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SEPTEMBER 2016
H
ackers are certainly responsible for many computer viruses and phishing
attacks. But they’re not the only culprits. Security breaches can also occur from
inside a business—ranging from deliberate actions by disgruntled employees
to accidental breaches caused by human error.
Don’t wait for a problem to occur. Review these basic precautions to help protect
your company data from internal threats:
1.
Revoke account access when an employee leaves.
This is the single best
thing you can do to prevent security breaches. With a few keystrokes, an outgoing
employee with an ax to grind could do serious damage.
2.
Do your backups.
An essential safeguard against internal data sabotage is hav-
ing an effective backup system to keep mission-critical data secure. This statement
can’t be repeated often enough.
3.
Account for data and tech devices your employees own.
The prolifer-
ation of personal devices (such as smartphones and tablets) used for work purposes
has led to a business environment where personal activities commingle with work.
By allowing employees to use their own equipment, your business loses some
control over security issues. You may want to have employees sign an agreement
regarding the proper use of such devices.
4.
Protect against downloading of malicious content.
The average employee
in a small business spends up to an hour a day doing personal online activities such
as playing games or using social media. Malware and virus threats can be inadver-
tently introduced to a computer network by employees via a rootkit hidden in a game
or a video clip. The best advice is to constantly update and patch your IT systems to
ensure protection.
5.
Educate employees about social engineering.
One of the most common
ways for attackers to gain access to a network is by exploiting the trusting nature of
your employees. Make sure your employees know not to provide
their password over the telephone and teach them how to
recognize a phishing email.
Threats to data security can come from many places. If you
take a multi-faceted approach that addresses both external
and internal issues, your business can reduce the odds
that a breach will take place.
Unhappy or careless employees
also pose a threat to your data
Hackers Don’t Cause All
Security Breaches
EYE-OPENING DATA
ABOUT SECURITY
AND DOWNTIME
If you think security breaches won’t happen
to your business, you may want to think
again. Check out these statistics:
• 45 percent of employees receive no
cybersecurity training from their employ-
ers. (
CompTIA CyberSecure Report, 2015
)
• The top endpoint security concern is an
infected personal device connecting to
the corporate network. (
Malware
Mutation, InformationWeek, 2014
)
• 58 percent of downtime incidents are
caused by human error alone. Natural
disasters account for only 10 percent
of downtime. (
Enterprise and the Cost
of Downtime, Independent Oracle User
Group, 2012
)
• The exact cost of downtime depends
on company size: small companies lose
approximately $8,581 per hour, medium
companies $215,638 per hour; and large
enterprises $686,250 for every hour of
downtime. (
Downtime and Data Loss:
How Much Can You Afford? Aberdeen
Group, 2013
)
• Less than half of survey participants
believe that their business is “very pre-
pared” to recover their IT assets in the
event of a disaster. (
The 2015 Disaster
Recovery & Business Continuity Survey
)
To discuss security or downtime
concerns at your business, call a
Networks Plus Business Consultant
at 800-299-1704.