This post was updated in May, 2023
Many business owners don’t think enough about the security of their IT systems until a security threat affects them directly. IT Emergency Services helps business owners ensure the security of their IT systems when a security threat affects them directly.
In this article, we’ll explore IT security and the way you can improve your business’ security to protect against a variety of threats.
What is IT Security?
IT security is a set of actions and strategies aimed at protecting your organization’s information and information processes. When done right, IT security can prevent malicious threats and potential security breaches that would have a huge impact on your organization.
When you enter your internal company network, IT security helps ensure that only authorized users can access and change sensitive information. IT security works to ensure the confidentiality of your organization’s data.
Types of threats to protect against
There are several different cybersecurity threats out there, but here are some of the most common ones that you need to protect against:
Ransomware- Ransomware attacks are cyber attacks where cyber criminals infect your computer or network with malware that prevents you from accessing your files. The attackers encrypt your files and then demand you pay them to get access to the decryption key.
Spyware- Spyware is a different kind of malware that enters your device without your knowledge and sends back your sensitive information to a third party.
Viruses- Computer viruses encompass a wide variety of malware that replicate themselves and spread between computers, causing damage to software and data.
Hackers– Hackers are cyber criminals who break into your system unauthorized and try to destroy, change, or steal your organization’s information.
Disgruntled employees- Unfortunately, disgruntled employees are a major threat to the security of your systems. Since they had (or still have) access to your vital systems, they can damage those systems more easily than someone outside your organization.
Accidental disclosure- Accidental, or inadvertent, disclosure is a security risk that involves exposing sensitive information to someone who isn’t authorized to access it.
How IT Emergency Services Can Help Improve Your Security
Improving your IT security can sound like an incredibly difficult task, but your IT Emergency Services provider can help you!
There are actually several simple steps you can take to immediately be better protected.
One step you should take to improve your security is to use a strong antivirus. There are many different antivirus software options that can keep malicious computer viruses out of your system. All you need to do is choose a strong antivirus and install it on your network. From there, the antivirus software will do the work of protecting your network from viruses in the background.
Another step to take is using a good email spam filter. Though email spam may not sound like a major threat to your network, phishing emails are one of the most common ways for cyber criminals to gain access to systems. An email spam filter can keep some of these emails from ever reaching your employees in the first place.
You also want to ensure that your company follows best practices for IT security. An IT security expert can guide you on best practices, or you can follow established IT Security Standards such as NIST.
If you want to take your IT security to the next level and are interested in how IT Emergency Services can help your business, reach out to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) today for help. 911 PC Help is a highly-rated MSP that can help you with all your IT security needs.
