Top Security Concerns With Remote Working

The advantages of having telecommuting, borderless workforce are beneficial for small businesses. High on productivity and low on cost, remote workers are people who are much easier to work with. But, as borderless teams go beyond the boundaries of cities, states, and even continents, you have a lot of sensitive information going outside the boundaries of the office and across a range of devices, oftentimes with uncertain security arrangements.

Small businesses need to know and deal with the challenges linked with remote working to really make the most out of working with the best and talented minds regardless of their geographical restrictions. Even the biggest firms that have budgets worth multi million dollars address difficulties when it comes to managing a mobile workforce. The problem is much bigger and complicated for small businesses that require to work with restricted budgets and possess low risks to online vulnerabilities.

Working with a remote employee requires companies to pay small attention to the security and technology being used. Listed below are the most pressing challenges concerning data security, which small businesses have to be ready for when they’re working with borderless workers.

Reduced Security on Mobile Devices and BYOD

Cybersecurity isn’t just a challenge because it’s a constant threat that companies have to fight all of the time. In this kind of landscape, the complex will be doubled once data goes outside the office. In the office, the staff use only the specified office devices that have been secured with electronic and physical security layers.

Monitoring and Managing Assets on The Cloud

Regardless of the sector, the general efficiency and productivity of a business are greatly influenced by the asset management quality. Although a borderless business that has remote employees and don’t have physical assets, their IT assets like data, software, and other confidential company data, is extremely valuable to the company and has to be protected from all types of threats.

Insufficient Backup and Recovery Systems

When it comes to unexpected data loss, remote workers who use their own devices usually don’t have enough recovery and backup options. As a matter of fact, this is one of the many issues a lot of companies don’t pay much attention to, up until a problem arises.

GDPR Compliance

In May 2018, GDPR OR General Data Protection Regulation was enforced. It rapidly became a main priority for companies and they immediately made the necessary adjustments to their operations. But the compliance still remains as a huge challenge for small and medium businesses with remote workers because many of its nuances are still unclear especially when it involves workers using BYOD devices, traveling, or working from home.

Sensitizing Remote Workers to Adhere to Data-Security Protocols

Talk to your employees until they know about the cybersecurity Wilmington challenges and how they could solve them. Since you cannot talk to your employees face to face, your next option is video conferencing. It offers many benefits like being able to communicate better with your remote workers while building stronger relationships.

Through video conferencing, you can send out your feeling of worry and stress when facing a delicate concern like data security. The remote worker who will see your facial expressions and body language will have a better understanding of the gravity of the issue, which will lead to a stronger desire to adhere to your wishes for them to follow the protocols.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. for expert IT assistance in setting up the necessary cybersecurity measures and protocols to make sure your remote workers are protected from various kinds of online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
https://spartantec-wilmingtonnc.business.site/

Cities Served:
Wilmington, Silver Lake, Sea Breeze, Carolina Beach, Eagle Island, Leland, Wrightsboro

Cybersecurity Tips For Working From Home

Social distancing is one of the most crucial measures to lower the spread of COVID-19. Businesses are also doing everything they can to keep their employees safe and that includes instructing or encouraging them to work from home. But, transferring from a secure office setting to working remotely could open up various security risks. Apart from that, nasty hackers and cybercriminals are already using the virus as a subject for their phishing scams in hopes that their victim would click through and give out their passwords and other information.

Considering the rapid rise in remote working, ENISA, a European cybersecurity agency, has provided a few recommendations for businesses that move to teleworking due to COVID-19. The agency said that it noticed a rise in the phishing attacks that use the coronavirus topic as a front. The agency suggests that workers try not to mix leisure and work activities on the same device and be especially careful in opening emails concerning the coronavirus. These days, cybercriminals are exploiting the crisis so watch out for scams and phishing emails.

ENISA also warned that remote workers have to be cautious of emails that ask to renew or check their passwords as well as their login credentials, even if they look like they come from a trusted source. It is important to verify the email’s authenticity especially if it comes from people you don’t know and they’re asking that you open files or connect to links. Phishing messages create a sense of urgency to force you to click a link. You should also be careful of emails that come from people you know. Double-check everything and don’t click on any link if you are unsure what it’s for.

Security Tips For Remote Workers

• Make sure that you have a secure Wi-Fi connection. Although most Wi-Fi has been secured correctly, a few older installations may not be and that means people close by could snoop your traffic.
• Install an antivirus program and update it regularly.
• All of your security software must be updated. You should check browser add ons, privacy tools, as well as other patches on a regular basis.
• You should have a backup strategy set in place and don’t forget to use it if the situation calls for it. Regularly back up important files so you don’t have to worry about losing data in case of a ransomware attack.
• Always lock your screen especially if you are working in a shared space. If possible, avoid working in shared or co-working spaces at this time and follow social distancing to avoid spreading the virus.
• Use a secure connection.
• Install encryption tools.

Security Tools For Employers

• Provide feedback to employees on how they need to react when they face problems. They need to know who to call. They also need to familiarize themselves with emergency procedures.
• Prioritize the support of solutions for remote access.
• Offer virtual solutions
• Provide enough support when there is a problem.
• Create a clear procedure that will be followed in case of a security breach.
• Restrict access to sensitive information and systems when needed.

Get your free work from home guide here.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. in Wilmington if you need the help of IT experts in making sure that your network is safe and your remote workers are safe from online threats as they work from their homes.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
https://spartantec-wilmingtonnc.business.site/

Cities Served:
Wilmington, Silver Lake, Sea Breeze, Carolina Beach, Eagle Island, Leland, Wrightsboro

Companies Lose An Average of $200,000 On Cyberattacks

Cybercrime is a type of criminal activity that’s becoming increasingly prevalent these days. What’s even more worrying is that cyberattacks are set to cost companies all over the world as much as $5.2 trillion in just five years.

