How can managed IT services help improve security?

When it comes to protecting your business and improving security, cybersecurity is a commonly overlooked element. But as large hacks become more common and hackers make their virus craftier, improving your cyber security is more and more vital. In this blog we will look at what the major IT security risks are at the moment and then how a managed IT service provider, like ECS, can help you protect your business, data and your customers.

Want more details on how ECS can help your business up its cyber security? Give us a call on 01553 692727 and press option 3 to talk to our sales team!

Click here to read our blog on the top 3 reasons why cybersecurity is so important.

What are some of the major IT security risks?

Phishing

Phishing is when a spoof email is sent where a person pretends to be someone else, to trick the recipient into handing over sensitive information or money or downloading a virus.
Sensitive information could be your bank card numbers, address, postcode, phone numbers, answers to security questions, or even login information for online accounts; and a virus could be downloaded by opening an email attachment or clicking on a link within the email.

A range of viruses and exploits from hackers and not keeping up to date on the latest risks

There are always new viruses appearing. Stealing data, taking down websites and even holding your own information to ransom – staying up to date on the latest viruses is vital, as is having robust business-grade anti-virus software.

One of the most common viruses we have seen in recent years is Ransomware. Ransomware is a type of malware that takes your data hostage by threatening to delete it, permanently encrypt it, sell it or publish it unless a ransom is paid. The ransom is normally in bitcoin or another cryptocurrency as they are harder for authorities to track. A common example of this, that you may have heard of on the news, is the Cryptolocker virus.

Insecure passwords

Whilst they may be easy to remember, insecure passwords can be huge threats to your cyber security. 
The most common way hackers ‘crack’ a password is through something called a ‘brute force attack’. This is where an attacker uses a computer to guess password after password extremely quickly. Passwords without symbols, numbers, upper-case and lower-case letters, can make it easy for a hacker to crack your password – leaving you at risk.

Not using multi-factor authentication

Whilst having a strong password is extremely helpful, teaming your strong password with multi-factor authentication is highly recommended. 
MFA is an additional process to verify that it’s really you logging in to your account. In most cases, you can either get a verification code sent to your phone or email, or you can use an authenticator app (such as Google Authenticator) that gives you a verification code that changes often. All you need to do then is to type that extra verification code and you’re in!
Whilst it might seem like a bit of a hassle, but it will give you extra peace of mind when it comes to those important accounts.

Not patching for security updates

Threats in cyber security are always changing and cyber criminals are always discovering new ways to get into your systems. This is why it’s so important to keep all of your devices updated – from your phone to your printer, your network switch to your NAS. Software updates can contain vital security patches that thwart hackers and reduce vulnerabilities.

Using end-of-life software

This is also why it is so important to make sure your equipment can still receive security updates and isn’t End of Life. End of Life means that the software you’re using is so old that the manufacturer is no longer creating updates or vital security patches. This could leave you entirely at risk.