5 Common IT Security Risks and How To Keep Your Network Safe
In today’s digital world, one of a business’s largest assets is its website. Instead of customers walking through the front door of a storefront, leads and sales are generated through your website. Now, instead of a business owner and their employees being robbed, they need to prepare for network security risks. Let’s discuss five of the most common network threats and how to protect your company’s network from them.
Computer Viruses
Computer viruses can create
devastating problems for IT networks. 53% of all computers in use in the
United States have experienced at least one computer virus. Recently there have been virus attacks on a global
scale; corrupting files, stealing information, and disrupting daily operations
of the targeted companies. In a worst-case scenario, a virus can completely
wipe out a company’s hard drive, which would halt business operations
altogether for a long period of time.
To protect yourself from computer viruses, you should be smart about opening emails or clicking links that are not recognizable. You can also take the following steps:
Install a firewall
Conduct proper maintenance
Use IDS/IPS to track potential packet floods
Use network segmentation
Use a virtual private network (VPN)
Hackers
Hackers illegally access websites
and devices with the intention to steal personal and financial information in
order to commit crimes like theft. A hacker can do a lot of damage to an
account or device, and once the hackers gets into your system, they have free
rein. Unfortunately, it is often difficult to track who the hacker is since
they use cutting-edge technology, often from outside of the country, and are
able to escape punishment.
To protect yourself from the
threat of hackers, you should: install antivirus and antimalware software, make
sure your security software is updated regularly, and disable connections
such as Bluetooth and WIFI when you aren’t using them. This will prevent
unknown persons from accessing your network or stop them in their tracks if
they do. It is also important to train your employees on the warning signs of
hackers so they can report anything out of the ordinary.
Adware and Spyware
Adware collects data on your computer with your consent through the User Agreement docs in software updates. You can tell adware is on your computer if you see pop-up ads or notice that your computer’s processor internet connection is running more slowly than usual.
Adware can also be added to your computer without your consent, this is called spyware, and it is considered malicious. Spyware can record personal information like credit card numbers, email addresses and passwords, which puts you at risk of identity theft.
The steps to preventing
spyware are very similar to those used to prevent hackers. You need to change
your passwords and install antivirus protection on your computer
immediately.
Computer Worms
A computer worm is a
piece of software that copies itself from computer to computer without human
interaction. Computer worms spread and replicate very fast, which means within
hours, they can be put on to all of the computers in your business network.
Many worms use email to reproduce and then use Microsoft Outlook or Outlook
Express to spread. Again, having proper and up-to-date antivirus software on
your network is crucial to detecting these programs and stopping them in their
tracks.
Lack of a recovery plan
Security attacks happen
frequently, so it is important to have a recovery plan in place for when it
happens to you in order to minimize the damage that occurs. Unfortunately, most
companies do not have any such plan in place or are even aware of the external
risks. Most companies only have preventative measures in place but no recovery
plan.
If you are attacked, you need
to monitor all financial accounts, change your passwords and notify other users
on the network to do the same.
Some network security threats
are used to steal information, while others are used to disrupt your business’s
productivity and processes. Either way, they are dangerous and disruptive but,
for the most part, preventable. ABM offers IT security to our clients, where we monitor your
network for breaches and potential breaches, including email filters. We are
recognized as a Fortinet partner and will work with you to give you the peace
of mind that your data is secure. If you are ready to take your IT security to
the next level, we are here to help.