Cybercriminals love to target small businesses and 43% of online attacks are aimed at them. The problem is a meager 14% of these firms have made the effort to protect themselves against such attacks. If you are a small business owner, you need to prioritize information security.

IT experts guarantee that every modern company’s state of the art perimeters will be breached eventually. Therefore, for small businesses, it’s no longer about if these security threats will happen but when they will take place.

To make things worse, the results of cyber attacks rise and such incidents now cost small businesses an average of $200,000. About 60% of the businesses that were breached have gone out of businesses six months after they were attacked.

The number of occurrences of these cyberattacks has gone up as well with over 50% having of the total number of small businesses suffered a breach within the past year. Plus, 4 out of 10 small companies having suffered multiple cyberattacks.

Even though this is already the case, 66% of the executives of small businesses still think they won’t be targeted by cyber criminals. Moreover, six out of ten don’t have any cyber defense plan of any kind, which means there’s a great need for improved education and industry awareness.

The damage that is brought upon a compromised company becomes worse because it usually takes about 101 days before company owners and business operators detect that they were hacked.

The costs that these compromised businesses need to cover can also pile up quickly. Aside from the attorney’s fees and other ancillary costs that you have to deal with, you will also be faced with the issue of losing customer confidence and loyalty as well as business relationships.

There are 30.2 million small businesses in the U.S. right now. If they wish to be protected from most, if not all types of online threats, they need to set in place a comprehensive IT security strategy.

• Make backups and duplicates of files and data every day.
• A network firewall, anti-virus, and tools for information encryption should be installed and updated regularly. They will scan and counteract harmful programs and viruses, and keep sensitive data safe and secure.
• Employees should only be given access to files, folders, and applications they need to use to do their job.
• Staffers must be trained regularly, every three months at least, and inform them of the latest cybercrime trends and online threats.
• Test the ability of your employees to detect scammers. You should also check how they respond to fraudulent requests.
• Perform tests for ongoing vulnerability and conduct risk assessments on installed applications and computer networks.
• Install cyber analytic tools that could scan user accounts, applications, networks to detect and halt any suspicious activity before they spread.

Why Companies Need Threat Intelligence?

Please remember that cyber threats may come from internal and external sources. With the increasing number of sensitive data that businesses handle these days, the best cyber defenses today are multipronged.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. and let our team of IT experts help you set up measures to protect your business from cybersecurity threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
https://spartantec-wilmingtonnc.business.site/

Cities Served:
Wilmington, Silver Lake, Sea Breeze, Carolina Beach, Eagle Island, Leland, Wrightsboro

Data Breach: Top Reasons Why It Happens

It seems like every day, there’s something in the news about a company experiencing a data breach, putting the organization, as well as its partners and customers, at risk. If you don’t want your business to be one of them, you have to know the most common causes of data breaches and what you can do to improve your information security.

Weak Passwords, Stolen Credentials

Hacking attacks is one of the most common cause of data breaches. But the vulnerability that hackers exploit is generally a lost or weak password. Statistics showed that four out of five breaches have been classified as a hack were in part due to stolen or weak passwords. There’s an easy way to deal with this and that is to use complex passwords and to never share them to anyone.

Application Vulnerabilities

There’s no need for you to open the door if it’s already open. Hackers like to exploit poorly implemented or designed because they leave openings that they can use to access your data. One simple solution is to make sure that all your hardware and software solutions are updated and functioning properly.

Malware

There is a rising trend in the use of in-direct and direct malware. Generally speaking, malware is a malicious software that is installed unknowingly and provides access for a hacker to a system and other connected systems. Be careful when accessing websites or when opening emails especially if you think they look suspicious.

Social Engineering

Hackers don’t need to go through the hassle of finding a way to access a system if they can let others with a more legitimate claim to the data they need do it for them instead. So, if it is too good to be true then don’t go for it. Chances are, hackers are waiting on you to grant them access to your system.

Too Many Permissions

Hackers love access permissions that are way too complex. Companies that fail to keep a tight rein on who has access to what within their company are more likely to have provided the wrong permission to the wrong individual or perhaps have neglected outdated permissions, which hackers will exploit. You don’t have to complicate things. When it comes to securing your information, simple is better.

Insider Threats

When it comes to information security Wilmington, the adage keep your friends close and your enemies closer is relevant. The disgruntled contractor, rogue employee, or those people who don’t know any better have been provided with the permission to access your company data. So what’s preventing them from altering, copying, or stealing information?

You should know who you are dealing with and act right away when there is an indication of a problem and make sure that everything is covered with produced and process that are backed up with the right training.

Physical Attacks

Is your building secure or safe? Hackers do not just sit around in a bedroom located in a far away land. They’ve got high visibility jackets along with a strong line in plausible patter to allow them to work their way into your building and inside your systems and network. You have to remain vigilant and watch out for anything that looks suspicious and make sure to report it.

Incorrect Configuration, User Mistakes

Errors happen and mistakes are made. Hire the right IT expert to be in charge in making sure that your data is secured.

IT professionals at SpartanTec, Inc. in Wilmington will set in place robust and relevant procedures and processes to prevent user error, then mistakes could be kept to the bare minimum and limited only to areas where they are much less likely to result into a major data breach.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. if you want to know how to amp up your information security and safeguard your business from all kinds of online threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 218-9255
https://spartantec-wilmingtonnc.business.site/

Cities Served:
Wilmington, Silver Lake, Sea Breeze, Carolina Beach, Eagle Island, Leland, Wrightsboro