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Is your password strong and secure?

A password is more than just an assortment of characters you’re required to enter in order to access your accounts. It is the first line of defense against potential threats and attacks. A weak password makes it easier for hackers or cybercriminals to gain access to your personal information, such as financial details or sensitive data. But there are many people who are completely misguided about what a strong password actually is.

The importance of secure passwords for your business

While many personal accounts are password-protected, securing your business accounts is equally critical. This applies not just to you but to your entire company. Every employee should use strong passwords to safeguard sensitive business data. Imagine the potential harm a cybercriminal could cause if they gained access to your data and systems. It could tarnish your business’s reputation and jeopardize both your employees’ and customers’ private information.

What makes a password strong? (Hint: It’s not about complexity)

Contrary to popular belief, the strength of a password is not solely determined by its complexity. While including a combination or letters, numbers, and symbols can enhance password security, it’s not as effective as using a longer sequence.

A long password is far stronger because it increases the number of possible combinations that an attacker needs to guess. This means that even if your password contains common words or phrases, it will still be significantly more difficult to breach if it’s longer. In fact, a lengthy passphrase consisting of a series of unrelated words can often be stronger than a shorter password filled with complex characters. For instance, “PurpleBananaSunsetRiver” is not only easier to remember but also more secure than something like “P@ssw0rd1” because of its length and randomness.

Furthermore, longer passwords are more resistant to brute force attacks, which involve using automated programs to guess different password combinations until the correct one is found. The longer the password, the more time and computational power it would take for an attacker to crack it, making it a far less appealing target. So, when creating strong passwords for your business accounts, prioritize length and complexity to bolster your online security effectively.

Educating your team on password security

If you manage a team, it’s crucial to educate them on the significance of strong, lengthy passwords. Ensure your team receives training on cybersecurity practices, including password creation. A single weak password could open the door to a cyberattack, emphasizing the importance of collective diligence.

Simplifying strong password creation

Creating robust and lengthy passwords doesn’t have to be a tedious process. If you struggle to create or remember them, consider using a password manager. This tool can generate long and unique passwords for each account based on your preferences. It will then store them securely so that you only need to remember one master password to access all your accounts.

Passwords are often the easiest to overlook when it comes to online security, but they are also the most critical. If you need further guidance or assistance in enhancing your cybersecurity practices, get in touch with us. Our team of experts is ready to help you navigate the digital world securely.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Why HTTPS is essential for online security

Cybercriminals are relentless in coming up with new ways to steal our personal information and financial data. That’s why it’s more important than ever to take steps to protect ourselves online, and these steps include visiting websites that use HTTPS.

What is HTTPS?

When you visit a website, you may see a padlock icon in the address bar. This icon indicates that the website is using Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS), which is a secure communications protocol that encrypts all data transmitted between your browser and the website.

Without HTTPS, all the data you enter or click on is sent in plain text. This means that anyone who intercepts the traffic between your browser and the website can see everything you do, including the information you enter on the website.

HTTPS also verifies the identity of the website you are visiting, protecting you from cyberattacks involving spoofed versions of legitimate websites that are designed to steal your information.

Compared to the standard HTTP, HTTPS offers a higher level of security, making it essential for online banking, eCommerce, and any other website that handles sensitive data.

How do HTTPS certificates work?

When you go to a website, your device uses an internet directory (i.e., DNS server) to convert the website’s name into a number (i.e., its IP address). This number is saved in a cache so that your device doesn’t have to look it up again every time you visit the website. However, if your computer gets compromised while using an HTTP connection, an attacker can change the directory so that you are redirected to a malicious website, even if you type in the correct address. Victims are usually redirected to spoofed versions of legitimate websites, where they are tricked into entering their sensitive information, such as their login credentials.

To prevent this, internet directories issue HTTPS certificates that transform HTTP into HTTPS. This makes it impossible for anyone to redirect you to a fraudulent website. HTTPS certificates include data about the website, such as its domain name, company name, and location. They also contain a public key for encrypting communication between your browser and the website.

More ways to stay safe online

Here are a few tips for staying safe online, whether you’re just browsing or doing work-related tasks:

  • Think twice before clicking on a website flagged as “unsafe” by your browser. Proceed only if you are sure that no confidential data will be transmitted.
  • Use trusted web browser extensions, such as HTTPS Everywhere, to encrypt your communication, especially when visiting unencrypted websites.
  • Don’t go to websites that don’t use the HTTPS prefix.
  • Be vigilant. Even if a website has HTTPS, it doesn’t automatically mean it’s safe. For example, amaz0n.com (with the “o” replaced with a 0) could have a certificate, but the misspelling suggests that it’s an untrustworthy site. Cybercriminals use similar spellings of real websites to trick victims into believing they’re on a secure site.

