Posts Tagged ‘information security’
How to Reduce the Threat of Computer Viruses
Almost all personal computers and business hardware has anti-virus software as a way to keep viruses and other malware sources at bay. The reason is simple: it’s easy to install, easy to update, and easy to use.
However, in the business world, just installing the anti-virus software isn’t enough. In order to keep your data secure and your client information confidential, you must follow up to ensure that the software is being used to its maximum potential.
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Regularly update all of your software – even ones that aren’t related to information security in any way. Viruses are usually developed to get into operating systems and programs that are outdated or otherwise weak. When a software update is offered, it’s usually because the programmers have found a way to make it more secure (and usually easier to run, too).
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Keep an eye on your employees. Although it isn’t always deliberate, the number one cause of viruses on work computers is employees who accessed unsafe sites or opened an email they shouldn’t have. Whether you need to restrict Internet access, train employees on Internet safety, or instill a new policy into your company manual regarding computer use and viruses, you should always make sure your staff knows the rules regarding viruses and information security.
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Put up protection behind the protection. No matter what business you’re in, anti-virus software simply isn’t enough. Your company’s reputation and your customers’ safety is dependent on your network being a safe, secure place that keeps viruses and other sources away from sensitive information. Sometimes, this means hiring an IT vulnerability manager to help you overhaul your entire network, and other times it means taking steps to improve policy management.
When it comes to viruses and other types of malware, IT solutions don’t always have to be complicated. Sometimes, it’s the small steps (anti-virus software, employee training, limited Internet use) that can have the biggest impact on your information safety measures.
Getting Started with Vulnerability Patch Management
Last week, we discussed the benefits of a vulnerability patch management plan in boosting information security on a company-wide level. From IT policy development to network restructuring, there are countless reasons to integrate vulnerability patch management.
Once you decide to start working with an online or local IT consulting firm, you will most likely go through the following steps:
Inventory and Assessment: Not only will your IT consultant assess the strength of your current system from an operating standpoint, but he or she will also inventory the resources you have in the form of hardware, software, bandwidth, and even the employees you can rely on. All of these factors weigh in on the strength and viability of your system.
Monitor and Identify Threats: Using the inventory you currently have (or using new additions based on your consultant’s recommendations), you will begin a monitoring program that finds weaknesses and emerging threats. This may be automated, or it may be part of your consultant’s plan. In either case, you should be able to tell where to put your focus for moving forward.
Move Forward: This includes prioritizing the vulnerabilities, creating a database of solutions based on the prioritization list, and actually implementing the patches. It doesn’t matter whether you immediately apply the patches or if you spread them out over a period of time, this is the point at which you develop a long-term solution to see you and your company through the next few years.
Begin Automation: Making vulnerability patch management a regular part of your business means relaying the appropriate information to administrators and setting up an automated detection patch deployment system. In many cases, this will include training your IT staff on how to read the vulnerability scan results and how to apply solutions before they become liabilities in your business.
Benefits of Vulnerability Patch Management
Many of today’s top companies have been working on vulnerability management for as long as they’ve operated on a network of information technology. After all, information security is an important component of running a successful business – especially when that business works with personal information, finances, and other sensitive data.
However, companies that have an existing vulnerability management plan might not be as protected as they think. Over time, the series of patches used to repair weaknesses or “holes” in the system might burden a network or fail to provide complete safety against penetration. That’s why most IT consultants recommend vulnerability patch management as a way to revitalize an existing system that is either ineffective or that hasn’t been updated in at least a year.
Overall, vulnerability patch management systems work by:
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Providing a core for all other vulnerability tasks. Instead of merely putting patches on top of patches, you’re looking beyond an immediate solution to an entire restructuring of the way your business handles technology. This also creates a concrete plan of action that can gear your entire company toward a more results-oriented approach to technology.
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Bringing administrators, technology experts, and separate department together. For a vulnerability patch management program to work effectively, it must become a company-wide solution that pays attention to the organizational hierarchy. What department has the biggest need for vulnerability protection? Where is it the most cost-effective to start? The answers to these questions can be integrated into policy to become a baseline for future vulnerability patch solutions.
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Eliminating downtime. Whether it’s freeing up a burdened system to run more effectively or freeing up your employees to turn their attention to more pressing tasks, a vulnerability patch management plan is a great way to monitor, revise, and streamline your information system.
