Stay on Top of Growing Digital Security Threats
it security threats :- You’re an IT professional; you’ve earned the certifications necessary to be running your company’s network and computers, and you ensure that you’ve installed security software that’s kept up to date. You even attend a yearly conference where computer security is one of the breakout sessions. Are you then an expert in computer security and network security, fully prepared to defend your domain against all threats? Probably not. The problem is that hackers and criminal elements don’t wait for your yearly conference to come up with something new. Installing security software and keeping it updated is an excellent (and necessary) step, but it does not guarantee absolute security on its own. cybercrime Cyber criminals are always employing new and more devious methods, and sometimes even the coworkers whose computers you are trying to protect seem to be working against you by plugging in unauthorized flash drives, clicking on Facebook links and responding to phishing e-mails.
In order to be as secure as possible, you need to be as up-to-date as possible. The best way to do this is to set aside a few minutes every day for research on internet safety. There are analysts online who specialize in security trends and others who keep an eye on the latest emerging threats while providing tips about how to combat them. If you’re lucky, you can find a website that offers all of this. The key is to be aware and be informed. By their nature, security systems are reactive: once they identify and confirm a threat (usually because it has already attacked a network or computer), the security software vendors soon release a defense against it. Staying on top of the trends and digital security threats means that you are ahead of the curve and able to take defensive action to protect your network. Here are just a few examples of where proactive action (through software, employee education, IT policy or a combination of these) can help to prevent your company from becoming a statistic.
Let’s start with smart phones. Five years ago, smart phones were barely on the radar of IT departments. The majority of these devices were Blackberries, which were highly secure and didn’t depend on public Internet access. They were also limited in functionality and used primarily for e-mail. Enter the iPhone and the subsequent explosion of smart phones from the iOS and Android camps, and suddenly there’s a major security issue. Staff members are carrying these devices openly and using them to access corporate networks–over the public Internet! They are browsing web pages, downloading movies, installing apps and playing games. Most current versions of these devices are equipped with high resolution cameras and HD video capability. However, the vast majority of smart phones do not come with the protection of antivirus software or other digital security measures. If you think that cyber criminals aren’t exploring the many ways to infiltrate these portable, mobile computers, then you are well on your way to becoming a statistic. Viruses and other malware have already begun to show up on mobile devices, and while they’ve been mostly harmless so far, security experts consider these to be the equivalent of a proof of concept. Once the real exploits begin, it could get ugly—unless you are prepared and have already taken some measures to control smart phone use in your organization and to protect these devices.
Another major area of concern to those who monitor digital security risks is cloud computing. If you’re in IT, cloud computing is probably all over your radar. Private cloud, public cloud, hybrid cloud—cloud computing has become the preferred choice for many companies looking to control their IT costs. In fact, one of the advantages often promoted for adopting a cloud computing model is that it will improve security. However, cloud computing is not immune to attacks. As more and more companies move away from hosting and maintaining their own network infrastructure, “the cloud” presents an increasingly attractive target to cybercriminals. Think about it. If criminals attack and penetrate your network defenses, they have access to your data. If they are able to hack a data center hosting dozens of different companies, the potential payoff is even larger.
Being aware of the potential risks associated with any infrastructure choice or computing platform doesn’t mean ringing alarm bells and hastily switching to something else. It does mean that you should take necessary precautions. Ask users and vendors the right questions. By staying a step ahead, IT professionals can recognize vulnerabilities that may not yet be official and help to prevent disaster.
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