Hackers attack small businesses every 39 seconds, which is why it’s more important than ever to deploy effective enterprise level security. The best solution? The multi-layered security approach.
Don’t worry — it’s less complicated than it sounds. All it means is choosing multiple security tools and processes to protect every layer of your enterprise rather than relying on one solution like intrusion detection or antivirus software. So, here’s a breakdown of the five key areas you must consider when designing multi-layered cybersecurity for your enterprise.
Secure physical components
A multi-layered security approach begins with physical IT components. This is because it’s your first line of defense against cyberattacks and employee negligence. Here’s what to consider.
- Monitor employee access to storage facilities.
- Lock rooms containing hard copy data and physical servers.
- Limit IT access, where possible.
Protect your network
If someone successfully breaches your external safeguards, you can limit further damage by securing the network. Solutions include:
- Separating public and private WiFi – That way, even if someone infiltrates the public server, they still can’t access business data held on the private WiFi.
- Firewalls to shield your network and connected devices
- Intrusion detection and 24/7 network monitoring
- Multi-factor authentication – Even if hackers steal one set of credentials, they can’t access your system without the other details.
Strengthen endpoint security
Endpoints like mobile devices and laptops present unique cybersecurity risks. Statistics show that around 36 percent of employees use personal devices to access work data, and an alarming 33 percent download apps without seeking IT approval first. So, here’s how to improve your endpoint security.
- Continuous cybersecurity training across the organization, so employees understand why it matters.
- Introduce a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy and ensure everyone follows it.
- Encourage everyone to use strong passwords.
- Protect devices with antivirus and anti-malware tools.
- Schedule automatic software updates. Ensure only in-house IT staff can change these permissions.
- Limit administrative access on local PC’s
The trend toward remote working presents additional security challenges. Your business needs to ensure there are limits on users who have administrative access to local PC’s. If handled improperly, this can cause havoc on your organization. Always seek help from a co-managed services provider if you’re unsure where to start.
Control your applications
Don’t underestimate the importance of application security to your overall cybersecurity strategy. Here are some suggestions to help you get started.
- Again, strong passwords and multi-factor authentication help.
- Control who can access or update cloud-based apps by setting appropriate permissions.
- Roll out security patches when they’re available.
- Remove inactive users from the permissions list.
Safeguard business data
Data protection is central to any multi-layered security approach, but it’s not easy to deploy. Depending on the complexity and sensitivity of your business data, it’s often worth seeking external advice. However, there are a few things you can do right now to improve data security.
- Encrypt all data, including cloud-based data and backup copies.
- Use virtual machines to ensure you’re not storing login credentials in the cloud.
- Replicate data continuously, so you always have an up-to-date, uncorrupted copy if there’s a breach.
- Ensure staff know where to go for help if they have any queries or concerns.
- Verify your backup processes are intact and operational
Takeaway
It’s hard for your in-house IT department to handle a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy alone. Great IT people are not necessarily fully trained on security. So if you’re serious about enterprise security, consider how co-managed IT fits into your organization. With co-managed IT support, your in-house team can access the technology and tools they need to succeed — contact KME today to find out more.
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