While HTTPS is not a silver bullet for online security, it is an essential measure for protecting yourself online. Reach out to us today to learn more about HTTPS and other cybersecurity best practices.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory SOURCE

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Managing cloud cyber security

As cloud computing continues to reshape the business world, the need to ensure the security of this complex new environment is more important than ever. This comes with its own significant challenges. Increased cloud adoption is bringing increased exposure to cyber threats, leaving businesses vulnerable to ever-evolving forms of attack.

With cyber threats showing no sign of slowing down, organizations cannot afford any gaps in their cloud infrastructure. Fortunately, there are concrete actions every company can take to strengthen their security stance. To find out more, Scott Nicholson, Co-CEO of Bridewell, shared his thoughts.

Why is cloud cybersecurity so crucial?

Traditional cybersecurity was built around on-premises infrastructure to manage on-premises threats. But the landscape looks very different today. The rise of cloud computing has made the digital world more interconnected and accessible than ever before, as data and applications have moved outside the traditional perimeter. This change has rendered most legacy network security controls obsolete, so it is essential that cybersecurity methods evolve to keep pace with accelerated cloud adoption.

At the same time, these increasingly complex IT and networking infrastructures are bringing new opportunities for cyber criminals, due to the expanded attack surface. We need only look at recent news headlines to recognize the threats. The Russian-backed hackers behind the Sunburst cyber attack managed to exploit cloud vulnerabilities to pilfer emails and files from over 100 companies around the world. We are also seeing cloud-based systems, services and data being targeted by ransomcloud – attacks that take advantage of weaknesses or legitimate functionality in cloud resources to deploy malware, encrypt data, and extort money from businesses.

To manage such a complex web of risks, companies need to review their own cloud security posture today and put in place measures to boost visibility, cyber maturity and resilience.

How can companies tackle the problem of skills gaps when it comes to cloud security?

There’s no denying that the skills gap is a growing challenge. Unfortunately, a lot of organizations started their cloud transformation journey on the back foot, implementing remote access tech without the skills needed to secure and manage cloud environments on an ongoing basis. This has led to a skills, transformation, and burnout cycle: IT teams are being asked to do more with less people to support transformation, heightening the risks of human error, data breaches, and the cycle getting underway again.

But there are ways that companies can break through the cloud security skills gap. Education is key to mitigating threats in the cloud, so all IT, security, and end users need to be fully informed and trained on a range of basic cyber hygiene practices and how these translate into cloud environments, covering areas such as controls testing, configuration hardening, network segmentation and incident response capabilities in the cloud.

Also, organizations shouldn’t be afraid to expand their talent pool by recruiting people from other backgrounds. Too many organizations focus purely on cyber talent and could be missing out on many great candidates with transferable skills. Here at Bridewell, we have taken on a lot of IT engineers and trained them up to be penetration testers and these are now some of our best people.

Companies also have the option to partner with a trusted managed security services provider with expertise in cloud security solutions. Outsourcing addresses the cyber security skills gap by providing ongoing expertise and support, which is very difficult to achieve in-house.

What challenges are preventing organizations from gaining the visibility needed to detect and respond to threats in the cloud?

There are a number of reasons why organizations may struggle to gain a detailed view of all activity in the cloud. In today’s diverse digital landscape, it’s common to see the convergence of traditional enterprise IT infrastructure with public cloud in a hybrid deployment. Businesses are also now integrating their operations with multiple cloud providers, which adds an extra layer of complexity. This means that some traditional security operations centers (SOCs) are having to juggle around 40 different tools to cover the cloud and every other possible vulnerability, each of which needs to be configured, supported, and monitored 24/7. This is a huge ask, and resources will be stretched further as OT and IT continues to converge.

Organizations can improve their cloud visibility today by having a multi-cloud security strategy and aiming to move towards having a full Extended Detection & Response (XDR) capability to help detect and respond to security threats in a more holistic and efficient manner.

How can companies better balance operational uptime and security requirements?

Of course, every organization wants to have effective security in place but without hindering and negatively impacting business operations. This is absolutely critical for some Operational Technology (OT), where it is performing critical functions that have a health and safety consequence.

