocket expenses such as ransom payments or recovery services.

8 Top Cyber Security Threats in 2020

With the right disaster recovery system, cyberattacks can be prevented or mitigated while financial impact can be mitigated. However, the constantly-changing cybersecurity threat environment makes it more difficult than ever to protect against these threats.

Below are some of the cybersecurity threats to look out for in 2020.

1 – Malware

The use of malware continues to be a threat to businesses. Malware encompasses a wide range of cybersecurity threats including backdoors, downloaders, worms, viruses, or trojans. In these attacks, information is stolen or destroyed while sensitive data like clients’ personal identification information, credit card data, and more are sold for profit on the open market. Not only can these types of attacks debilitate a business’s ability to operate while data backups are restored, but they can also seriously impact the company’s reputation and trust.

2 – Metamorphic/Polymorphic Malware

While traditional malware is an ever-growing threat, polymorphic or metamorphic malware makes this cyber threat even more sophisticated in 2020. This type of malware adapts or changes completely with every iteration, making them more difficult to detect and eradicate.

3 – Ransomware

In ransomware cybersecurity threats, hackers lock a company’s sensitive data or integral operations systems and demand ransom in order to unlock the data. In these types of attacks, not only is the cost of the ransom a cost to the company but so are lost operations while the system is under attack. Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to these attacks as they often do not invest in protections for these systems such as hiring a cybersecurity company to install and manage protections.

4 – AI/ML Ransomware

In 2020, the cyber threat of ransomware is becoming even more malicious with the addition of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology. As these tools become more prominently available, ransomware attacks become more efficient.

5 – Mobile Malware

Mobile devices are coming increasingly under attack. This is especially true with Android devices that often run off of older versions of Android. Since these devices tend to be less secure and often overlooked by security protocols, this makes them an easier target for cyber threats such as malware.

6 – IoT-Related Threat

The internet of things (IoT) refers to the interconnectedness of infrastructure systems. The internet of things includes smart devices that make managing almost everything more convenient. However, it’s these systems’ convenience and accessibility most susceptible to risk.

7 – Third-Party & Supply Chain Attacks

Third-party or supply chain attacks refer to attacks through an outside partner or provider. The changing on-demand and SaaS landscape in business increase these types of threats in 2020. This makes the importance of choosing reliable providers and staying on top of software updates and patches more important.

8 – Phishing Scams

While phishing scams have often been considered one of the cheapest and easiest ways for hackers to access sensitive data, these scams are becoming more sophisticated than ever. These attacks include luring and engaging with potential victims. The intent is to persuade them to provide sensitive information including passwords, identifying information, payment information, and more. As the world becomes more connected than ever in 2020 the opportunities for these types of covert threats increase.

How to Protect Your Business

As cyber threats continue to increase in number, size, and sophistication in 2020, businesses should be even more conscious about protecting their networks and databases. They should also ensure their employees are well-trained in cybersecurity best practices including software updates, avoiding phishing scams, choosing and updating secure passwords, and more.

For more information about how Network Coverage can protect your business, please reach out to our cybersecurity experts for a free consultation.

 

For many financial, healthcare, or government contractors, cybersecurity compliance is complicated and daunting. In addition to federal regulations, companies processing personal information such as credit card numbers, social security numbers, names, driver’s license numbers, and more also have important practices they must follow to protect this information.

The rules, standards, and regulations can not only be difficult to understand, but they also change frequently making it difficult to stay compliant in the most recent do’s and don’ts of cybersecurity.

Some companies default (consciously or unconsciously) to a “we’ll fix it if it becomes an issue” philosophy. However, especially in industries with strict regulations, not only can a formal audit result in more expensive solutions and fallout than having the right protocols in the first place, but a cyberattack could be crippling and destructive to the company.

How to Know if Your Cybersecurity is Compliant

One of the best starting points for knowing whether your cybersecurity measures are compliant is by starting with an internal cybersecurity audit. This means comparing your current cybersecurity standards to the regulations your company is held under or the best practices.

1. Review Your Cybersecurity Plans

First, review all of your documented cybersecurity plans. Compare these to the standards set by any regulatory or best practices authorities in your industry. Are your documents up-to-date, complete, and aligned with the most recent standards?

