A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a centralized unit responsible for monitoring, detecting, analyzing, and responding to security incidents within an organization’s IT infrastructure. The primary objective of a SOC is to safeguard the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of an organization’s critical data.
In today’s digital age, cyber-attacks have become increasingly sophisticated and frequent, posing a significant threat to organizations of all sizes. This is why it is essential for businesses to have a well-designed SOC in place to help prevent, detect, and respond to security breaches. Without a SOC, an organization’s IT infrastructure is vulnerable to attacks, which can result in data loss, financial loss, and reputational damage for many organizations.
A SOC has several critical functions, including continuous monitoring log management and analysis of network traffic to detect suspicious behavior and anomalies that may indicate a security breach. The SOC team is also responsible for identifying and responding to security threats quickly and efficiently before they can cause significant damage to an organization’s IT systems. Additionally, a well-designed SOC plays a vital role in maintaining and updating security systems, ensuring that they are up-to-date with the latest security patches and configurations.
By having a SOC in place, businesses can benefit from 24/7 protection against cyber-attacks, providing peace of mind that their critical information remains secure. Moreover, a SOC provides valuable insights into an organization’s security posture and threat intelligence, helping businesses to identify potential vulnerabilities and implement proactive measures to prevent future attacks.
In conclusion, having a SOC is essential for businesses to protect against cyber threats and ensure the security of critical data. With its monitoring, analysis, and response capabilities and automated tools, a SOC can help organizations to detect and prevent security incidents before they cause significant damage. Therefore, investing in a well-designed SOC is critical for any organization looking to safeguard its IT infrastructure and protect its reputation.
Why is a SOC Important?
A Security Operations Center (SOC) is a critical component of an organization’s security posture. It provides monitoring and response capabilities that are essential for detecting, analyzing, and responding to potential threats in real-time. By having a centralized team that focuses on security incidents, organizations can quickly identify suspicious activity or act on emerging threats before they become more serious.
Additionally, with the right tools and processes in place, SOCs are able to detect malicious activity that would otherwise go undetected. A strong Security Operations Center is essential for any organization looking to protect its assets and minimize risk.
SOCs are also important because they provide visibility into an organization’s security posture. By tracking security incidents on a regular basis, a SOC can help identify gaps and weaknesses in an organization’s security measures. Additionally, they can provide valuable insights into emerging threats that may be beyond the scope of existing countermeasures.
Finally, having a well-defined and established SOC allows organizations to respond quickly and efficiently when there is a potential breach. With proper processes in place, the SOC can quickly assess a threat and devise a plan for responding to it. This helps organizations maintain their security posture by taking proactive steps to prevent future incidents.
Ultimately, an organization’s security posture is only as strong as its Security Operations Center. By creating an effective team with the right processes and tools, organizations can achieve an
Benefits of Outsourcing SOC Security
Outsourcing SOC security offers numerous benefits for businesses, including continuous cybersecurity monitoring, more endpoint detection, faster response times, and reduced workload for the IT team. By partnering with a trusted security provider, organizations can rest assured that their critical IT infrastructure is being monitored around the clock for potential cybersecurity threats.
One of the primary benefits of outsourcing SOC security is the assurance of continuous cybersecurity monitoring. A dedicated team of cybersecurity experts can monitor an organization’s network and IT systems constantly, detecting any suspicious behavior or anomalies that may indicate a security breach. This real-time security monitoring also allows for a faster response to any security incidents, reducing the risk of significant damage to the organization’s IT systems and critical data.
Additionally, outsourcing SOC security allows businesses to focus on their core competencies. By the information security operations center entrusting the security aspects to a security provider, the IT team can focus on other critical tasks that are essential to the organization’s success. This improved efficiency can result in increased productivity, allowing the organization to achieve its goals more effectively.
Furthermore, outsourcing SOC security can reduce the workload for the IT team. A dedicated security provider can handle the heavy lifting of managing and maintaining the security systems, including updating with the latest security patches and configurations. This allows the IT team to focus on other critical tasks and responsibilities.
In conclusion, outsourcing SOC security offers numerous benefits for businesses, including continuous cybersecurity monitoring, faster incident response times, and reduced workload for the IT team. Partnering with a trusted security provider allows organizations to focus on their core competencies while ensuring the security of their critical IT infrastructure.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing a SOC Provider
When evaluating different SOC providers, it’s essential to consider several key factors to ensure comprehensive cybersecurity. Here are some of the critical factors to consider:
1. Level of Threat Detection and Prevention:
This is the most crucial factor to consider when choosing a SOC provider. The provider should have a robust threat detection and prevention system that can identify and mitigate security threats promptly. The SOC provider should also have a team of skilled cybersecurity experts who can handle any security incidents or advanced threats that occur.
2. Automation:
Automation is another crucial factor to consider when choosing a SOC provider. The provider should have automated systems that can detect and respond to security threats in real time. Automation helps security analysts to reduce response time and minimize the risk of significant damage to the organization’s IT systems.
3. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) Tools:
SIEM tools are essential for effective threat detection and intrusion prevention systems. The SOC provider should have advanced SIEM tools that can analyze security events and identify potential threats. These tools can also help to detect patterns of suspicious behavior and prevent cyber attacks before they occur.
4. Compliance Standards:
Compliance standards are critical for any organization that handles sensitive data. The SOC provider should comply with industry-recognized security standards such as HIPAA, PCI-DSS, and GDPR. Compliance with these standards ensures that the organization’s critical data is secure and protected from unauthorized access.
Each of these factors contributes to comprehensive cybersecurity and should be considered when evaluating different SOC providers. A provider that meets all of these factors will offer a high level of security and minimize the risk of security incidents. When choosing a SOC provider, it’s essential to conduct thorough research on security tools and select a provider that meets all of your organization’s cybersecurity needs.
Real-life Situations Where Managed SOC Has Made a Difference
Managed SOC services have proven to be essential in preventing serious security alerts and breaches, saving companies money, and minimizing the impact on organizations. The following are some real-life scenarios where a reputable security provider with a managed SOC has made a difference:
1. Healthcare Industry:
According to a report by IBM, the healthcare industry has the highest cost of data breaches, with an average of $7.13 million per breach. One healthcare organization that adopted a managed SOC solution from a reputable provider was able to prevent a data breach that could have cost them millions of dollars. The SOC provider detected suspicious activity on the network and immediately notified the healthcare organization’s IT team, who promptly took action and prevented the attack.
2. Financial Services Industry:
A financial services company that had suffered a data breach in the past adopted a managed SOC solution from a reputable provider. The provider a security analyst was able to detect a potential attack on the network and notified the company’s IT team. The team was able to take action quickly and prevent the attack, saving the company an estimated $1.5 million in damages.