Next week, we’ll look at how getting started with vulnerability patch management works and what businesses can expect.
7 Easy Ways to Improve Your Employees’ IT Security
No matter what type of business you’re in, employees remain one of the biggest threats to information security. Enforce these steps, and you’re well on your way to a stronger, more secure network.
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1. Differentiate between files that contain confidential data and files that don’t. The ones that must be confidential should be dealt with first (whether that means deleting them or encrypting them).
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2. Only save confidential data in a proper storage files. Don’t allow this type of information to be stored on individual PCs or laptops.
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3. Keep track of portable storage device use. If a flash drive or portable hard drive contains sensitive information, it needs to be handled properly. Make sure the check out/check in process is formalized and that there is secure storage during non-use.
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4. Require employees to log out of all applications (or even their computer) when they walk away. Depending on the type of work he or she does, this may need to be enforced even for short breaks.
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5. Don’t allow employees to save non-work-related files to their computers, This includes pictures, music files, movies, or documents – especially those from illegal download sites. It is too difficult to monitor all files for safety.
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6. Monitor all software installations. There are many types of free software (such as toolbars, instant messaging applications, and even web browsers) that employees might be tempted to put on their computers. These should only be allowed under your discretion.
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7. Enforce email and email attachment rules. These should be a part of company policy and be strictly monitored.
Information Technology: Why Hire a Third Party
As more and more people become computer-savvy and companies open up IT departments to handle information and technology needs, the idea of hiring a third party may seem like an expense you simply don’t need. However, there are benefits to a third party IT professional beyond the obvious.
Vulnerability programs can slow your system down. Your employees and customers need to use your network every day in order to make purchases and get the job done. Vulnerability assessments and security scans can take up some of that precious bandwidth and make your system slow down. A third party IT firm can run their programs during non-office hours without placing a burden on your employees.
When it comes to knowledge, sharing is key. One of the primary benefits of an IT firm is that the professionals have worked with dozens of firms in the same industry as yours. While a reputable firm would never share sensitive information, they may have insight into best practices and new technologies that may or may not have worked for another company.
Distance provides clarity. In the bustle of day-to-day activities, an on-site IT department or professional might prioritize tasks according to a skewed system. After all, your employees have their own to-do lists and tasks to be completed, and they may not have the “bigger picture” in mind. When you work with an outside IT firm, you can create your own list of priorities and act accordingly. This will ensure that the most important (and foundation-building) tasks get done first.
It doesn’t matter whether your company is considering information technology risks for the first time or if you’ve been in the business of IT safety for years; looking for a third party IT provider is a great step. Save time, save money, and save the headache of IT disasters to come by outsourcing all your IT needs.
Financial Institutions and Vulnerability Management
If you’re in the business of money, vulnerability management should be on your list of priorities. In addition to security risks that change as often as the market, there are also considerations in federal regulations regarding customer data safety, as well.
There are a number of components of a good vulnerability management plan, including everything from finding weaknesses to making sure employee compliance is at its height. Some of the major components include:
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Policies and Procedures: How does your company define rights and responsibilities for employee device use, user identity, and server access? How accessible and enforced is this information?
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Baseline and Assessment: Where are your biggest weaknesses – in the system or in employee use? Have you run a vulnerability assessment, and what are the findings?
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Priorities: Now that you know where your vulnerabilities lie, how important are they? What needs to be addressed immediately, and what can be put off until the budget allows?
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Solutions: Most companies fail the biggest in this category of vulnerability management: follow-through. Knowing where your weaknesses lie will only help you strengthen your infrastructure if you do something about them.
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Regular Maintenance: For financial institutions, this step is key. Information regulations are always changing, and in order to avoid liability and maintain a good name in the industry, you have to put data security at the top of your list.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re in the market for a vulnerability management review or if you’re considering it for the first time - you can benefit from the services of an IT consulting firm that specializes in your industry.
Understanding Security Breaches
An important part of a disaster recovery system is preparing for security breaches. A security breach is any intentional act on a network of any kind. Even though a company might survive a breach and successfully retrieve its ‘stolen’ information, the biggest problem of the entire disaster is that this information is no longer secure. In this case, the use of recovery tools is simply not enough to regain client’s trust - or even meet all federal guidelines.
This incident is similar to that of identity theft. The results can be disastrous to an individual regarding credit, stolen money, and the hassle of resolving it all. The same goes for a company. If this situation were to occur, a company’s reputation would be on the line as well as the threat of their security system.
