What is cyber security?
Are you a business owner who worries about their cyber security? In an age where technology is imperative to businesses, the importance of cyber security cannot be emphasised enough.
With cyber attacks growing in frequency and sophistication, it’s vital that businesses take proactive measures to protect their digital assets.
October is Cyber Security Awareness month; this month focuses on educating about cyber security and elevating your awareness and practices. So we’ve written a blog to explore the world of cyber security, its significance and how you can enhance your businesses defences.
What is cyber security?
At its core, cyber security envelopes a set of practices, technologies, and measures designed to safeguard your business from cyber attacks such as hacking, ransomware, and breaches.
Cyber security has evolved hugely over the past few years, but cyber crime is becoming more sophisticated, just this year, a casino in Las Vegas fell victim to a cyber attack that exploited a rather unlikely entry point – the thermometer in their fish tank!
Why should I care about cyber security?
The consequences of a successful cyber attack can be disastrous, they can result in huge data loss, financial loss and data breaches. The down time as a result of a cyber attack can also last for days, which can be incredibly disruptive to your business function, resulting in further financial loss.
Furthermore, as businesses increasingly rely on digital assets, the potential for cyber attacks grows exponentially as the entry points for hackers increases. Ignoring cyber security can leave your business vulnerable to not just opportunistic hackers, but also targeted attacks from cyber criminals looking to exploit your lack of cyber security and disrupt your operations.
What is Cyber Security Awareness month?
October is recognised as Cyber Security Awareness month, this is a collaborative effort between organisations to provide resources and remind businesses as well as individuals to elevate their cyber security knowledge and practices. It’s an annual campaign which encourages everyone to take the necessary steps to protect themselves and their businesses from cyber threats.
Throughout Cyber Security Awareness month, a variety of educational resources are created to educate individuals and businesses about the importance of cyber security and staying vigilant year-round.
How can I improve my business’s cyber security?
Enhancing your business’s cyber security in an ongoing process that requires the right resources.
Here at Geeks, we offer a range of tailored cyber security solutions to help you fortify your defences and navigate the digital landscape:
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
EDR solutions continuously monitor your systems for suspicious activities, providing real-time detection and alerts so you can respond to a suspected cyber attack as soon as possible. We’ve recently deployed EDR across our client base, at no extra cost, and our expert team receive any alerts so we can take necessary action.
Next-generation firewalls (NGFW)
NGFWs offer comprehensive protection by filtering and inspecting network traffic and identifying and blocking potential threats. As a Watchguard partner, our NGFWs go beyond traditional solutions, offering advanced features with threat intelligence integration, these firewalls provide the first line of defence against cyber crime.
Multifactor authentication (MFA)
Passwords are no longer enough to secure your account, MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of verification before granting access. For example, an SMS message can be sent to your mobile phone with a 6-digit code to ask for a second layer of authentication whilst logging in.
At Geeks, we recommend using the Microsoft Authenticator app which sends a push notification to your phone for quick approval of your login attempts. We deploy MFA which includes location specific information and which application is attempting login, so you can easily block any unknown logins. Our MFA can also include number matching which means you need to type the numbers that appear on your screen, into your authenticator app, so you don’t fall victim to MFA fatigue where you accidentally approve an unknown login.
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are effective UK Government backed schemes which provide certification and digital accreditation. The scheme aims to improve cyber hygiene by providing a framework to ensure businesses have essential cyber security measures in place. It helps businesses by protecting them from over around 80% of the most basic cyber security breaches.
As well as working with businesses and helping them achieve their annual Cyber Essentials certification, which you can read about in our recent case study here, we also provide Cyber Essentials as a Service. With Cyber Essentials as a Service, we deploy software on your devices, to ensure you maintain real-time compliance to keep your systems protected year-round.
Employee training
Employee who are knowledgeable on cyber security provide a great defence against cyber threats. Employees should be educated on multiple topics surrounding cyber security such as recognising phishing emails and good password hygiene.
Soon, we’ll be providing security awareness training, where we educate your team about cyber security risks, best practices, and preventative measures.
We offer a wide array of cyber security solutions and services tailored to meet the unique needs and challenges of your business. By implementing a combination of these solution and maintaining a strong cyber security posture, you can significantly reduce your cyber risk.
As technology advances, the importance of protecting your digital assets becomes even more important. Cyber security is not just a buzzword, it’s essential to modern business operations. As the digital landscape evolves, so do cyber criminals tactics. Cyber Security Awareness month serves as a reminder of the need for ongoing vigilance and action. By Prioritising cyber security and taking advantage of the evolving technologies, you can safeguard your business.
Looking to strengthen your cyber security? Get in touch!