3. Retail Industry:
A retail company that had suffered a data breach in the past adopted a managed SOC solution from a reputable provider. The provider was able to detect and block a phishing attack that could have potentially compromised the company’s customer data. The retail company estimated that the managed SOC solution saved them $2.5 million in damages and prevented a loss of customer trust.
Outsourcing SOC and security operations to a reputable provider with a managed SOC solution can provide comprehensive protection for companies’ digital assets. The provider can detect and respond to potential threats in real time, reducing response time and minimizing the risk of significant damage to the organization’s IT systems.
This approach reduces costs associated with downtime, data breaches, and regulatory fines. Additionally, the provider can ensure compliance with industry-recognized security standards, protecting critical data from unauthorized access.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having a managed SOC from a reputable security provider is crucial for companies that handle sensitive data. It can prevent security breaches, save companies money, and minimize the impact on the organizations.
Companies that outsource SOC to security professionals can benefit from a comprehensive digital asset protection solution that meets all their cybersecurity needs.
Outsourcing SOC security is a smart move for businesses looking to protect their digital assets. By outsourcing SOC security, businesses can enjoy the benefits of comprehensive cybersecurity monitoring, faster response times, and reduced workload for their IT team.
When choosing a SOC provider, businesses should consider key factors such as the level of advanced threat detection tools and prevention, automation, SIEM tools, and compliance standards. With a managed SOC service from a reputable security provider, businesses can rest assured that their digital assets are well-protected against cyber-attacks.
Why Cybriant for SOC Security?
At Cybriant, we provide comprehensive SOC security for businesses of all sizes. Our team of experienced security experts can develop customized solutions to meet your specific needs. We use state-of-the-art technologies and real-time monitoring to detect and respond to any potential threats quickly.
Additionally, our solutions are fully compliant with industry standards such as HIPAA, PCI DSS, ISO 27001/2, NIST 800-53, and GDPR. With Cybriant’s SOC security services, you can rest assured that your digital assets are secure from cyber threats.
We offer enterprise-level managed services including Managed SIEM, Managed Detection and Remediation, Vulnerability Management, and CybriantXDR. Our services can help provide visibility into affected systems and further investigations to pinpoint the source of an attack.
With Cybriant’s SOC security solutions, you can stay one step ahead of cyber attackers and protect your business from costly data breaches.
SOC Monitoring Checklist for Mobile Security
Creating and maintaining a secure environment for your mobile users is paramount to any business. A good place to start is with an effective security operations center (SOC) monitoring checklist. This document outlines the necessary steps for creating and maintaining a successful SOC, including key components such as:
• Establishing proper access control measures, such as authentication, authorization, and privileges.
• Deploying a comprehensive security monitoring system that utilizes both network- and host-based detection technologies.
• Implementing preventive measures to reduce the risk of malicious activity, such as patch management, application whitelisting, IDS/IPS solutions, anti-malware systems, and more.
• Designating personnel responsible for monitoring and responding to security incidents.
• Establishing an incident response plan that details the correct procedures for addressing potential threats.
• Testing and validating your SOC monitoring checklist regularly to ensure it is up-to-date with industry best practices.
• Coordinating with stakeholders and key personnel to ensure they understand the value of security operations center, and to gain buy-in from those who need to be involved in ensuring its success.
By following these steps, you can create a strong SOC monitoring checklist that will help protect your mobile environment from potential threats.
As regulatory requirements continue to evolve and data breaches become more common, businesses are under increasing pressure to maintain compliance with industry standards. Compliance monitoring is a crucial aspect of this process, enabling organizations to identify and address potential risks before they lead to costly violations or incidents.
In this blog post, we’ll explore the benefits of a compliance monitoring system and share best practices for implementing an effective program.
The Importance of Compliance Monitoring:
The impact of non-compliance on businesses, customers, and stakeholders.
Compliance monitoring is an essential aspect of any organization’s risk management strategy, as it enables companies to proactively identify and prevent potential legal or regulatory violations. Operating outside of compliance can result in significant financial, legal, and reputational damage to a business, leading to a loss of trust and confidence from both customers and stakeholders.
In today’s complex regulatory environment, compliance monitoring is critical in minimizing these risks and ensuring long-term business success.
Moreover, non-compliance can result in damaging penalties and fines. Regulatory bodies may levy severe sanctions against companies that fail to comply with industry standards, including fines, legal fees, and reputational damage.
Apart from financial penalties, non-compliance also results in delayed product launches, the suspension of marketing campaigns, and other operational disruptions. It can also lead to the revocation of licenses, certifications, permits, and contracts, putting the business at a severe disadvantage in the market.
Compliance monitoring is also critical in preserving customer trust and loyalty. Customers expect businesses to operate with integrity, and failing to do so can result in long-term damage to the company’s reputation. Breaching customer data privacy, for instance, is not only legally sanctioned but can also lead to significant reputational harm.
Compliance monitoring ensures the protection of confidential and sensitive data, hence promoting customer trust and loyalty over time.
Lastly, compliance and internal monitoring are critical in promoting organizational stability. When companies operate within the guidelines of industry standards, they promote a stable working environment for their employees. A culture of compliance fosters high ethical standards and effective risk management, which are critical for the long-term success and sustainability of any business.
A compliance program that is constantly monitored and updated ensures that the company is always in good standing with regulatory bodies, stakeholders, and customers.
How compliance monitoring helps reduce risks, protect assets, and demonstrate accountability.
Compliance monitoring offers businesses a host of benefits, helping them reduce risks, protect their assets, and demonstrate accountability. By implementing an effective audit and compliance program, companies can proactively identify and address potential risks, preventing costly violations and incidents. This, in turn, can lead to a number of benefits for organizations, including:
1. Reduced Legal and Financial Risk
Compliance monitoring helps companies avoid non-compliance penalties and fines, which can amount to millions of dollars. By adhering to regulatory compliance standards, organizations can minimize the risk of expensive lawsuits and legal fees. Moreover, by maintaining compliance with industry standards, companies can reduce the risk of operational disruptions that can occur when dealing with non-compliance issues.
2. Protects Assets & Reputation
Compliance monitoring also helps companies and compliance professionals protect their assets and reputation.
By ensuring that company operations are in line with regulatory standards, businesses can safeguard their intellectual property, sensitive customer and employee data, corporate reputation, and other critical assets. This helps build customer trust and loyalty, ensuring that businesses can maintain a strong reputation in the marketplace.
3. Demonstrates Accountability
An effective compliance monitoring program helps businesses demonstrate their accountability to internal and external stakeholders, regulatory bodies, and customers. This is particularly important in industries such as healthcare and finance, where data privacy and ethical standards are critical. By demonstrating accountability, businesses can win and retain the trust of their stakeholders, customers, and employees, cementing their reputation as trustworthy and ethical players in their respective markets.
4. Increased Efficiency
Compliance and compliance monitoring systems can also help businesses increase their efficiency by streamlining their operations. By automating compliance monitoring and management processes, employees can focus on more productive tasks, speeding up workflows and cutting down on the potential for manual errors.
