Enterprise Security is a strategic way for a company to reduce the risk of unauthorized access to information technology systems and data. Many organizations, whether small or large, rely on enterprise security to keep their data safe. There are five common pitfalls that organizations make when trying to protect their information.
- Assuming cybersecurity is only a large corporation problem and you are not the target. Not treating data protection as a top priority could come at a cost to you and your clients. No matter your company’s industry or size, chances are you will face a cyber-attack. Although you mostly hear stories about theft of credit card data or personal identity theft, you cannot count your company out just because you do not handle this type of information. Organizations have valuable information that cyber attackers are after. This risk should be taken seriously. When addressing the issue of cybersecurity, you will want to find qualified experts to conduct assessments through the company’s technology.
- Thinking cybersecurity is only an IT issue. While technology is a part of the solution, it is up to everyone in the company to protect the data. Companies need to focus on guarding trade secrets, research and development, and intellectual property. They also need to be sure to protect personally identifiable information. Cyber-attacks can affect every aspect of a business and although IT is there to detect and prevent intrusion, there needs to be clear policies and processes in place to help companies and their employees respond effectively in case of a hack. Through training and education, the whole company should be taught how to prevent and recover from attacks.
- Not understanding or keeping your network updated. Not every attack can be prevented. Networks are massive and there are too many chances to get in. Failing to keep your software updated or knowing the design of your network, you put the security of your company and its employees at risk. Updating your business’ network security is not something that you should avoid, cyber hackers pay attention to the new release dates so they know when your network will be most vulnerable. Failing to update your network can also disrupt the workflow in your company. If a team of employees are working on different versions of software, but working on the same project there could be compatibility issues. Upgrading your system needs to be a priority and finding time to do this can be difficult.
- Depending only on anti-virus software. Anti-virus software alone is not enough to ward off persistent attacks. Attackers advance their craft quicker than security companies can update their tools. Counting on security at the border alone will not keep your enterprise safe. While anti-virus is still useful and a must have, you cannot only respond to threats that have already been recognized. There is no one solution to cybersecurity, businesses should employ solutions that detect threats and know the results if attacked.
- Failing to Identify and Protect Critical and Sensitive Data. It is important to identify your company’s most critical and valuable data. Once the data is identified, it is important to label such files. This helps with tracing and defending this information from attackers. Know at all times who is accessing your data and how it is being used, within and outside the company. Visibility combined with organization will enable more active protection focusing on your most sensitive data. There are companies out there such as Masergy that can help with your security needs, you can get recent industry updates from their blog and social pages.
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