Archive for category: Managed IT

4 Tips on Building a Better Cybersecurity Strategy

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Many organizations work diligently to employ the latest cybersecurity technology.

Securing networks and private data is a top priority for organizations of every size in Alberta, yet there should still be major concerns with relying on technology alone.

The assumption that better digital infrastructure will prevent malicious attacks can put your business at risk.

Without the right practices, even the best digital defences don’t stand a chance.

1. Trust no one

4 Tips on Building a Better Cybersecurity StrategyEvery organization should begin with a zero-trust model.

What is zero-trust?

It is the assumption that none of your networks, internal or external, are secure.

This demands a proactive approach that encourages consistent monitoring and constant improvement.

Zero-trust also demands that you avoid putting trust in network users.

As drastic as it sounds, best practice means never sharing passwords, never giving people access to more of your company information than it is necessary to do their jobs, and carefully vetting third-party vendors.

Use multifactor authentication whenever possible and implement emerging technology, such as behavioural analytics.

This detects network patterns and monitors user activity to fight insider threats, whether they are a result of innocent mistakes that can be remedied or are malicious activities that need to be checked.

2. Know what’s worth protecting

Businesses often make the mistake of implementing technology that is not useful to their unique IT needs.

Before you jump at the chance to install the latest cybersecurity update, identify your assets, the risks specific to your organization, and your main vulnerabilities.

Once you’ve measured performance and what needs to be strengthened, you can select the right tools and get the best return on your investments.

For example, a dental practice in Alberta is required to have specific protections in place for patient data that other organizations may not be required to have.

3. Focus on more than reactivity

Prevention is a critical part of any cybersecurity strategy, and predictive analysis has come incredibly far in the proactive identification of threats.

Big data offers businesses the opportunity to understand where improvements can be made based off automated processes and large sets of expansive cybersecurity information.

Technological advancements are also changing how businesses can manage risk.

However, no defence is foolproof. It’s a matter of when, not if, a cyber attack will occur, and your business needs a response strategy.

Machine learning utilizes algorithms to make predictions based on real-time communications and transactions, allowing you to formulate a response to potential threats.

4. Instill a culture of security fundamentals

The reality is, no cybersecurity technology can protect your business from careless staff.

Employees are often one of the biggest vulnerabilities in an organization, and the only way to remedy this weak link is to provide education and consistent training.

Tool integration is critical to a cybersecurity strategy, but only if employees understand why policies are important and how to use the tools available.

Awareness of cybersecurity threats and precautionary practices within your organization is the best compliment to emerging technology.

A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy necessitates a true understanding of preventative measures, along with the technological tools that are appropriate for your business needs.

Cybersecurity does call for constant updates as threats change; yet, relying on emerging technology alone will leave enormous vulnerabilities.

Best practices that have been the cybersecurity norm, such as employee education and the zero-trust model, should remain a considerable piece of every cybersecurity strategy.

When human error is always a factor, technology must have a human partner.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada businesses. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

Cybersecurity Solutions For Alberta Small Businesses

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Compliance is a concern on an international level, especially in matters of digital privacy and mandatory breach notifications for consumers.

Adoption of new policies is little more than a headache for larger businesses.

However, for smaller businesses, fewer affordable options are available and technical teams tend to be less skilled, if they exist at all.

Regardless, small businesses can’t afford to ignore the persistence of hackers and how susceptible they are to cybersecurity breaches.

The average small business owner loses $180,000 in a cyber attack

Cybersecurity Solutions For Alberta Small BusinessesLosses of that size are large enough to sink a small business that suffers often irreparable damages and a tarnished reputation.

A ransomware attack can hinder operations for several days, and the affected business may sustain further financial losses as a result of government fines and consumer settlements.

Establishing an effective cybersecurity strategy starts with an understanding that every small business is at significant risk.

Implementing a solution for cybersecurity before disaster strikes is crucial.

Why are small businesses at risk?

The obvious reason small businesses are such lucrative targets is that historically, they do not invest in cybersecurity.

They are easy to exploit, and advanced techniques are unnecessary to gain access to critical data.

Research has also demonstrated that small businesses are more likely to pay the ransom because they are desperate to save their data.

With half of the small businesses shutting their doors in the six months after a cyber attack, a cybersecurity strategy is a serious and necessary investment.

Improving cybersecurity must be an industry-wide effort

Interestingly, Canadian restaurants are now being offered security assessments as part of an industry-wide initiative.

Restaurants are hot targets for cyber attacks because of the sheer amount of consumer credit card information that is stored.

Although these security assessments only highlight the risks and do not address a solution without additional cost, it is a step in the right direction.

Awareness of the problem and the depth of security risks will help small businesses prioritize cybersecurity appropriately.

Education and training are part of the solution

Regardless of business size or industry, internal threats continue to be a primary challenge.

Employees could be inadvertently opening phishing emails, using unsecured devices remotely to access private networks or using their credentials maliciously.

Human error results in the highest number of cybersecurity breaches, yet few small businesses address the lack of training that could minimize, if not eliminate, these risks.

Best cybersecurity practices stem from possessing the available information, and cybersecurity organizations are recognizing that access to cybersecurity strategies is beneficial to the entire economy.