5. A Competitive Advantage
Finally, compliance monitoring can serve as a competitive advantage in the marketplace. Companies that prioritize regulatory compliance can differentiate themselves from competitors and stand out as trusted industry leaders. This can result in increased customer loyalty and revenue growth, as customers are increasingly seeking out trustworthy and responsible companies to do business with.
In conclusion, compliance monitoring is not only critical for maintaining regulatory compliance but can offer a host of benefits to businesses that prioritize it. By reducing risks, protecting assets, and demonstrating accountability, companies can ensure long-term success and sustainable growth in their respective markets. Ultimately, implementing an effective compliance program is an investment in the future of any business, both in terms of financial returns and reputation.
Key Elements of Effective Compliance Monitoring:
Tips for designing and implementing a successful compliance monitoring program
Effective compliance monitoring requires a comprehensive approach that involves various stakeholders, policies, and processes. By following these best practices, businesses can design and implement a successful program:
1. Create a Compliance Risk Assessment
The first step in developing a compliance program is to conduct a compliance risk assessment. This will help identify any potential areas of non-compliance and assess the level of risk associated with each one. By prioritizing these risks, businesses can allocate resources to the areas that they determine pose the most significant risk to the organization.
2. Develop Policies and Procedures
Once the various compliance risk issues or risks have been identified, the next step is to establish policies, procedures, and guidelines that provide clear requirements for compliance. This will ensure that employees are aware of their responsibilities and expected code of conduct and that the company’s compliance program is adequately communicated to them.
3. Train Employees
Proper training is critical to further ensure compliance and that employees understand their roles and responsibilities in maintaining compliance with the relevant regulations. Training should be conducted regularly and include all relevant employees, including senior management, as they are ultimately responsible for setting the tone at the top and fostering a culture of compliance across the organization.
4. Implement Monitoring and Testing Strategies
Regular monitoring and testing are essential to ensure that the compliance program is effective and identifies any violations promptly. Technology-enabled solutions, such as compliance management software, can help automate monitoring processes, allowing real-time identification of potential issues. This technology can also support the collection and analysis of data for trend analysis, continuous monitoring, process improvement, and decision-making.
5. Implement Corrective Action and Remediation Plans
If non-compliance is identified, businesses must implement corrective action or remediation plans as appropriate. This should include steps to prevent the issue from recurring, such as revising policies and procedures, improving employee training, or investing in better technology solutions. Corrective actions must also be tracked and documented to ensure they are implemented effectively and consistently.
6 Compliance
Continuous improvement is at the heart of any successful compliance monitoring program. The compliance program should be reviewed and updated regularly to reflect changes in regulations or business operations, along with technological advancements. Compliance is a moving target, and a robust compliance monitoring program must be agile and adaptable to respond to evolving risks and regulatory requirements.
By implementing these key elements of effective compliance monitoring, businesses can minimize risks, safeguard assets and reputation, and demonstrate their commitment to ethical and lawful conduct. In the long run, this can provide businesses with a significant competitive advantage, while maintaining the trust of customers, employees, and regulatory bodies.
Outsourced Managed Services for Compliance Monitoring
How Managed SIEM can simplify Your Compliance Monitoring Program
Managed SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) services are crucial for compliance monitoring as they help businesses stay ahead of potential security threats and prevent incidents that could lead to regulatory non-compliance. SIEM is a software solution that enables companies to monitor their IT infrastructure for potential security breaches and manage security-related incidents. By relying on a third-party vendor to manage their SIEM, businesses can benefit from a range of advantages.
For instance, managed SIEM services can provide a more cost-effective solution as businesses avoid the need to make significant capital investments in hardware, software, and maintenance. Managed services also enable businesses to focus their resources on core competencies instead of dedicating staff to monitor the system 24/7. This allows the internal IT team to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as implementing new systems or improving operational efficiencies.
Another significant advantage that managed SIEM services offer is their ability to provide real-time monitoring and analysis of system logs, events, and network traffic. This enables organizations to identify potential security threats early and respond immediately to mitigate risk. Real-time threat intelligence helps businesses prevent data breaches, which are one of the most significant compliance risks for any organization.
Additionally, managed SIEM provides businesses with access to a team of cybersecurity experts who are trained to monitor, analyze, and respond to potential security incidents. This expertise is particularly important for businesses that do not have the resources to hire dedicated cybersecurity staff. Managed services providers employ staff with diverse cybersecurity backgrounds and expertise, providing businesses with a team of specialists at a fraction of the cost compared to hiring in-house staff.
Finally, managed SIEM services also offer businesses the ability to receive compliance reports on a regular basis. These reports can be customized based on specific regulatory requirements or internal compliance policies themselves, providing executives and stakeholders with a clear view of their organization’s compliance posture. This information is critical for demonstrating transparency and accountability to regulatory bodies and internal stakeholders.
In summary, managed SIEM services are an essential aspect of any business’s compliance monitoring program, providing the real-time monitoring, analysis, and reporting capabilities that organizations need to maintain regulatory compliance. By outsourcing SIEM to a trusted managed services provider, businesses can reduce costs, access expert resources, and benefit from real-time threat intelligence. Ultimately, this helps businesses deliver a safe and secure environment for their customers, employees, and shareholders.
Challenges of Compliance Monitoring:
Common challenges faced by businesses when implementing a compliance monitoring program and ways to overcome them.
Compliance monitoring is an integral part of a business risk management strategy, and it has become increasingly important in today’s complex regulatory landscape. While there are many benefits of compliance monitoring, implementing an effective program can be challenging. Here are the top challenges businesses face when implementing a compliance monitoring program:
1. Lack of Resources:
Compliance monitoring requires significant resources, including financial, human, and technical resources. Businesses need sufficient resources to implement an effective compliance program, including the development and implementation of policies and procedures, training, a compliance monitoring plan itself, and reporting. However, smaller businesses may struggle to allocate sufficient resources for compliance monitoring, making it challenging to maintain compliance with regulatory requirements.
2. Complexity of Regulations:
Regulations are complex and ever-changing, and keeping up with them can be overwhelming. Compliance monitoring requires businesses to understand and adhere to complex regulatory requirements and standards across different jurisdictions. This can be challenging, especially for multinational corporations that operate across different regulatory environments.
3. Manual Processes:
Compliance monitoring can be a time-consuming process that requires significant manual effort. Traditional compliance management processes rely heavily on manual processes, leading to increased complexity, errors, and inaccuracies. This can lead to missed compliance requirements, regulatory breaches, and operational disruptions.
4. Lack of Accountability:
Compliance monitoring requires a high degree of accountability, both at the individual and organizational levels. Without a culture of accountability, implementing an effective compliance program can be challenging. Employees need to understand the importance of compliance and take responsibility for their actions. Additionally, leadership needs to prioritize compliance and set the tone from the top, ensuring that the compliance policy is embedded in the organization’s culture.
