In a previous blog entry, we wrote about the four cyberthreats you need to prepare for in 2022. A crucial part of your preparation should include equipping your Vancouver business with the right cybersecurity solutions. Here are five of the most important tools you need to boost network security your network security:
Firewall
A firewall separates your network from the internet, acting as a gateway through which all incoming and outgoing traffic passes. Based on a predetermined set of rules, the firewall can block certain traffic and permit others to leave or enter your network. For example, it may be configured to allow traffic only from reliable IP addresses.
Most firewalls come with a list of trusted and restricted IP addresses right out of the box, but you can modify this list to include or exclude certain domains. By preventing interactions between your network and potentially dangerous domains, firewalls reduce the risk of your business falling victim to hackers, malware, and other cyberthreats.
Intrusion prevention systems (IPS)
If firewalls are comparable to gateways, IPS tools are akin to guards who continuously monitor your network for possible threats. There are two ways in which IPS solutions achieve this goal. The first is called signature-based detection, in which the tool refers to the latest threat intelligence databases to identify known network vulnerabilities and cyberthreats.
For new and unknown threats, IPS tools use another method called anomaly-based detection, which involves comparing current network activity with established function and performance baselines to recognize possible signs of cyberattacks. For instance, unusually high data upload rates could be interpreted as an indication of a data breach.
Once the tool detects a potential threat, it automatically mitigates the impact of this threat by performing several actions. These include getting rid of malicious packets, severing traffic with the source IP address, resetting the connection, and notifying network administrators of the issue.
Network access controls (NAC)
Insider threats are among the most common causes of data breaches. In fact, 60% of data breaches recorded in 2020 involved this particular security risk. To reduce the risk of insider threat-related cyber incidents, you need to invest in NAC.
NAC enables you to assign accounts to all users within your organization, each of which is accessible through a username and password. The tool then lets you categorize users according to their function and set role-based permissions that determine what they can do and what resources they can access within the network. For instance, you can prevent anyone outside the IT department from having administrator-level privileges to your network.
Web filtering
Dangerous websites and fake app stores are laden with some of today’s biggest cyberthreats, such as ransomware. Therefore, if you want to mitigate the risk of a cyberattack, you need to ensure that no one within your organization accesses these shady areas of the internet.
Web filtering tools use security intelligence databases to determine the quality and reliability of websites. They then prevent users in your company from accessing those pages that are potentially harmful. These tools also permit your administrators to input other sites to block, including social networks and websites with distracting and non-work-related content.
Advanced threat protection
Cyberthreats are becoming more and more difficult to identify and stop using conventional cybersecurity solutions. True to their name, advanced threat protection systems use sophisticated methods to identify potential threats and prevent them from wreaking havoc on your network.
One such method is called heuristic code analysis. Basic antivirus software references existing security databases to determine if a certain file or program is a virus. But if the virus is new or unknown, it might not be detected as a potential threat. Heuristic analysis solves this issue by examining the code that makes up the file and then comparing this code to characteristics and behaviors of known malware. If, for instance, the analysis finds that a certain file contains code for locking away data and other resources, then the file may be identified as ransomware.
Another method used by advanced threat protection systems is called sandboxing. This involves opening and activating suspect files and programs in an isolated virtual environment to uncover how they behave and if they pose any risk to your business. Should the system determine the file to be dangerous, it will remove the said file and update security intelligence databases. This ability to learn and adapt makes advanced threat protection systems a powerful tool against ever-evolving cyberthreats.
You can maximize your business’s cyber defenses by pairing the right tools with the IT expertise of Quicktech. Our team is composed of specialists in cybersecurity and other fields of IT, so you can rest assured that your business is in the best hands.
Learn how working with a managed IT services provider can help your business grow by downloading this free eBook today.