Small businesses must take action to protect themselves from security breaches and malicious attacks; otherwise, they could lose everything.

Small businesses may be a prime target, but there is no reason to be defenceless.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada businesses. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

Assume That You Are Secure Can Harm Your Cybersecurity Strategy

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There is one thing more harmful to your cybersecurity strategy than anything else: the assumption that your files and data are secure.

When you assume that the plan you implemented last year or last month is still the perfect strategy for your IT infrastructure, you tend to relax.

The assumption that all is well prevents you from remaining cautious and vigilant; it prevents you from asking questions.

You stop considering that any risk exists at all.

Rather than let a failed cybersecurity strategy go unnoticed, it is time to be mindful of how assumptions can damage your digital infrastructure.

Assumptions cause noncompliance

Assume That You Are Secure Can Harm Your Cybersecurity StrategyMany disastrous outcomes can occur as a result of assuming that your organization is secured against cyber threats.

Just recently, the EU implemented an entirely new data privacy law, the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

If you fail to remain constantly vigilant and update your security measures to remain compliant with new standards from the EU and elsewhere, your organization could potentially be fined.

This can result in public distrust of your organization because critical data is not being properly protected.

Assumptions cause neglect

Assumptions can lead you to believe that your IT systems are up to date. Target assumed they were secure.

Home Depot assumed they were secure.

Experian assumed they were secure.

Saks assumed they were secure.

Assumptions are costly.

Hackers are excellent at exploiting weaknesses, and the assumption that your systems are secure can lead to a cybersecurity strategy with many holes.

Avoiding these gaps in security can be avoided only with constant vigilance, testing, updates, and monitoring.

Assumptions cause carelessness

What if your employees were to assume that your business’s current security system was rock solid?

Without proper education, such an assumption can lead to unfounded confidence in business practices.

Emails could be opened without any consideration for potential phishing attacks.

Transactions could be completed over insecure networks.

A casual business encounter could result in an exchange of the information a hacker needs to compromise your entire organization.

Educating staff is crucial to maintaining a secure network, as well as is practicing caution, to defend against hacking attempts.

Vulnerabilities always exist

Never assume that your security strategy is impermeable to malware and phishing attempts.

Furthermore, if you are convinced that IT professionals are the only ones within your organization that are responsible for cybersecurity, your networks are already at risk.

Vulnerabilities are always present, and it is essential that your cybersecurity plan of action is proactive rather than reactive.

Having the right information is the first step in tackling the challenges of building a robust cybersecurity strategy.

The only assumption you should make is that you’re never completely free of risk.

This is the only assumption that will help protect your business from data theft and other cyber threats.

The ITeam understands the cybersecurity issues facing Canada. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

What Can Data Breaches Teach Us About Cybersecurity

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What Breaches Tell Us About Cybersecurity

Every breach offers both the organization experiencing the breach as well as everyone else a reminder of the importance of proactive security measures.

Any time a breach occurs, it reveals any weaknesses in security exploited by hackers.

The following lessons can help prevent further cybersecurity disasters.

Vigilance is necessary

What Can Data Breaches Teach Us About CybersecurityHackers become more technologically savvy each day, making vigilance essential.

Breaches in cybersecurity will occur, but as demonstrated by the many large corporations, including Equifax, that has been rocked by massive breaches, many of them are likely preventable.

Breaches in security are often exacerbated when organizations ignore basic security measures.

Only when businesses recognize that information is always at risk can they take a more proactive approach in employing measures that can mitigate the losses associated with, if not entirely prevent, data breaches.

A shared economy creates a higher risk

As the sharing economy continues to gain traction and disrupt, organizations must recognize that along with the benefits that may be realized, there is also a risk.

As the shared economy grows, it’s not only consumers who are at risk from data breaches but the companies they work for.

The reality is, breaches are costly and can result in more than simply financial loss.

Stakeholders and investors are wary of businesses that have experienced breaches, as well as are consumers.

A shared economy demands that there are strong cybersecurity protocols across channels.

Third-party vendors can be a risk

Target and Home Depot were both victims of the same malware, and investigations proved that their primary security systems were not the main point of failure.

Granting access to third-party vendors, like offsite HVAC vendors, can allow hackers to embed malware and exploit system vulnerabilities.

Breaches have taught organizations that their vendors must be carefully vetted and should not be given more access than necessary to complete their jobs.

Security connections, passwords, logs, and more must be consistently monitored to find evidence of and prevent breaches.

Everyone is responsible for cybersecurity

Cybersecurity professionals are gaining knowledge from every breach, to help them prevent loss of critical information in the future.

The most important lesson we can learn from data breaches is that everyone within an organization is responsible.

The organization must invest not only in proper security measures and infrastructure but also in policies and procedures that encourage safe practices.

Every person on the staff must be trained to be vigilant, to recognize phishing, to report irregularities.

Companies must develop an entire culture of cybersecurity awareness; otherwise, weaknesses in systems will continue.

The ITeam understands IT Service and all security issues facing Canada. We are committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective Managed  IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Contact us to learn more.

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