Because of the swiftly changing cybersecurity environment, if you haven’t reviewed your cybersecurity plans recently, they’re most likely out-of-date. Take this opportunity to update the documents to fit the most current compliance regulations. Make sure the plan has clear guidelines, is relevant to your current systems, and that all the roles and responsibilities are clearly defined.

If you don’t currently have formal cybersecurity plans, it’s time to create them. This can be done by your in-house IT team if they have the time and bandwidth to complete the task or can be completed by an outsourced IT expert.

2. Assess Your Risks

What has changed in your technology systems since you last looked at your cybersecurity plans? If you have added new software, third-party data storage, new hardware or servers, or have new employees or roles within the team, they should be taken into consideration when reviewing your cybersecurity compliance plan. If you’re not sure how to account for these changes in your cybersecurity plans, ask an outsourced IT advisor.

3. Audit the Actionability of the Plan

Having documents for security is only the first step of having compliant cybersecurity. Cybersecurity actions should also be in-place and up-to-date. This means ensuring any protective actions such as firewalls, anti-virus software, intrusion detection, and prevention systems are up-to-date and functioning.

It also means making sure employees are trained and up-to-date on the latest rules and standards for security in your company, including regularly updating passwords, equipment management outside the office, data sharing, email scam awareness, and more.

In addition, you should ensure any emergency actions are clear, tested, and actionable. If there is a cyber emergency, how are you notified and what happens next? Do people within your company know who to contact in case of a breach? Do they know where to find additional information about your security measures? Do you know how the security actions would take place and how long they would take to resolve the situation?

4. Hire an IT Consultant

Cybersecurity compliance can be complicated and time-consuming. Hiring an IT consultant can be a great option for companies who can’t sacrifice the time of their current IT team to undergo an internal cybersecurity compliance audit.

It is also the best way to get an in-depth, unbiased review of the current security environment. In some cases, internal IT employees may intentionally or unintentionally skew cybersecurity audit results or the state of the cybersecurity landscape of the company to preserve their jobs or to avoid “looking bad” to the company.

Outsourced IT consultants can provide unbiased information about the current cybersecurity systems and compliance and will work diplomatically with the IT team to ensure proper procedures and actions are in place. In addition, an external IT company can also offer regular cybersecurity services to ensure your security systems and compliance stay up-to-date so you don’t have to worry about them.

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An increasingly digital world has made it easier than ever to support small and mid-sized businesses. However, this technological convenience comes with a price. Cybersecurity threats not only put small to mid-sized businesses at risk of having information stolen or misused; they also run a significant risk of catastrophic data loss that can disrupt or destroy a business.

Below, we discuss the current threats, perceptions, and prevention measures small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) experience with cybersecurity threats in 2019.

 

The Biggest Cybersecurity Threat to SMBs

While negative impact on reputation can be crippling for large businesses facing cybersecurity threats, for small to mid-sized companies, data loss is the scariest prospect. This is because 93% of companies that suffer a catastrophic data disaster go out of business within 2 years.

Data loss is about more than lost productivity. It also means the loss of contact or client information, files or programs, accounting records, inventory lists, and more. Because of the implications of data loss, it can be devastating to the business to experience data loss. This is why data loss protection, backup, and disaster recovery are so important regardless of business size.

In addition to a fear of data loss, small to mid-sized businesses also report a significant fear of losing customers—due to inefficiency, loss of trust, or inability to provide services—as well as a lesser fear of damaging the company’s reputation.

Preparing for a Cybersecurity Threat

Cybersecurity threats are becoming more and more advanced, making them increasingly difficult to prevent. Common cyberthreats include:

• Phishing
• Scareware
• Pretexting
• Rogue
• Ransomware

These cybersecurity threats combine with human error, lack of training, and outdated passwords for and insecure SMB digital environment.

52% of SMBs report feeling helpless to defend themselves against modern cybersecurity threats, with the majority feeling as though they do not have the adequate in-house skills to protect themselves.

While taking steps to prevent and SMB against modern cybersecurity threats in 2019 feels daunting for nearly half of SMBs, the reality is that there are many flexible and affordable cybersecurity services that can help to prevent these attacks and mitigate catastrophic business failure. These steps include:

• Backup & disaster recovery systems
• Security & risk mitigation
• Cyberthreat analysis
• Training personnel in best practices (changing passwords, avoiding phishing scams, etc.)

Learn more about how companies like Network Coverage can help provide affordable cybersecurity options to SMBs. Learn more.

