IT Security now requires more resources, more skills

 As sophisticated as IT breaches have become, some of the most practical solutions are quite simple.  However, these solutions require constant attention and monitoring of employees, devices, and IT systems.  The problem is companies have IT staff fixing IT infrastructure problems, end-user issues and working on internal projects.  Without an “eyes-on” approach by skilled IT security professionals, you are leaving your company vulnerable to IT security breaches. 

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To be protected (nothing offers 100% protection) you need dedicated IT security staff, or a Managed Service Provider like Synoptek, which has a dedicated security staff and the needed security protection tools. Synoptek provides security management for hundreds of clients.  Based on our operational experience we have found typical IT security weaknesses include:

• Network endpoints
• Employees
• Malware and virus attacks
• Highly specialized attacks

Most companies that get breached aren’t aware it has happened.  The sophisticated attacker does not want you to know that they have accessed or are altering your data.  The median time to discover a breach is typically measured in months.

Should a breach occur, most organizations are embarrassed to have customers or law enforcement inform them of a violation.  Well-prepared companies have a breach response plan outlined and tested.

Can My Company Protect Itself?

Most of the investments firms make are in the prevention of intrusions, and almost exclusively focused on the perimeter of their corporate network.  What they fail to realize are two things:

• No matter how much money you spend on intrusion prevention, there are always vulnerabilities and zero-day exploits to get in.  Just ask Sony, Verizon, and Target.
• More than half of the attacks are carried out by insiders, and most of those are malicious and intentional.  If you are going to invest in cyber defenses, make certain to incorporate early detection of anomalies, including those which could originate from your staff.  We have dealt with several of these situations.