So, how can you prevent this from happening again? How can you recover from the damage?
In order to secure companies after a major disaster like this, it’s best to first secure the software and hardware of the network. Make certain that all non-vulnerable areas (such as firewalls and verification servers) are secure. Secondly, make certain to involve an IT specialist. Although you are dealing with machinery and technology, specialized human monitoring could be the key to preventing these disasters from occuring again.
At the end of the day, the most important part of a company is its INFORMATION. That is the answer, nothing else. Without it there would be no profit, no clientele, no business. We use technology to protect technology but that is simply not enough. Without the proper specialist to operate the security system, resources are vulnerable and recovery tools are useless.
How to Outsmart Hackers
Hackers are a form of intelligent disease geared toward businesses. When it comes to IT infrastructure, the only way to outsmart hackers is to think like them. This is vital information to keep in mind while developing an IT team. Hackers may use any aspect of business vulnerability in order to gain a connection to the desired information. Social engineering is also a key method for these threatening individuals because of the information that they can potentially obtain.
If an IT team successfully secures a company’s system, than breaching into that network becomes more difficult for a hacker; unfortunately, these individuals are specialized in manipulating people to get the information they want. This is known as social engineering.
Techniques of social engineering to be aware of are:
- Smooth-talking or flattering potential information holders
- Suspiciously gaining trust
- Manipulating employees to learn information on system operations
- Impersonating authoritative personnel via phone or e-mail
Though these are difficult traits to identify, suspicious individuals asking for access to e-mail accounts or password changes (or any other task that should be operated by a system administrator) should be taken into consideration as a potential hacker. Simple solutions toward avoiding hackers include educating employees about hackers and their methods, securing private information by informing only qualified personnel, and implementing procedures for password protection that ensures no outside party gains access to it.
If employees are not properly trained to avoid a violation from a hacker, than the company becomes more vulnerable to these threatening individuals. Thinking like a hacker can result in keeping your business vulnerable and securing its most vital information.
Information Security in the Movies
For most people, information technology is a not the stuff of action and heroics. Information security and the Internet bring to mind images of uptight computer programmers and tech support workers who know much more about your computer than you ever thought possible.
To be fair, there is quite a bit of room for intrigue in the world of information security; hackers have been able to do everything from fixing radio contests to stealing millions of dollars from cell phone providers. In most cases, however, the damages are more about spending time and money rebuilding a system that hit a few snags and slowed down the company email servers.
That’s probably why Hollywood portrayals of information technology tend to be a little far-fetched, if entertaining. From spies to fast-paced action, the big screen offers a number of ways to view IT in a new light. If you’re in the mood for some IT that doesn’t involve the workday, you might want to consider picking up one of the following “information security” films.
WarGames
Firewall
Hackers
The Net
Matrix
Sneakers
Tron
Johnny Mnemonic
Independence Day
Swordfish
Takedown
Pirates of Silicon Valley
Enemy of the State
Mission Impossible
When it Comes to Vulnerability Management, Variability is Key
If you’re implementing or considering implementing a vulnerability management plan through an IT support firm, one of the top things to look for is variability in the range of services. At its core, vulnerability management is all about putting a safety net underneath your system – and the wider you spread that net, the better your chances of catching anything that falls. That’s why we recommend that you never rely on just one type of vulnerability tool to provide you with all the security measures you need.
Of the types of tools available, the top ones include:
- Vulnerability assessments and metrics, which provide quantifiable results on your existing applications and infrastructure. Only by determining where your weaknesses are and how important they are to your business can you address your problems with the ideal (and most cost-effective) approach.
- Information security scans and penetration tests, which support vulnerability assessments by actually getting into the holes in your system. By simulating a hacker or virus attacking your system, you can determine where you need the most work.
- Restorative measures and patches, which provide the repairs to those vulnerabilities identified during the preceding steps. Discovering weaknesses isn’t enough; you have to take steps to repair them.
- Data and disaster recovery plans, which provide real-time results if the unthinkable occurs. While preventative measures are best, you also have to have the framework in place to deal with disasters after they occur.
Regardless of what type of business you’re in, it is the combination of all these that offers the maximum layer of protection. That’s why you should discuss comprehensive vulnerability management options with any IT company you’re considering. If they can’t provide one of these vital steps, you may be missing out on a key component of information security as a whole.