Protecting your business in today’s world means being aware of the many ways in which a cyber criminal could access your valuable data and systems. Many of the issues can actually be created by the technology designed to help your organisation. Read on to learn more about three key threats, and how you can counteract them.
Risk Area One: Third-Party Vendors
With IT being such a complex field, it’s no wonder that many businesses rely on services and other products from a third-party, such as AML ID Verification (used for Anti Money Laundering). This is especially true for companies that may not have a tech focus themselves, for example, restaurants and shops. Yet outsourcing aspects of your vital tech infrastructure can actually put your cyber security at risk. If your service provider isn’t doing their bit in following cyber security best practice, then your business could be vulnerable as a result. This means that you should check the security practices of any third-party or outsourcing service before you sign up, and check that processes such as AML ID Verification are carried out as they should be.
Risk Area Two: The Cloud
Cloud technology has undoubtedly brought a huge array of benefits to businesses of all sizes, but security remains a concern, as highlighted here: If you use a public cloud based platform or services, you need to be careful about ensuring that your data is properly protected from the risk of hackers. This can be achieved by employing strong encryption at the data level. Experts recommend AES 256 bit encryption for the most robust protection currently available.
Risk Area Three: Vulnerable Devices
Take a moment to think about all the devices that your enterprise needs to use each day: it’s likely to be a considerable number of hardware items, ranging from routers, printers and servers, through to laptops and tablets, or feature devices such as wireless POS (point of sale) equipment. The problem is that if these devices are not able to be updated or patched, they could be allowing cyber criminals an entry point into your network. Thankfully, it’s easy to keep track of which devices need an update, and when, by using a patch management software tool. And, when updates are no longer available for a given device, don’t delay in replacing it.