5. Mismatched Technologies:
Implementing a compliance monitoring program requires the use of many technologies, including compliance management software, data analytics software, and reporting tools. It can be challenging to integrate these technologies fully, leading to issues with data accuracy, duplication, and compliance gaps.
To overcome these challenges, businesses need to invest in an effective compliance monitoring plan, allocate sufficient resources, and prioritize compliance from the top down. Automating compliance management processes, establishing clear accountability, and choosing the right technology can also help businesses implement an effective compliance monitoring program. Implementing an effective compliance monitoring program can be a daunting task, but the benefits for businesses are significant. By avoiding costly penalties, protecting assets, and demonstrating accountability, companies can ensure long-term success and sustainability in their respective markets.
Conclusion
In conclusion, compliance monitoring is a crucial aspect of any business’s risk management strategy, enabling organizations to identify and address potential risks before they lead to costly violations or incidents. By continuously monitoring compliance and implementing corrective actions, businesses can reduce legal and financial risks, protect assets and reputation, demonstrate accountability, increase efficiency, and gain a competitive advantage.
However, implementing an effective compliance program can be challenging due to a lack of resources, complexity of regulations, manual processes, lack of accountability, and mismatched technologies.
Therefore, businesses must invest in compliance monitoring, allocate sufficient resources, prioritize and monitor compliance from the top down, automate compliance management processes, establish clear accountability, and choose the right technology to overcome these challenges and reap the benefits of a successful compliance monitoring program. Ultimately, compliance monitoring is an investment in the future and sustainability of any business, both financially and reputationally
Did you know that 70% of organizations have adopted a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy? As technology continues to evolve, more companies are encouraging employees to use their personal devices for work purposes. While this can increase flexibility and productivity, it also poses unique challenges in terms of security and compliance.
In this article, we’ll discuss how to create a robust BYOD policy for your organization and ensure that your company remains secure while benefiting from this modern approach to work.
Understanding Your Organization’s BYOD Needs
Before diving into creating a BYOD policy, it’s essential to assess your organization’s needs. Begin by evaluating the current state of device usage within your company.
Determine how many employees are using personal devices for work purposes and what types of devices they are using. This will give you a starting point to build your BYOD policy.
Next, identify the main objectives of implementing a BYOD policy. These might include:
Increasing employee productivity
Reducing IT costs
Providing greater flexibility for your workforce
Keep in mind that different organizations will have different goals, so it’s crucial to tailor your policy to your specific needs.
Understanding the risks and challenges associated with BYOD is also crucial. Some common risks include:
Potential data breaches
Loss of devices
Unauthorized access to company information
Developing a Comprehensive BYOD Policy
To create a robust BYOD security policy, you must establish clear guidelines for device usage. A well-defined policy will help protect your organization from potential threats and ensure a smooth transition for employees. Here are some key elements to include in your policy:
Device Eligibility and Compatibility
Start by setting criteria for device eligibility and compatibility. This means outlining which types of devices are allowed and ensuring they can be easily integrated into your organization’s IT infrastructure.
You can use a BYOD policy template to help with this process. Make sure to consider factors like:
Operating systems
Device models
Minimum hardware requirements
Employee Roles and Responsibilities
Define the roles and responsibilities of employees participating in the BYOD program. Be clear about what they can and cannot do with their personal devices while at work. This includes specifying which applications are permitted, how to access company resources, and any restrictions on personal use during work hours.
Providing clear guidelines will help employees understand their obligations and reduce the risk of security breaches.
Acceptable Use Policies
Your BYOD device management policy should also include acceptable use policies. These are rules that employees must follow when using their personal devices for work purposes. For example, you might:
Prohibit the use of certain apps or websites;
Require employees to update their devices regularly; or
Restrict the sharing of company information
Make sure your acceptable use policies align with your organization’s security needs and industry regulations.
Security Best Practices
To protect your organization’s data and devices, it’s essential to incorporate security best practices into your BYOD policy.
Encourage employees to use strong, unique passwords for their devices and accounts. This will help prevent unauthorized access and keep company data secure.
Implement a mobile device management (MDM) solution to monitor, manage, and secure employees’ personal devices. This will give your IT team greater control over the devices connected to your network.
Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing sensitive information. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring employees to provide additional proof of identity, such as a fingerprint or a one-time code.
Employee Training and Awareness
Educating employees about BYOD security is critical for the success of your policy. Provide ongoing training and resources to help employees understand their responsibilities and stay informed about the latest security threats. This will not only help reduce the risk of breaches but also ensure that employees feel confident using their personal devices at work.
Implementing Security Best Practices
A key part of your BYOD policy is making sure your organization is safe from mobile threats. To do this, you should include some important security measures. These steps will help keep your data and devices secure, even when using personal devices for work.
Password Policies and Encryption
One simple way to improve mobile security is to have strong password policies. Encourage employees to use passwords that are hard to guess and different for each account. This helps protect company data by making it difficult for others to access it without permission.
Encryption is another way to protect your data. It makes the information unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the right key to unlock it.
Make sure your employees use encryption on their BYOD devices. This way, if a device is lost or stolen, the data on it will still be safe.
Mobile Device Management
Using a Mobile Device Management (MDM) solution is a great way to keep an eye on the personal devices used for work. MDM lets your IT team manage and secure these devices. This way, they can make sure that devices are following the right security policies.
An MDM solution can also help control which apps can be used on BYOD devices. This means you can block apps that might be risky or not needed for work. This helps keep your network safe from potential threats.
Multi-Factor Authentication
Another important part of mobile security is multi-factor authentication (MFA). MFA is when you need more than just a password to access an account or device. This can include things like a fingerprint, a text message code, or a special app.
By using MFA, you make it much harder for someone to break into an account. Even if they guess the password, they still need the other part of the authentication to get in. Make sure to include MFA in your BYOD security policy to keep your data safe.
Employee Training and Awareness
Teaching your employees about mobile threats and how to stay safe is important. Offer regular training and resources to help them understand their role in keeping the company secure. This can include things like how to spot scams, how to create strong passwords, and what to do if they think their device has been compromised.
Regular Device Audits and Updates
Keeping BYOD devices up to date is another key part of your security policy. Outdated devices can have security flaws that make them easier to attack. Make sure your employees keep their devices updated with the latest software and security patches.
It’s also a good idea to do regular device audits. This means checking to see if devices are following your security policy and if there are any issues that need to be fixed.
Maintaining Compliance and Data Privacy
When you have a BYOD policy, it’s important to make sure you follow rules and keep private information safe. In this section, we’ll discuss how to do this and keep your policy strong.
Follow Regulations and Standards
Different industries have their own regulations and standards for security. These rules help protect customers and businesses from harm.
