The cybersecurity landscape is rapidly evolving, and it can be difficult for businesses to keep up with the latest threats. If you don't have the right cybersecurity solutions in place, your business could be at risk of getting fined for noncompliance with federal laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
In this blog post, we will discuss the different security solutions that your business should consider to avoid punitive damages in the event of a data breach.
Firewall
Firewalls scan all incoming and outgoing traffic between your company’s internal network and the outside world. They allow or block traffic based on a set of predetermined rules, making them effective in protecting against known malicious sources. They can also be configured to block specific types of traffic, such as those from file sharing and social networking sites.
Intrusion Detection and Prevention System (IDPS)
An IDPS is a combination of an intrusion detection system (IDS) and an intrusion prevention system (IPS). An IDS monitors and analyzes traffic, sending alerts once it detects malicious activity. An IPS also monitors network traffic but once it detects unusual activity, it blocks the traffic immediately. You will then have to investigate and decide whether you will allow traffic to flow again.
By using an IDPS, your company can quickly safeguard your systems, thanks to its IPS component's active protection. At the same time, you can eliminate false positives using its IDS component's deep understanding of your network traffic.
An IDPS is typically deployed behind a firewall, detecting and preventing threats that pass through the network's first line of defense and are already inside the network.
Antivirus and Anti-Malware Software
Both antivirus and anti-malware software offer protection by scanning all files in devices for malicious code. Despite its name, an antivirus program is not limited to defending against viruses. Today's antivirus software programs can also protect against other types of malware, such as worms and Trojans.
So what makes antivirus different from anti-malware? It comes down to their function. Antivirus prevents devices from getting infected in the first place. Anti-malware software programs, which are also known as malware removal tools, are designed to root out and destroy malicious programs in a computer system.
Moreover, antivirus programs usually guard against older and well-known threats. On the other hand, anti-malware apps typically focus on defending against the latest threats, such as sophisticated phishing scams and zero-day attacks.
Encryption
Encryption is the process of transforming readable data into an unreadable format, which can only be deciphered by using a decryption key. This way, even if cybercriminals manage to steal your data, they cannot access it.
Data is more vulnerable during transmission, especially with today's remote workers who may be using unsecured wireless networks and protocols. To prevent cybercriminals from intercepting data in transit, you must utilize end-to-end encryption for all communications.
You also need to protect data stored on devices, such as laptops, desktops, and servers, by leveraging endpoint encryption.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Before granting access to an account, MFA requires users to present two or more pieces of evidence — called factors — to verify their identity. Such factors can be:
- Something they know – password, answer to a security question
- Something they have – access badge, one-time passwords generated by an app
- Something they are – fingerprint scan, facial scan
With MFA, even if threat actors acquire a user's login credentials, they will not be able to access the account without providing all required factors.
Security Awareness Training
Despite strong security measures, organizations are still susceptible to cyber threats due to human error. Insufficient security awareness training can result in inadvertent HIPAA violations, especially in healthcare. Educating employees on cybersecurity risks, best practices, and IT policies is essential. Proper training reduces susceptibility to common cybercriminal tactics, bolstering overall security. With the right education, employees are less likely to fall for scams or compromise sensitive data, mitigating the risk of HIPAA violations and potential penalties.
Cybersecurity Testing
Having cybersecurity measures in place is not enough. You must also regularly test these measures to ensure their effectiveness against the latest, most sophisticated threats.
There are several types of cybersecurity testing:
- Vulnerability assessment – identifies security weaknesses in systems and infrastructures
- Penetration test – simulates real-world attacks to see how well cybersecurity defenses hold up against them
- Social engineering test – evaluates employees' susceptibility to phishing and other types of scams
- Cybersecurity audit – examines an organization's compliance with regulations, such as HIPAA and CMMC
By regularly testing your security measures, you can identify and remedy any vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Data Backup and Recovery
Regularly back up company data and store it in an off-site location, such as the cloud or an off-premises data center. You should also have a recovery plan that details the steps to be taken, as well as the roles and responsibilities of each person in your organization, in restoring company systems and data. By having a reliable data backup and recovery plan, you can minimize downtime and ensure that your business can quickly bounce back from any disruption.
Charles IT offers all the aforementioned security solutions. By partnering with us, you can rest easy knowing that your company is well protected from cyberthreats, as well as from data breach-related penalties. Contact us today to learn more!