The Real Cost of a Cyber Attack to SMBs

There are several figures about how much money recovering from a cybersecurity threat actually costs. There seems to be a general consensus that this final number is somewhere between $54,000 – $149,000.

However, the fiscal cost is only 35% of the impact. Additional costs include the time and effort in recovering from the cybersecurity disaster and data loss.

SMBs are Prioritizing Cyberthreat Prevention

In 2019, small to mid-sized businesses are prioritizing prevention and disaster recovery as a priority for their company. 89% of SMBs view cybersecurity as one of the top five priorities in their organization, with 79% planning to invest more in cybersecurity over the next 12 months.

 

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Learn more about cybersecurity threats, prevention, and recovery by speaking to an SMB cybersecurity expert today.

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With the sensitive data stored and communicated at law firms, it’s no wonder they’re often the target of cybersecurity threats. In the 2017 ABA Legal Technology Survey, it was released that 22% of law firms were hacked or experienced data breaches in 2017. This number was highest for small law firms with 10-49 lawyers, of which 35% experienced attacks, and medium-sized firms with 50-99 lawyers, of which 33% experienced hacks. While not all of these attacks resulted in the misuse of client information, they pose a significant threat in unauthorized access to sensitive client data.

Most Common Cybersecurity Threats for Law Firms

Cybersecurity threats to law firms come in both direct and indirect attacks. While many of these can be prevented through network security software and internal safe-practice systems, many law firms have either outdated or unmanaged cyber security practices that leave them at increased risk.

Below are some of the most common cybersecurity threats experienced by law firms.

1. Phishing Scams

Phishing scams continue to be prominent in the legal industry due to the amount of sensitive information passed through digital sources. For instance, a scammer may use a false email or spoof the email of a client, colleague, or another authority figure to direct a user to a phishing site impersonating a login, request sensitive information via email, impersonate an e-sign document, or any other creative means of manipulating the receiver to gain sensitive information.

 

The most important way a law firm can protect themselves and their information about this kind of attack is by using secure passwords, not reusing passwords on multiple platforms, and utilizing double-authentication. If you suspect you’ve been a victim of a phishing scam, it’s important for your network security provider to take action right away to prevent a data breach.

2. Hacked Email Accounts

Email scams are trending toward more targeted, manipulative approaches that are personalized to end users. The law industry is especially susceptible to this type of attack due to the nature of client-attorney relationships and the transfer of sensitive information and/or payments.

A scammer may hack into an email account and sit in wait, watching and gleaning information about particular relationships before using that information to target specific contacts. They may use this information to request “retainers” from clients, request sensitive information, or otherwise risk the safety and privacy of your clients.

3. Ransomware

While ransomware is becoming slightly less common in lieu of more modern and cloaked attacks such as cryptocurrency mining, ransomware still continues to be a cybersecurity threat, especially for companies such as law firms that host sensitive client information.

Ransomware comes in many shapes and sizes, but the general idea is that it is installed on your device—often by unintentionally clicking a malicious link or downloading an infected file—then uses scare tactics, threats, or holds your systems/files hostage until payment is received.

4. Data Breach

Because law firms store and send sensitive data, they are at a higher-than-average risk for data leaks. They may be specifically targeted through malware, phishing attacks, hacks, or email spoofing to acquire sensitive client data or financial information.

Preventing data leaks takes a combination of user security policies and security tools. In the case of law firms, it’s prudent to also have network security components including access control, antivirus and antimalware, communication security, intrusion prevention systems (IPS), and security information and event management (SIEM), to prevent data breaches and to handle breaches swiftly if they do occur.

5. Malpractice Allegations

A law firm knows more than anyone the importance of crossing your t’s and dotting your I’s when it comes to protecting yourself from lawsuits. Because of the volatility in the cybersecurity landscape, taking precautions against data leaks or breaches is more important than ever. Class-action lawsuits and individual disputes have occurred when disgruntled clients feel like their data wasn’t treated securely.

6. Increased Standards by Clients

With increasing cybersecurity breakdowns in the news, clients are becoming more and more sensitive to the protection of their information. Because of the confidential nature of much of the information stored and shared in law firms, this means many clients are on especially high alert regarding cybersecurity standards and practices.

 

Final Thoughts

Cybersecurity is not a one-and-done process, especially for law firms that store and communicate sensitive data. It requires adapting internal systems and securities to protect against the current cybersecurity landscape, and vigilant practices to detect and recover from breaches as quickly as possible.

