22 July, 2016
The incidences of online attacks have undergone a steep rise over the past few years, making cyber security a top priority for the organizations. A security breach can jeopardize the confidentiality of a company’s network and important data, leading to financial losses as well as reputational damage. Therefore, it is important to be proactive and identify as well as mitigate the potential threats to the corporate network.
Listed below are tips that can help organizations manage cyber security risks:
Internet Firewalls And Gateways
Internet firewalls, gateways and other such mechanisms should be adopted to protect the corporate network against unauthorized access. Devoid of proper security techniques, the company’s files, client details and other important information are at risk of being stolen, manipulated or deleted. A firewall will monitor the traffic on the organizations’ internal network and block any suspicious or unauthorized users. However, it is important to ensure that the firewall is frequently updated and password protected.
Secure Configuration
All the devices connected to the network should be properly configured to adhere to the cyber security policies of the company. This will help to identify and deal with the potential vulnerabilities. The default security settings on any device can serve as an easy backdoor for the hackers to gain access to your corporate network. Therefore, when installing networking devices, these settings should be changed and safeguarded with a strong as well as hard-to-crack password. Unrequired user accounts should be deleted and obsolete software should be updated or disabled. Auto-run feature should also be deactivated to prevent unintended installation of malicious software.
Software Management
Most cyber-attacks are initiated by exploiting the security vulnerabilities in the software installed on a computer system. Hence, it is essential to regularly download and install the updates released by the software vendors. The organization should frame a comprehensive patch management policy to ensure efficient and effective updating of the software. There should be a specified time frame within which the patches need to be installed on the networking devices. Also, all the software updates should be licensed and released by a legitimate authority.
Malware Protection
When computer systems are connected to the internet, they are likely to download malware through spam emails, fake websites, malicious advertizements or drive-by downloads. Anti-malware software should be installed to protect against such online threats. Make sure you keep it updated and allow regular scans to detect any malware installed on the device.
Centex Technologies is a leading IT consulting firm providing cyber security solutions to business firms across Central Texas. For more information, you can call us at (855) 375 – 9654.