Context in these scenarios is king. Understanding what risks are faced, the threat actors and the various methods in which a cyber attack could occur will enable informed decisions to be made regarding the application of cyber security controls and risk mitigation activity. Threat modelling is a very good methodology to structure and deliver this type of approach, which should include security professionals, engineering teams and any other key stakeholders.

There are also security technologies that provide non-intrusive network based detection capabilities to aide visibility, which is a great starting point for security improvements. Having a development environment or being able to replicate segments of an environment to test the application of security controls, will all aide understanding and decision making.

What does a proactive cyber security posture look like, and how can organizations achieve it?

Organizations with a proactive cyber security posture take the initiative to drive long-lasting security improvements from within, rather than waiting for the next big breach to happen. This involves moving away from traditional reactive security techniques – which focus simply on detection and notification of attacks – towards a more intelligent stance that gives a clear, holistic view of cyber security across IT, OT, cloud, and end user devices. As both cloud adoption and cloud security risks continue to grow, this proactive approach is critical to business continuity.

To build a proactive stance, businesses need to understand the threats they’re likely to face – past, present, and future. Threat intelligence is vital in enabling IT teams to quickly detect and respond to active threats in the cloud. With the right strategy, based on threat intelligence linked to managed detection and response (MDR) and supported by ethical hacking techniques to test defenses, companies can ensure they are fully armed in the face of evolving cloud-based threats.

Organizations that have a proactive cyber security posture also understand that attacks are inevitable, they focus on how quickly they can identify, detect and respond to those attacks in addition to compartmentalizing any successful attacks and having confidence in their ability to resume systems in a timely manner if negatively impacted.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar SOURCE

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Adobe Acrobat and Reader have some serious security flaws, so patch now

Adobe has issued a urgent warning to users of its Acrobat and Acrobat Reader PDF editors following the discovery of a zero-day vulnerability of critical severity.

The software company has released a security update for Windows and macOS users, urging them to apply the patch as soon as possible in order to reduce the risk of an attack.

In a statement, the firm said: “Adobe is aware that CVE-2023-26369 has been exploited in the wild in limited attacks targeting Adobe Acrobat and Reader.”

Adobe Acrobat and Reader patch

Details about the vulnerability remain scarce given the fresh nature of the discovery, however the software maker did confirm that: “Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.”

Acrobat DC and Acrobat Reader DC versions 23.003.20284 and earlier have been confirmed to be affected, as have 2020 versions of both software running build 20.005.30516 and earlier for macOS and 20.005.30514 and earlier for Windows.

Adobe’s latest software updates for its PDF programs, which became available on September 12, address a series of security issues. They also introduce some feature changes and enhancements, including the ability to reposition quick tools, new undo and redo options in the top menu bar, drag-and-drop support for combining files, and more.

The San Jose-based company also issued further updates across its range of products, including Adobe Connect and Adobe Experience Manager software, which allowed attackers to gain arbitrary code execution on unpatched devices.

The discovery of vulnerabilities in Adobe’s software is not ideal, but nor is it alarming. Companies release security fixes for their software on a regular basis in order to iron out vulnerabilities and protect users, and the fact that the company responded with speed is admirable.

Adobe or not, anybody using any digital service should keep an eye on software and firmware updates that become available, installing them as soon as possible.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar SOURCE

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Fortifying your business with two-factor authentication and two-step verification

The digital realm is teeming with risks that can compromise business data. Thankfully, a variety of tools and technologies are available for your company to fortify its cybersecurity. Two-factor authentication (2FA) and two-step verification (2SV) are among the most effective methods for bolstering your defenses against attackers.

2FA and 2SV are often used interchangeably, but they are, in fact, two distinct approaches to security. Let’s take a look at the differences between them and explore how they can benefit your business.

Two-factor authentication

2FA is a security measure that requires users to provide two different types of credentials in order to log into their accounts. Typically, the first factor consists of something that the user knows, such as a password. The second factor could be something like a one-time passcode sent via text message or email or a biometric identifier, such as a fingerprint.

With 2FA enabled on your business accounts, cybercriminals will have a harder time gaining access to these. Even if they somehow manage to obtain the first factor (e.g., by guessing your password), they still won’t be able to log in without the second piece of information, which only you can have.

Two-step verification

2SV is similar to 2FA in that it requires two pieces of information to gain access to an account. However, the difference between the two lies in the number of authentication steps involved. As the name suggests, 2SV requires two authentication steps: one where the user provides their first factor (e.g., a password) and another where they provide additional information that proves they are who they say they are.