When you create your BYOD policy, you need to make sure it follows these rules. This way, you can avoid problems and keep your company safe.
For example, if you work with health information, you might need to follow a law called HIPAA. This regulation helps protect the privacy of people’s health information.
Protect Private Data
When employees use their personal devices for work, they might have access to private information. This information could be about your company, your customers, or your employees. It’s important to make sure this information stays private, even on personal devices.
One way to do this is by using encryption. We talked about this earlier, but it’s worth mentioning again. Encryption helps keep data private by making it unreadable to anyone who doesn’t have the right key.
Check Your Policy Often
To make sure your BYOD policy stays strong, it’s important to check it often. This means looking at the policy and making sure it still follows rules and keeps data private. You might need to make changes to your policy as rules change or new security threats come up.
Leveraging Managed Security Service Providers
When developing a robust BYOD policy, it’s beneficial to consult with experts in the field. Managed Security Service Providers, like Cybriant, are companies that specialize in safeguarding businesses. We can assist you in enhancing your BYOD policy.
Cybriant possesses extensive experience in security and can guide you in determining the most effective ways to protect your organization. We can provide recommendations on aspects such as password policies, encryption, and compliance with industry regulations. Collaborating with managed services ensures your policy remains up-to-date and resistant to potential threats.
Managed services can also support you in monitoring your devices and network. We can identify any issues and help you address them before they escalate. This contributes to the safety of your company and allows you to concentrate on your core business activities.
Secure Your Organization’s Future with a Robust BYOD Policy
A well-crafted BYOD policy is essential for organizations to maintain security while enjoying the advantages of a flexible work environment. By following the guidelines outlined in this article, you can create a policy that addresses the challenges of device management, privacy, and compliance.
Don’t leave your organization’s security to chance. Contact the experts at Cybriant to help you develop and implement a comprehensive BYOD policy tailored to your specific needs.
Ransomware attacks are one of the biggest threats that CIOs and their teams face today. The impact of a ransomware attack can be daunting, crippling business operations and causing significant financial losses.
Since 2016, cybersecurity and crypto-ransomware attacks have been on the rise, with increased sophistication and greater success rates. Ransomware groups have become increasingly aggressive and continue to evolve their tactics, making it critical for CIOs to be aware of the latest ransomware threats.
To help organizations prevent ransomware attacks, CIOs should take pre-emptive steps and ensure that their teams are knowledgeable about best practices for defending against these very malicious code attacks and preventing ransomware victims.
In this article, we will share effective steps to prevent ransomware attacks.
Educate Employees on Safe Online Practices
Your employees can be the first line of defense against ransomware attacks. Most attacks happen because employees unknowingly download and install malicious software disguised as legitimate files. Therefore, educating your employees about safe online practices can go a long way in preventing ransomware attacks. You could encourage your employees to:
– Avoid downloading files from unknown websites or email attachments from unknown sources
– Be cautious about clicking on links, especially in emails or messages from unknown senders
By training your employees and raising their awareness about safe online practices and the importance of sensitive data, you’ll be able to minimize the risk of ransomware attacks.
Keep Software and Security Systems Updated
Ransomware attacks often exploit vulnerabilities in operating systems, software, and security systems. It’s essential to keep all software and systems up to date with the latest patches and updates. Also, make sure you use high-quality firewalls, antivirus software, and malware detection software to secure your networks, servers, and desktop computers.
Implement Backup and Recovery Processes
One of the most effective ways of preventing ransomware attacks is by having reliable backup and recovery processes in place. By backing up your critical data regularly, you can ensure that you have a copy of your important files in case an attack occurs. It is also essential that you test your data recovery plans regularly to ensure that they work when needed.
Monitor Network Activity in Real-Time
Ransomware attacks can happen at any time, and you need to keep a close eye on your network and systems to detect any suspicious activity. Use real-time monitoring tools to track network, server, and desktop activity, allowing you to identify anomalies indicative of a ransomware attack. You can also block known malicious IP addresses and domains to prevent attacks before they occur.
Cybriant offers 24/7 security monitoring services to help CIOs detect and respond to ransomware attacks quickly. Contact us today for a customized security solution designed to protect your business from cyber threats.
Don’t forget Mobile Devices
With the proliferation of mobile devices in the workplace, businesses need to ensure that these devices are secure from ransomware attacks as well. Ensure that your employees’ mobile devices are running up-to-date operating systems and security applications.
Also, implement a BYOD policy to ensure that any third-party device that connects to your network meets certain security requirements. Be sure they only connect to corporate accounts on approved devices.
Employees are your first line of defense when it comes to cyber-attacks. Be sure they are aware of the risks and know what to do if they encounter ransomware. Educate them on safe online practices, require strong passwords, and be sure to install mobile device management software that can detect threats and restrict access to sensitive data.
Mobile Device Protection
Managed Detection and Response or MDR can be a great solution to protect your business from ransomware and other cyber threats. With MDR, businesses can receive real-time threat alerts and continuous monitoring of their IT environment so they can stop attacks before they happen.
Contact us today for more information on how we can help you secure your business from the latest cybersecurity threats.
Ransomware Infection Methods
To avoid being ransomware victims, it’s important to learn how hackers deliver ransomware. Here are the top 15 ransomware infection methods that hackers use to compromise systems and steal data:
Phishing Emails – Attackers use phishing emails with a malicious link or attachment, which infect the system when clicked by the user.
Malicious Websites – Hackers create websites that have malware embedded in them. When users visit such sites, their systems get infected.
Malvertising – Attackers can push ransomware onto users’ devices through online ads.
Social Engineering – Ransomware can also spread through social engineering tactics such as clicking on fake news or sensational headlines.
Vishing – This method involves attackers posing as a trusted individual or company to lure users into providing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.
Brute Force Attacks – Attackers can use brute force attacks to guess passwords and gain access to systems.
Remote Desktop Protocol – Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in Remote Desktop Protocol to access systems and upload ransomware onto them.
Software Vulnerabilities – Hackers can exploit known vulnerabilities in software to gain unauthorized access to systems.
Drive-by Downloads – Attackers can install malware on a victim’s device when they visit an infected website.
File Sharing Networks – P2P file-sharing networks can be used to distribute ransomware.
Supply Chain Attacks – Hackers can target third-party software providers to gain access to other companies’ systems.
Internet of Things – Internet of Things devices with weak security can be compromised and used to spread ransomware.
Unpatched Software – Attackers can exploit vulnerabilities in software that has not been updated with the latest security patches.
Misconfigured Cloud Storage – Misconfigured cloud storage can expose sensitive data and make it more vulnerable to ransomware attacks.
USB Drives – Ransomware can spread through infected USB drives that are connected to an infected system.
Given the extensive range of infection methods used by hackers, it is crucial for businesses to stay informed and take appropriate steps to mitigate the risks.