Is your law firm protected against cybersecurity attacks? Schedule a free network security audit today and the Network Coverage team of security experts will analyze your existing systems, potential threats, and any existing network security systems you may have in place.

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Many sites we visit daily get hacked into by those who try to steal identities or credit card information or both. This causes severe issues with businesses who daily earn our trust, such as banks or hospitals, schools and regular apps we use for social purposes.

When those sites are compromised, we can sometimes lose trust and it can be devastating for everyone involved. Calls have to be made to banks, passwords need to be changed, sometimes the process can take several days and upwards of months or years.

Facebook

25 September 2018
50 million users affected

Hackers obtained information on users’ gender, date of birth, relationship statuses, location and even recent internet searches. All data that could be used in identity theft to answer personal security question quizzes on other platforms.

Concerns of privacy also rose as the realization to access third party applications that use Facebook as a login were at risk.

LinkedIn

2012, and again in 2016
167 million users affected

Before 2012, LinkedIn was not using methods like “salted” or “hashing” to make passwords more difficult to obtain. Originally 6.5 million accounts were being reported as having been hacked.

Four years later in 2016, a hacker by the name of ‘Peace’ stated he had access to the information and was ready to sell the data with nearly 117 million cracked passwords.

For future protection, LinkedIn urged users to enable two-step verification for their accounts.

Target

November 2013
70 million users affected

During one of the most inconvenient times of the year—the December Holidays—Target got hit by a major cyber security breach.

Malware was installed on a customer service database affecting nearly 41 million customers and their private payment card information.

Target helped consumers who suffered the most losses by paying up to $10,000 per person.

EBay

Late February 2014
145 million users affected

Luckily no financial information was breached. However, passwords, names, and physical address were taken.

The height of this cyber security threat was the impact that it had on employees. Their log-in credentials were stolen and used to illegally access eBay’s corporate network.

JPMorgan Chase

June 2014
76 million households
7 small businesses

90 servers were compromised when hackers were able to penetrate a Chase employee’s personal work computer.

This particular case challenged the public’s perspective on cyber security. It was not Target or eBay, but rather the banking industry, packed with account numbers and social security numbers.

TicketFly

May 30, 2018
27 million affected

In this case, TicketFly was held at ransom. A hacker attempted to notify the site of a security flaw and asked for one bitcoin to remedy the site’s vulnerability of user information.

When the site did not respond to the concern—the hacker did—by releasing nearly 27 million user email addresses.

Houzz

Late December 2018
Users Affected: Unknown

Houzz is one of the newest victims of data breaching. Encrypted passwords, IP addresses, and ZIP codes are just a few of the concerns users are facing in this heist.

Users were ushered to reset their account passwords as hackers could attempt to use leaked usernames and passwords on other sites.

IT Support You Can Rely On

We have your back to protect your site from potential cyber attackers. Contact our solutions team at (888) 800-0433.

You can also fill out a free, no-risk IT Security Assessment on our site at: https://netcov.com/info-tech-security-assessment/

 

References:

Facebook: https://www.consumerreports.org/digital-security/what-makes-the-facebook-data-breach-so-harmful/

Facebook: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/28/technology/facebook-hack-data-breach.html

JPMorgan Chase: https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/chase-breach-affects-76-million-households-a-7395

Houzz: https://www.digitaltrends.com/home/houzz-data-breach-password-change/

Houzz: https://www.techradar.com/news/houzz-reveals-it-suffered-a-data-breach

TicketFly: https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/j5kd4b/ticketfly-hack-breach-26-million-users-emails-home-addresses

LinkedIn: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/linkedin-2012-data-breach-hack-much-worse-than-we-thought-passwords-emails/

LinkedIn: https://www.trendmicro.com/vinfo/us/security/news/cyber-attacks/2012-linkedin-breach-117-million-emails-and-passwords-stolen-not-6-5m

EBay: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/05/21/ebay-asks-145-million-users-to-change-passwords-after-data-breach/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.37efcfa160fd

Target: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2014/05/21/ebay-asks-145-million-users-to-change-passwords-after-data-breach/?noredirect=on&utm_term=.37efcfa160fd

Target: https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2017/05/23/target-pay-185m-2013-data-breach-affected-consumers/102063932/