For example, with 2SV enabled on your business accounts, users may be asked to provide a second form of authentication when they attempt to log in from an unfamiliar device or IP address. This could be in the form of another password, a one-time passcode generated by an authentication app on their phone, or some other type of verification.

Benefits of 2FA and 2SV for businesses

Enabling 2FA and/or 2SV on your business accounts can provide a variety of benefits, including:

  • Improved security – By adding an extra layer of authentication, you can reduce the risk of unauthorized access to your accounts.
  • Enhanced compliance – By using advanced authentication, such as 2FA and 2SV, you can ensure that your business is meeting industry and government standards for data security.
  • Reduced costs – Fewer unauthorized access attempts means fewer chances of fraud and data theft, which can lead to significant cost savings over time.

Which is best for your business?

The decision of whether to use 2FA or 2SV depends on a number of factors, such as the size and complexity of your business, the type of data you are storing, and the level of security you require.

For example, if your business is storing sensitive data, such as customer credit card information, then a multifactor authentication system that includes both 2FA and 2SV may be the most appropriate choice. On the other hand, if you are simply looking to add an extra layer of protection to your email accounts, then a 2FA system may be all that is needed.

Ultimately, the best authentication solution for your business will depend on its individual needs and requirements. It is always a good idea to consult with an experienced security professional to ensure that you are making the right decision.

Our team of experts is here to help you make the best choice for your business. Get in touch with us today to learn more about 2FA and 2SV and how they can improve your security.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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Most consumers can’t spot phishing scams

Some consumers don’t know what the padlock in the browser means

Most consumers in the UK wouldn’t be able to spot a phishing website if they ever landed on one, a new report from NordVPN claims.

The VPN provider recently ran its National Privacy Test, a global survey on cybersecurity and the public’s awareness of online privacy. More than 26,000 people from 175 countries around the world participated in the poll. 

The results showed that almost two-thirds of Brits (63%) couldn’t correctly identify a phishing website, as they were looking in all the wrong places and mistaking certain features as signs of safety. 

Looking for SSL

For example, 85% of Brits wrongly believe a padlock in the web browser’s address bar means the website is trusted. Furthermore, a quarter (22%) of UK respondents said they’d be suspicious of a website that didn’t have a copyright symbol at the bottom of the page, which would make absolutely no difference regarding their online safety.

On the other hand, some red flags were properly identified by many. For example, three-quarters (72%) said that if a website’s SSL showed a random individual or company name, they would be suspicious. Furthermore, four in five (81%) would be suspicious of a website with poor visuals and copy, and 86% would be wary of the site’s address.

Phishing is a cybercriminal practice in which hackers try to trick people into giving away sensitive information such as login credentials or payment information. 

Sometimes, they distribute emails pretending to come from trusted brands, and sometimes they set up malicious landing pages where people would try to log in, or make a purchase. 

There are more than a million unique phishing websites live right now, with “several” new ones being generated every minute, NordVPN concluded. To stay safe, users are generally advised to deploy common sense and never rush to download a file or open a link they receive in an email or a social media message. 

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and staying informed about the latest threats and solutions is essential to keep your business safe in the digital age. Protect your assets, safeguard your customers, and maintain your reputation by talking to our cybersecurity experts today.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar SOURCE

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Email phishing is still very effective – and it’s only getting stronger

Phishing is still by far the most popular attack vector out there. Not only that, but its popularity among the cybercriminal community is growing by the day.

This is according to “Phishing threats report”, a new paper just published by Cloudflare. After analyzing more than 279 million detected email threats, 250 million malicious messages, and more than a billion of brand impersonations, Cloudflare found that phishing is the initial attack vector for nine in ten cyberattacks.

As a result, businesses lose more than $50 billion every year.

Two key objectives

When it comes to phishing, cybercriminals are focused on two objectives: to achieve authenticity, and to get victims to click. The goal to achieve authenticity was underscored by the uptick in identity deception threats, which saw an increase from 10.3% to 14.2% year-on-year. That equals 39.6 million total detections.

Furthermore, Cloudflare’s researchers witnessed attackers impersonating over 1,000 different organizations, in more than a billion brand spoofing attempts. Most of the time (63.3%), the attackers tried to ape the same brands. The researchers identified the top 30 most popular brands, which included big names like Microsoft, Google, and Salesforce (all highly trusted organizations). 