Keeping software and security systems up to date, implementing backup and recovery processes, and ensuring that employees are educated about safe online practices can go a long way in reducing the chances of falling victim to ransomware attacks.
However, it is equally important for businesses to work with experienced cybersecurity professionals who can provide tailored solutions to protect their systems and sensitive data.
Ransomware Attack vs. Malware Attack
According to Checkpoint, “Putting it simply, all ransomware is malware, but not all malware is ransomware. The goal of ransomware, which is made possible by encryption technology, is to deny the victim access to their files and demand a ransom in exchange for restoring that access.”
The main difference between a ransomware attack and a malware attack is the motivation of the attacker. A ransomware attack is a ransomware activity typically driven by financial gain, where the attacker will block access to or encrypt data until a ransom is paid.
A malware attack can also be motivated by financial gain, but it may also have other motives such as ransomware as a service, stealing data for espionage or disrupting operations.
Additionally, with a ransomware attack, the attackers usually provide victims with instructions on how to obtain their decryption key once they have paid the ransom whereas this is not usually seen in malware attacks.
However, both types of attacks involve malicious software that must be removed from systems in order to prevent further damage and restore affected files if possible.
How Ransomware Works: Encrypted Data
A Ransomware Attack can be carried out in many different ways, but the ultimate goal is always the same: to extort money from the victim through the threat of irreparable damage to their data or devices.
Ransomware typically arrives on a computer through a phishing email or an infected website, and once it has taken hold of operating system, it encrypts the victim’s files or locks them out of their system entirely.
Ransomware attacks rely on encryption to target and lock victims’ files, thereby demanding payment for the decryption key or restoring access. The encryption process used to encrypt files used by ransomware is typically a sophisticated algorithm that generates a unique key for each file, making it harder to break through brute force methods.
Once the ransomware has accessed the victim’s system, it seeks out specific files, such as pictures, videos, documents, and spreadsheets, to then encrypts files. Ransomware targets the most valuable files, requiring victims to pay the ransom to regain access to their critical data.
The encryption process is often reversible, but only with the correct decryption key or other methods, such as restoring from a backup. However, paying the ransom does not guarantee access to the files, and attackers may not always provide the necessary decryption or encryption key either, resulting in permanent data loss.
Ransomware attacks have become more sophisticated and can target entire organizations, making data recovery costly and time-consuming. In addition to encrypting files, attackers may also steal sensitive data, use the victim’s data as a launchpad for other attacks, or even threaten to release the data publicly unless the ransom demand is paid.
Preventing all ransomware infections requires a multi-faceted approach that includes user training, regular software updates, system backups, and working with an experienced cybersecurity provider. Organizations need to be vigilant about detecting and responding to ransomware attacks to minimize the damage and restore access to data as quickly as possible.
Can an MSSP Stop Ransomware Attackers?
Yes, a managed security service provider (MSSP) can help protect against ransomware attacks.
An MSSP offers a range of services such as monitoring and managing cyber threats, patch management, user access control, disaster recovery planning, and incident response plans that can help mitigate the risks associated with ransomware attacks.
Cybriant offers services like Managed SIEM, which can provide comprehensive security visibility, detect threats quickly, and help organizations respond to ransomware attacks quickly. We work with several SIEM providers, contact us to learn about which one might be best for your organization.
Additionally, an experienced MSSP can provide advice and guidance to help organizations develop secure systems and processes that are less susceptible to ransomware attacks. There are countless ransomware variants and new ones are being created almost daily. An MSSP has the knowledge of new ransomware variants to protect your organization.
Ultimately, the key to preventing ransomware attacks is having a comprehensive security strategy in place that combines multiple layers of protection with ongoing monitoring and response plans. A reliable MSSP can help ensure that an organization has the necessary resources and expertise to effectively protect its sensitive data and systems.
What If You Have a Current Ransomware Infection?
If an organization has an active, ransomware variant of infection, it is important to take immediate action to contain the attack and mitigate any potential damage.
The first step should be to disconnect all affected systems from the network to prevent the spread of malware. Then, a backup should be used to restore any encrypted files or damaged files if possible. Organizations should also contact their IT security team or an experienced MSSP for assistance in resolving the issue.
Finally, it is important to remember that paying a ransom payment should always be a last resort as there is no guarantee that the attackers will provide a decryption key even after payment has been made.
Once the attack has been contained and affected files have been restored, it is important to review security protocols and procedures to ensure that similar incidents can be avoided in the future.
By taking proactive steps to protect systems and data, organizations can reduce the chances of falling victim to a ransomware attack. With the right resources and expertise on their side, businesses will have peace of mind knowing that their sensitive data and systems are secure.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, preventing ransomware attacks should be a top priority for CIOs and their teams. By educating employees on safe online practices, keeping software and security systems updated, implementing data recovery processes, and monitoring network activity in real time, you can significantly reduce the risk of ransomware attacks.
These are simple, yet effective steps that you can take to protect your organization from the devastating consequences of a ransomware attack. If you need future ransomware protection, consider reaching out to Cybriant for more information here.
Headline news about cybersecurity threats lulls many of us into a false sense of security – that a security attack is rare enough that it makes the news. The reality is far more sinister. Last year, 54% of businesses experienced a cyberattack.
What does this mean for your business? Quite simply, it means you need experts and robust technology. You need to put security first.
You can do that by hiring a managed service security provider. This guide will explain what that entails and how to pick the perfect one for your business.
If you don’t want to run IT in-house, choose managed services. That’s where you hire a business to do everything for you. And although a separate company, they often feel part of your team.
MSSPs are companies that help protect your business from cyber threats.
They offer various services, like monitoring your network and detecting and responding to attacks. Most importantly, they keep your data safe.
Hiring an MSSP can save you time and money, as they have the right tools and expertise to keep your business secure.
They work with you to develop a custom security plan, so you can focus on running your business. By partnering with an MSSP, you can have peace of mind knowing that your company’s digital assets are in good hands.
Managed Providers and How They Fit With Your Organization
MSSPs integrate seamlessly with your organization. And they work closely with your IT team to bolster your security. Daily, they monitor your systems, alert you of any threats, and respond swiftly to incidents.
You’ll receive regular reports on their findings and actions, ensuring transparency. By collaborating with an MSSP, you’ll have someone to handle your security concerns so you can focus on your core business.
Key Considerations
As you can expect, managed services vary considerably. You need to find a provider that fits your business well.
When looking, here are some factors that you should consider. Use these to help narrow your search and create a shortlist.
Services
Standard services offered by MSSPs include network monitoring, threat detection, incident response, and data protection.
Critical services, like monitoring and threat detection, help prevent cyber attacks. Incident response is vital when breaches occur to minimize damage. Data protection ensures sensitive information stays safe.
Some businesses might not need every service, as their needs vary.
