You’ve heard the adage, “the best offense is a good defense.” While that may be true in many situations, effective cybersecurity requires both a robust offense and an ironclad defense.
Business Network Consulting (BNC), which is an Austin IT provider, approaches cybersecurity from both directions. BNC keeps up on new measures and advancements—which are constantly being developed—to protect its clients. Here’s a brief outline of the type of strategy businesses should employ to protect their data.
Three strong IT offense tactics
1. Annual pen testing
Experts perform a pen test, or a simulated hack on a business’ system, to reveal vulnerabilities. The goal of this test is to breach your system using the same types of methods hackers regularly use.
This type of exercise reveals a business system’s strengths and weaknesses, so that its IT experts can make adjustments to prevent cyberattacks.
2. End-user security training
You could set up any manner of control, have a virtually impenetrable network—but still, it is possible for your employees to inadvertently perform an action that puts your system at risk. That’s why it’s so important to require end-user security training.
This kind of training raises end user awareness of typical cybercrime attacks, teaching them to be more wary of phishing and ransomware schemes, for example.
3. Disaster recovery plans
Data loss can occur because of cyberattack, natural disaster, human error, equipment failure, and countless other reasons. Many businesses play the odds and hope nothing ever happens that requires them to have a plan—but when disaster does strike, they’re in an untenable position.
Having a detailed disaster recovery plan is critical. Experts and consultants at Austin IT consulting firm BNC work with businesses to create plans that result in little or no down time if a disaster does occur.
Three strong IT defense tactics
1. NGAV with real-time alerts
Next Generation AntiVirus (NGAV) uses techniques such as artificial intelligence, behavioral detection, and machine-learning algorithms to detect network infiltration. NGAV is much more sophisticated than previous generations of antivirus software and can uncover even subtle signs that your network has been compromised. Real-time alerts let IT operatives know that a possible breach has occurred, so they can act immediately.
2. Cybersecurity insurance
Cybersecurity insurance functions as liability insurance for the risk inherent in using technology. It is unlikely that your other business policies cover cybercrime incidents. Most cybersecurity policies cover privacy and data breaches, as well as digital crimes related to malware.
Insurance can act as another tool in your defensive belt to keep your business secure.
3. Air-gapped offsite backups
You know backups are important. If something does happen that results in data loss, a recent backup is key to recovery. For example, if (despite your best efforts) you find that your network has been taken hostage by ransomware, an air gap offsite backup can come to your rescue.
Put simply, these backups copy your data and secure it away from your business, the internet, and any form of public access, making it very difficult for the data to be accessed without proper credentials.
Want to know how your game plan stacks up against cybercriminals’ offense? Contact BNC to determine what kinds of tactics you need to win.