Finally, almost all (89%) unwanted messages squeezed through SPF, DKIM, or DMARC authentication checks. “Attackers’ efforts to achieve legitimacy in the eyes of their victims have proven successful, as we have seen email authentication failing to stop threats,” the researchers concluded.

When it comes to the second goal, Cloudflare says users are more susceptible to the click “as an authentic form of communications.” Apparently, hackers know it’s easier for victims to click a link, rather than download a file. Hence, malicious links were the number one threat category, taking up more than a third (35.6%) of all detected threats. 

In almost all phishing attacks, the email will have a sense of urgency to it, forcing victims to react before taking the time to think their actions through. Given that most firms will not require urgent action in the majority of cases, a company asking for something to be done immediately can be considered a red flag.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and staying informed about the latest threats and solutions is essential to keep your business safe in the digital age. Protect your assets, safeguard your customers, and maintain your reputation by talking to our cybersecurity experts today.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechRadar SOURCE

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Strengthening SMB cybersecurity with managed IT services

As technology continues to advance, small- and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face increasing cybersecurity risks. Protecting sensitive data and maintaining a secure online environment is crucial for the success and longevity of SMBs, but without the right resources and expertise, this task can be daunting. Managed IT services providers (MSPs) offer a cost-effective and comprehensive solution to these challenges, helping SMBs bolster their cybersecurity defenses. Here’s how.

Enhanced security expertise and resources

Cybersecurity can be challenging for SMBs because it requires specialized expertise and solutions. Luckily, top MSPs employ teams of dedicated cybersecurity experts who have seen it all, from malware attacks to sophisticated network intrusions to online scams. These experts possess a wealth of knowledge on the latest cyberthreats and security best practices, so they can help SMBs develop a solid security strategy and framework. They’ll even facilitate the implementation of the security protocols and solutions, which can save SMBs time and money.

Comprehensive security assessment

To understand an SMB’s risk profile and security posture, an MSP will perform a thorough security assessment. This helps the MSP identify any existing vulnerabilities and develop solutions to correct them before they can be exploited. They will also review the SMB’s current security protocols and provide recommendations for improving them. By taking advantage of these assessments, SMBs can protect themselves from the newest threats.

Proactive monitoring

Managed IT services providers employ advanced threat intelligence databases and monitoring software to watch over networks, systems, and data. With these tools, MSPs can check network traffic for any suspicious activities that may indicate a potential cyberattack and promptly warn the SMB. This proactive monitoring can help SMBs detect, contain, and eliminate potential threats before they cause any serious damage.

Regular security updates

Maintaining a secure IT infrastructure requires constant updates and patch management. Patch management is a core service of many MSPs. It involves keeping track of all software patch releases, testing the patches for compatibility, and deploying them to client networks. By regularly updating and patching vulnerabilities, SMBs can significantly enhance their overall cybersecurity posture and reduce the likelihood of successful attacks.

Security awareness training

Beyond the technical security measures, MSPs also offer security awareness training programs for SMBs. These programs educate employees on the process of identifying potential threats, safe online practices, good password hygiene, and the importance of protection. Through ongoing training sessions and workshops, employees can develop a security-conscious mindset and contribute to maintaining a strong cybersecurity posture within the organization.

Incident response

If a security breach occurs, SMBs must be prepared to respond swiftly and effectively. MSPs can help SMBs develop comprehensive incident response plans to ensure they are well equipped to handle any cyberthreats. With an incident response plan, SMBs will be able to quickly identify potential breaches and take remedial actions with minimal disruption to their operations. MSPs can also assist SMBs in preserving evidence, restoring systems to their pre-breach state, and communicating with stakeholders regarding the incident.

Cybersecurity is a multifaceted endeavor that requires the right resources and expertise, but you don’t have to handle all of it by yourself. MSPs can lighten the load and provide your SMB with powerful security solutions and services. Contact us now to learn more about how managed IT services can help you protect your SMB.

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Cybersecurity jargon made simple

Cybersecurity is a crucial component of managing a successful company and understanding different cybersecurity terms is essential to protecting your company’s sensitive information, data, and assets can be deleted. Here’s a guide to key cybersecurity terms every business owner should know.

Malware

Malware is short for malicious software and encompasses various harmful programs designed to disrupt computer systems, steal data, or gain unauthorized access to a network. Types of malware include viruses, ransomware, Trojans, and spyware. Employing robust antivirus and anti-malware solutions is crucial to detect and mitigate these threats.