For example, companies handling sensitive data may prioritize data protection. Conversely, those with fewer risks might focus on essential monitoring. It’s crucial to assess your unique business setup and choose services that fit your needs.
Expertise and Experience
Skilled MSSPs can better protect you from cyber threats. And they’ll have more chance of minimizing damage during a security problem. To assess expertise, look for certifications, industry recognition, and case studies.
Additionally, consider their managed security experience in your specific industry. It shows they will be familiar with your unique challenges. They will know the security priorities of your type of business.
Scalability
As your company expands, so do its security needs. Select an MSSP that can grow and scale with your business. You want one that offers flexibility in what they can provide you with.
That ensures they can handle increased demands and adapt to your changing requirements.
Partnering with a scalable MSSP prevents the need to switch providers later on. That saves time and resources. It helps you maintain consistent security measures as your business evolves.
Pricing
Set a budget when considering an MSSP. It will help you avoid overspending while still meeting your security needs.
When comparing security service costs, ensure you’re checking like-for-like services. Alternative providers might bundle services differently, so see what’s included in each package.
Ask companies for transparent pricing, detailing costs for each service and potential add-ons. That helps you make informed decisions and find the best value MSSP that aligns with your budget and security requirements.
Technology
When selecting the right MSSP, consider its technology capabilities. Here are some suggestions:
Assess their tools for threat detection, response, and network security
Check if their technology integrates with your existing systems
Investigate their data protection measures like encryption
Examining an MSSP’s technology allows you to find a provider that uses cutting-edge solutions. Great technology will be your safest way to protect your business and seamlessly integrate with your current setup.
Customer Support
Consider the support channels offered by the MSSP. And Check availability for customer service support. Broadly speaking, first-line support handles fundamental issues, while second-line tackles more complex problems.
Check their Service-Level Agreements (SLAs) for detail. That will outline response, resolution times, and penalties if they fail to meet them.
Decide if you need 9-5 support or 24/7 coverage based on your business operations. Remember that 24/7 support may cost more but is more suitable if your business works around the clock.
Security Compliance and Certifications
When hiring an MSSP, look for security certifications. That might include:
CISSP: Certified Information Systems Security Professional
CISM: Certified Information Security Manager
CISA: Certified Information Systems Auditor
Check for compliance with industry standards. Common globally-recognized standards include:
ISO: International Organization for Standardization (the most relevant security standard is ISO 27001)
NIST: National Institute of Standards and Technology
GDPR: General Data Protection Regulation
Check too that the provider offers any data and security standards that might be important in your industry. Here are two examples:
Healthcare: HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)
Payment processing: PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard)
Verifying certifications, compliance, and quality standards is a vital step. It will show the security company follows best practices.
More importantly, it will reassure you that they are trustworthy businesses. You want that when working with any provider on a critical security issue.
Monitoring and Reporting
Check any MSSP for its monitoring and reporting capabilities.
Monitoring is critical. It helps detect threats and vulnerabilities fast – it could make or break a business during a security emergency. And it means you have an expert hand to mitigate a risk swiftly.
Ask potential MSSPs for examples of the reporting they can provide or whether they can offer you custom reports and dashboards. Even with a managed service, you’ll still want to see some data on your security situation.
It’s reasonable to argue that the monitoring and reporting feature is among the highest priorities when hiring an MSSP. Robust monitoring and consistent, quality reports give your business the security and compliance you want.
Plus, it’ll keep your business at the highest industry standards. That will protect customer data, business continuity, and company reputation.
Before Your Decision: Client Testimonials
Reading online reviews, testimonials, references, and case studies before hiring an MSSP is a sensible idea. Start by visiting their website. They may showcase client feedback and success stories.
Explore online review platforms and industry forums for unbiased opinions. Reach out to your professional network for recommendations and personal experiences with MSSPs.
Doing this research is a vital step. It helps you gauge the MSSP’s reputation, reliability, and effectiveness. You’re checking if they can handle security challenges like yours.
It also provides insights into their customer support. Read clues about how responsive they are and the general satisfaction of their clients.
By checking these sources, you understand the MSSP’s performance and make an informed decision. It will help you choose a provider that aligns with your business needs and expectations.
Final Conversations and Sales Pitch
If you’ve started speaking to MSSPs, you’ve probably had many invites to sales calls! That is a great time to have a more in-depth conversation with potential providers, so grab the opportunity when offered.
Prepare a list of questions to ask. Don’t assume any question is too simple or obvious! Chances are they’ve heard the question before, and you must understand every tiny aspect of the service before you sign on the dotted line.
If you have technical people in your business, get someone with IT security expertise to join you in these meetings. They will ask pertinent questions that will help you form a final decision.
Decision Time
At decision time, make a shortlist of potential providers. Set an internal meeting and review each MSSP individually, highlighting the pros and cons.
Try and reduce your shortlist – it’ll make that decision a little easier. You may find one that stands out from the pack by that point. Maybe it’s a proposal with a clear technical advantage, or you have one on your list that provides the ideal SLA.
If you aren’t 100% sure, you can always as the MSSP to offer you a trial period. It will allow you to evaluate the service in real-time and see how they fit with your organization before you sign a long-term contract.
Securing Your Business’s Future
Security is more than protecting your business from a rare occurrence. It’s about strengthening your defense against an ever-changing, ever-complex, powerful threat.
Hiring a managed security service provider is a wise decision. It will ensure your business continues to operate even during a security crisis and protects your critical business data (not to mention your business reputation).
For more information on how our managed services can help your business, fill out this simple form. Tell us about your business, and one of our experts will contact you with our professional recommendations.
In 2021 alone, there were 50% more cybersecurity threats and attacks happening each week than in the previous year, 2020.
With a rise in cybersecurity threats and the importance of keeping data safe at companies, there is an increased need to know when your network is weak. This can prevent an attack. This will drastically reduce and mitigate the risk that your company is facing in terms of cybersecurity threats.
But what can you do in order to keep your company and the data you store safe? One way to do so is through vulnerability scanning.
Ready to learn all about vulnerability scanning, what it is, and how it can benefit your business? Keep reading to learn more about why this is crucial to have as a business in 2023.
What Is Vulnerability Scanning?
In simple terms, vulnerability scanning is the process of using a software to scan IT networks and other tech systems to identify security vulnerabilities in hardware and software. Most of the time, this is done in the business world to keep companies safe and secure.
But why does this matter? What is the point of scanning before something comes up? For starters, it is best to be proactive when it comes to cybersecurity threats.
But in addition to being proactive, security threats and hackers have become more intelligent throughout the years. There are more complex ways to attack businesses and the cyber world than there ever was before. It is more important than ever to be able to protect your business from a potential attack and threat.
One way to do this is through vulnerability scanning for businesses to use this canning tool to create a more complex and intensive vulnerability management system for a business.
How Does Vulnerability Scanning Work?
Now that you know the importance of vulnerability scanning and more about what it is, you may be wondering how it works.
