MSPs: Stop Ignoring These Common Security Threats
Since important information storage started shifting from file cabinets to computers to cloud-based file sharing, companies and businesses across industries are staggering under the weight of managing—and protecting—more and more data. Overwhelmed by the sheer volume of information they need to collect and store, businesses too often don’t have a firm grasp on how to best protect their often-sensitive data from outsiders. In fact, Verizon estimated that 2,122 data breaches occurred in 2014, with 80,000 incidents. Here’s where managed service providers (MSPs) step in.
MSPs can allow their clients to focus on their business instead of their data by helping them to assess potential chinks in their security and either offering them advice about how to better protect their information or increasing the security of the data stored on the cloud. Providing this invaluable assistance will help both to build trusting relationships with your clients and boost your brand’s reputation.
Advise your client’s IT department about what they can do to protect themselves against common security missteps that Network World reports are ignored far too often.
- Minimize Employee Error
All employees, from vice presidents to copy room attendants, need to understand and take security seriously. This includes carefully monitoring everything from company laptops to personal cell phones. Malware on personal mobile devices has been known to infect entire offices. Clients should have the capability to quickly target and remove malware – remotely, if necessary. They should also be sure to create a separation between the personal and the professional with secure network connections and encryption.
Entrust as few employees as possible with out-of-office devices containing sensitive information. These devices can easily be stolen when left unattended. Minimize the risk of stolen data by ensuring that all devices are password-protected and that the most sensitive data on them is encrypted.
- Test and Repair Security Software
In this rapidly changing digital environment, even the most state-of-the-art programs can soon become outdated or reveal fatal flaws. It’s vital to regularly test and update security essentials such as firewalls and web filters, as well as to have an expert on-hand to configure software correctly. Ensure that your clients install the best, most effective, and most modern firewalls. Assign a knowledge security-trained staff member from the MSP to configure it correctly in order to optimize its performance and to install and set up a web filter that blocks online malware by analyzing URLs. Simplistic web filters won’t protect against modern malware, which is often hosted on real websites.
- Block Outsider Access to Email and Internet
Two simple fixes for many companies’ data breach problems are to encrypt email and secure all Wi-Fi networks, allowing only restricted access to valuable information. It’s increasingly easy to encrypt email: many email providers have built-in encryption options, or you can download add-ons or software that will do the job for you. A few websites also offer encryption, but this gives a third party access to your information.
- Install Protections on Macs
The increasing popularity of Apple devices, especially in many creative industries, has led to more sophisticated attacks on these previously untouchable devices. Macs are not immune to malware, ransomware, or viruses. Remind your clients to protect them with the same diligence they would a PC.
Help your clients to implement these simple yet effective strategies to assess their vulnerabilities and protect their systems against potential threats.
