The cost of a data breach is huge for businesses. The average data breach costs more than $3 million. That’s not just due to lost productivity and data loss.
Customers tend to flee businesses that were hit by a cyberattack. In fact, 59% of customers avoid companies that were breached in the past year.
IT network and security issues are at the top of everyone’s technology priorities. You can’t depend on sheer luck to avoid an attack.
You need data and network security design tools or other related tools that help you beat back the hackers that are intent on stealing data. How can you keep them at bay? Keep reading to learn the top IT network and security tools you should have in your business.
1. Intrusion Detection
In 2020, it took an average of 207 days to detect a security breach. That’s plenty of time for hackers to raid your databases and do significant damage to your networks.
Intrusion detection tools take a baseline measurement of your network. It then looks for anomalies against that baseline measurement.
If it detects anything, you’re notified immediately and can respond to breaches.
2. Data Backup
Think about the different types of data you have. You have customer data, documents, contracts, financial data, website databases, and so much more.
Data loss can cost your business millions of dollars. You essentially have to rebuild your data from scratch if you lose it in a ransomware attack.
A data backup system ensures that you have complete access to data, even if it’s lost for good. You won’t have to be put in a position to pay hackers thousands if they hold it for ransom.
You know that you have a backup and can minimize the damage. You do need to set up a backup frequency schedule and stick to it.
3. User Authorization
Hackers need access to your network to cause trouble. What happens if a hacker takes over a user account on your network? Then they have access to everything.
A user authorization tool lets you limit the amount of data each person has access to. They only access what they need instead of having the ability to access the entire network.
That prevents hackers from taking over your entire network if they access a user account.
4. Virtual Private Network
A good percentage of the workforce is mobile. More and more people are working remotely as well. You can’t control every single network, but you can assume that they’re vulnerable.
A person can access your network from a public WiFi connection. These connections carry security risks that put your entire network in danger.
What you can do is invest in a virtual private network (VPN). A small business VPN creates an encrypted connection between users and your network.
5. Anti-Malware
Malware comes in many different forms, from spyware to ransomware. All forms pose a threat to your network and system security. Once a program infects one device on your network, it spreads to all other devices quickly.
Anti-malware programs detect malware and prevent them from proliferating.
6. Security Policies
The tools mentioned above are incredibly useful. If they’re not backed by strong data and network security policies, then they become a bit useless.
Network and security policies ensure that everyone in your organization contributes to keeping your organization secure.
You need to have a few policies in place that govern network security and cybersecurity. The first is for your IT team to detect, prevent, and respond to threats.
When your network is under attack, there’s no time to figure out how to respond. A plan in place keeps everyone calm and they know what to do.
There needs to be another policy for employees, contractors, and anyone else that uses your network. The policies should include tips to identify threats and how to manage mobile devices.
How to Implement Network and Security Tools
What can you do to implement these network security tools in your business? You need to start with a network security audit.
This is where you uncover your network’s vulnerabilities, IT management, and network usage. You’ll be able to tell what tools you need first.
You’ll then create policies and systems for implementing the tools. For instance, if you discover that you need a VPN, you’ll decide who needs access to the VPN and when it should be used.
Once you have these things in place, you’ll need to train the network users.
Get Help
Does this seem like a huge burden for the IT team? Then you can get help from IT consultants. They can do everything from conducting the audit to helping you implement security measures.
When you look for IT consultants, you need to have a team that is experienced. Look at the types of services they provide, the cost, and customer testimonials.
A good example to follow is Be Structured Word of Mouth, which has testimonials, and you can see the services and industries served.
Data and Network Security Tips and Tools
It doesn’t take much for someone to breach your network. An email click, a late security patch update, or a missed opportunity could all lead to disaster.
You could lose precious data, consumer trust, and money. You don’t want to have to shut your doors because of an IT network and security breach.
The network system and security tools listed here will help you prevent and detect a security breach. You can have the plans in place to respond immediately.
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