When you use a vulnerability scanner, it is going to scan the IT system and the overall network automatically. This will identify various vulnerabilities in the software. When it does this, it will flag anything that needs attention within the network.
This is how it starts. However, there are many other phases that are part of vulnerability scanning.
Asset Inventory
The first phase of vulnerability scanning is to create an asset inventory. When it does this, it sets up the scanning process to happen across time. It will do periodic scans in order to check the security of the system at all times.
Prioritize Assets
Once the asset inventory is set up, the next step is to prioritize based on how you operate the business and what is of the most importance to your business.
This means that you are going to choose what to scan, when to scan it, and what the most important assets are to scan in the business. This will allow vulnerability scanning to prioritize the most important aspects of the business.
This also ensures that once it is set up with priorities, you don’t have to worry about it as much. You’ve done the initial work to set it up, and now it can run on its own without wasting any of your or your employees’ time and resources.
Now that your vulnerability scanning is all set up, it is time to actually scan and use the security tools that are part of it.
This will tell you a bunch of different factors that allow you to determine what you want to eliminate first. Whether you want to look at the threat levels or the classification first, the scan will tell you both so you can make the decision about what is the most vulnerable aspect first.
But how does the scan itself work?
The scanner uses the asset and data inventory that you set up to scan the system. It will look for flaws, coding bugs and errors, anomalies within the network and system, and any misconfigured configurations in the system.
Once it does this, it will identify the potential attackers and figure out what to do from there.
Reporting
Once the vulnerability scan is complete, it will then enter the reporting phase. This is when the scanning tool will report any and all issues that it finds in the system.
These findings will give you a better idea of the Riss, factors, and threat levels that your security system has.
Remediation
Once the system reports any flaws, bugs, or issues that it finds, the next phase is the remediation phase. Under this phase, the reports are used to fix the flaws that come about. This means that you will be able to remediate any issues with outdated operating systems or updates that need to happen.
These fixes are relatively easy to do on your own. However, if there are more complicated issues, this may require more technical knowledge to figure out and fix.
Issues such as cross-site scripting attacks, SQL injection vulnerabilities, and other issues that may arise may require professional help.
Verification and Monitoring
Once the entire process is over, the process starts over with the entire process once again. This phase will set a new schedule for vulnerability scanning. This schedule will start the process over again where it begins to look for new flaws to correct in the system.
Benefits of Using Vulnerability Scanners
If you have been thinking about using vulnerability scanners for your business, you may be wondering if it’s worth it. You want to know the benefits of using it.
There are so many benefits of using vulnerability scanners. Keep reading to learn more about them.
Be Proactive With Identifying Vulnerabilities Before It Becomes an Issue
One of the biggest benefits of using vulnerability scanners is that they are able to identify weaknesses and problems before they become bigger problems for your business.
When a business notices that there are vulnerabilities in the cybersecurity sector of the company, they can take the appropriate action right away to mitigate risks in the business. Knowing that there is something going on that shouldn’t be going on can prevent a lot of issues from happening down the road.
As soon as there is a vulnerability that is detected, a business can attack from the inside to stop a potential data breach and/or cyber-attack.
Compliance With Regulations and Standards in the Industry
In the business world, many industries have specific regulations and standards that businesses have to comply with in order to be reaching the right standards in terms of cybersecurity.
For instance, there are typically federal laws, federal regulations, guidelines, and state laws that differ between states, and international laws (specifically for businesses that operate internationally).
By using a tool such as vulnerability scanning, there is more compliance with regulations in the industry. Using vulnerability scanning is one way to ensure a business is meeting all of the necessary requirements that the state, federal, or international regulations put on them.
Reduce Financial Losses
Cybercrimes cost companies and individuals trillions of dollars each year in total. In fact, it is expected that losses will be around $10.5 trillion by 2025. That’s up from $3 trillion in 2015.
If your business is part of a cybercrime, you could be looking at a huge loss for the business. By using vulnerability scanning, this is not as big of an issue because you are going to be aware of issues before they become large enough to cost you a lot of money.
These issues can cost money because they could exploit data that needs recovering or some type of solution to get the data back. This requires an initial investment to get the data back under your control as well as giving out reciprocity to those affected by the issue.
By recognizing issues before they become larger, you will reduce the financial impacts that a cybercrime could potentially have. It also protects the business from losing sensitive data and financial assets.
Better Network Performance
Although not what stands out the most (as vulnerability scanning is mostly meant to reduce the risk of financial loss and cyberattacks), it can also help businesses to improve network performance as a whole.
Because it is meant to identify vulnerabilities, it can improve performance by reducing these vulnerabilities so that business operations can run more efficiently and effectively as a whole.
More Trust From Clients and Customers
If you are a company that uses vulnerability scanning to reduce and mitigate risk, you are going to gain more trust from potential clients and customers because they know you are doing everything you can to keep your business running smoothly and to keep their information safe.
This can significantly impact the reputation that you have among clients and customers. It is a great way to establish yourself as a trustworthy business in a specific niche because you are taking the steps to mitigate risk.
Because you have more trust from clients and customers, you are also going to be giving yourself a competitive advantage. You are able to set yourself apart from the rest by demonstrating your commitment to cybersecurity.
While doing this, you’ll be able to get new customers and retain the ones you already have against other competitors.
Improve Decision Making
Because vulnerability scanning gives you insights into what is happening in terms of security, it can be easier to make decisions. You have a better understanding of how to allocate resources and where to put your time and energy as part of your security strategy.
This can make your processes work much smoother and improve your risk management system in the company.
Difference Between Vulnerability Scanning vs Penetration Testing
If you are a business and have heard of both vulnerability scanning and penetration testing, you may wonder what the differences between the two are.
Which one is better and what system should you focus on using?
The main difference is that vulnerability scanning is fully automated. You set the system to work without you doing the scan yourself. The penetration testing system needs manual work in order to figure out the weaknesses in a system.
For instance, a penetration test actually simulates attacks so that you can figure out the weaknesses in the system. From there, these weaknesses can be fixed to solve the issue so that an actual breach doesn’t happen.
Although vulnerability scanning does the same thing, it does it automatically without needing you there to do it. This allows a security team to look at the overarching system to figure out the flaws to fix security issues that may arise.
Although there are big differences, both are part of a system to protect against cybersecurity issues and vulnerabilities in a system to keep data safe within a business.
Use Vulnerability Scanning for Your Business
If you are a business that has a lot of data and security within it, you should always make sure that you are using different systems. This will keep that data safe and secure to mitigate risks.
Now that you know the importance of vulnerability scanning for your business, you may be wondering how to get started.
At Cybriant Managed Security Services, we offer various solutions to help your business stay safe. Ready to learn more about how we can help and what services we can offer your business?
You can reach out to us today to learn more and ask any questions that you may have about how we can help!