Phishing

Phishing is a cyberattack where malicious actors attempt to trick individuals into revealing sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card details, or login credentials. Phishing attacks often come through deceptive emails, spam messages, or websites that appear legitimate. Business owners must educate their employees about the dangers of phishing and promote a culture of vigilance when dealing with suspicious communications.

Firewall

A firewall is a network security solution that acts as a barrier between a company’s internal network and external networks such as the internet. It constantly scans and controls traffic coming in and out of a network using predetermined rules. These security rules help prevent unauthorized access to a system and keep potential cyberthreats at bay.

Encryption

Encryption is a method of converting plain, readable data into an unreadable format called ciphertext. It is used to protect sensitive information and maintain confidentiality during data transmission or storage. Even if the data is intercepted, the information will be unreadable without the correct decryption key.

Multifactor authentication (MFA)

MFA is a security mechanism that enhances the protection of user accounts and sensitive information by requiring users to provide multiple forms of identification or “factors” such as passwords, biometrics, and one-time codes to verify their identity. The goal of MFA is to add an extra layer of security beyond just a username and password.

Patch management

Hackers often exploit vulnerabilities in networks and applications to gain unauthorized access to an organization’s system. Patch management involves regularly updating and applying security patches to software, operating systems, and applications to close these vulnerabilities and protect businesses from potential breaches.

Data breach

A data breach occurs when unauthorized individuals gain access to sensitive information, such as customer data, financial records, or intellectual property. Data breaches can have severe consequences, including financial losses, legal repercussions, and reputational damage. Implementing robust security measures can help minimize the risk of data breaches.

Security awareness training

Security awareness training educates employees about potential cybersecurity threats and best practices to help them recognize and respond to such threats effectively.

Virtual private network (VPN)

A VPN is a software or platform that helps establish a secure and encrypted connection between a user’s device and a remote server. Using a VPN especially when connected to public Wi-Fi networks will ensure privacy and data protection.

Insider threat

An insider threat is a current or former employee, contractor, or business partner who intentionally or accidentally misuses their authorized access to compromise data security.

Security audit

A security audit is a systematic evaluation of an organization’s security policies, practices, and controls to identify potential vulnerabilities and improve overall security.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and staying informed about the latest threats and solutions is essential to keep your business safe in the digital age. Protect your assets, safeguard your customers, and maintain your reputation by talking to our cybersecurity experts today.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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How to enhance your company’s BYOD security

Bring your own device (BYOD) is a trend that has grown in popularity because of the convenience it offers employees, but it also presents a serious security risk. If an employee’s personal device is not appropriately secured, it can become a potential entry point for attackers to gain access to sensitive corporate information. Therefore, it is imperative to take steps to strengthen BYOD security. Here’s how you can do just that.

Establish a BYOD policy

The first step in securing personal devices used for work is to establish a clear BYOD policy. This policy should include guidelines for acceptable use of personal devices and security protocols such as device encryption, password policies, and data backup requirements. It should also define the types of data that can be accessed on personal devices and the consequences of policy violations.

Use mobile device management (MDM) software

MDM software allows companies to manage mobile devices from a centralized console. It provides administrators with control over the configuration, application installation, and security settings of mobile devices. With MDM software, administrators can establish company-wide security policies as well as monitor and wipe data from compromised devices.

Implement two-factor authentication (2FA)

Two-factor authentication is a security process that requires users to provide two forms of identification to access company data. This typically includes a combination of passwords and one-time verification codes generated by a third-party authenticator app. By implementing 2FA, the security of a device doesn’t solely depend on the strength of its user’s passwords. Hackers will need to gain access to both authentication factors to hack company devices, which can be incredibly difficult.

Conduct regular security training

Educating employees on security best practices is crucial for any organization. Employees need to be aware of the risks associated with using personal devices for work-related tasks. Companies should conduct regular security training sessions to help employees understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining the security of company data.

Monitor and enforce compliance

It’s essential to monitor the use of personal devices and ensure compliance with the company’s BYOD policy. This can be done through regular audits, periodic security assessments, and the use of security tools to detect unauthorized access attempts.

Establishing a robust security framework for BYOD is essential for any organization. Companies can work with a managed service provider to ensure that their BYOD security measures are up to date and effective. Call us today and let us help you strengthen your BYOD security.

If you are looking for an expert to help you find the best solutions for your business talk to GCInfotech about a free technology assessment

Published with consideration from TechAdvisory.org SOURCE

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