Monthly Archives: August 2022

Perform a Cybersecurity Assessment

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How do you know your network and your digital assets are really safe? How can you be sure? Often, it takes a cyber attack and subsequent data breach to learn that your company’s defenses are not what you thought. Read on to learn more about taking stock of your company’s cybersecurity posture to prevent a cyber attack and its damage.

 

Review Cybersecurity Policies and Procedures

 

One place to start evaluating your cybersecurity posture is reviewing your cybersecurity policy, which states not just your company’s stance on cybersecurity, but the ways you plan to keep your network secure and processes and procedures you will follow while pursuing business goals. A sound policy starts with general security expectations as well as roles and responsibilities within your organization. Once these are clear, more specific policies deal with  guidelines for antivirus software and use of cloud applications. Other specific elements include  how devices can and cannot be used, how the system can be securely accessed, and what will happen in the event of an attack, like one resulting from a phishing email.  Do workers know where and how to access the company network, and where not to? What are the processes for recovering from a disaster, and how will the business continue operating if one happens? These questions are just some of many to have a definite answer to, to be sure of your ability to keep your company secure.

 

Auditing Your Network

 

Do you know the security of your network, and all devices connected to it? Keeping a detailed asset inventory; records of all devices–their type, model, operating systems, which versions of software they have, and what they’re used for–is just the first step in securing them. And then, your workers may have their own devices, for which you need the same information. Are the software, operating system patches and antivirus/anti-malware definitions current? Does your network itself have these same protections? 

 

Take Stock of Protecting Your Data

 

Another key piece of the cybersecurity puzzle is data. Knowing where your data resides, how it’s classified, and its quality can help you protect it. Is there old data you’re keeping, that you no longer use, that if compromised, can result in fines and other penalties? How much data do you keep in the cloud, and what about your provider’s security and data centers? What data regulations is your business bound to comply with, to keep personal data secure? And where is your data backed up, to prevent its loss? Answering specific questions about the health of your data will help you maintain its security, and protect you from penalties resulting from data breaches.

 

If you want to be sure (not just assume) your business is secure, and prepare for cyber threats, contact us today. 

Use UCaaS While Staying Secure

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What if your business could integrate all of its communication tools (telephony, video conferencing, chat and more) over the internet? Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) provides cloud computing benefits on a subscription basis, and all your company needs is an Internet connection. Read on to learn more about the benefits – and cybersecurity considerations – of Unified Communications as a Service.

 

UCaaS and its Benefits

 

Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) is a way to integrate multiple modes of communication–voice telephony, video conferencing, email, chat and file sharing – without the need to maintain on-site infrastructure. In this cloud offering, the provider furnishes the infrastructure and data centers, helping clients to convert capital expense to more manageable operating expense. Users can move from one mode of communication to another and access information to serve customers more efficiently. With cloud’s scalability, resources can be provisioned as needed according to demand. Scalability allows users to be added and removed as needed. Even with little doubt about cloud’s benefits, considerations also exist.

 

Considerations in Using UCaaS

 

Even with numerous benefits, a company needs to consider its own network health as well as the strength of the provider’s network. Not only that, but especially the cybersecurity standards of potential providers needs evaluation. First of all, does your provider’s network have updated antivirus and anti-malware definitions, and operating system patches? Does it have sufficient bandwidth to handle high traffic volumes at peak periods of use? Does your company’s own end-user devices have protection from viruses and malware?  Even more important, do potential providers have certain cybersecurity measures in place?

 

What to Ask a UCaaS Provider

 

Adopting Unified Communications as a Service presents certain cybersecurity concerns. Data is one of the biggest; businesses are justifiably concerned about their data remaining protected, private and intact. With data from phone calls, web conferencing and other computing resources traveling via the internet, a company runs a greater risk of cyberattack. How can your company protect itself in the cloud? By asking questions of your provider or potential provider. One key concern is data encryption from the network to end-user devices, if it’s encrypted at rest and in transit. Are the provider’s anti-virus and anti-malware definitions current, along with operating system patches? A provider’s compliance with regulations is vital when your own company is subject to data-handling regulations like HIPAA or GDPR. Regarding access management, your company having strong password practices and multi-factor authentication is a good start. and you can build on this with identity and access management tools from the provider. Users will have as much access to computing resources as needed while still keeping your organization’s data safe.

 

Adopting Unified Communications as a Service can be both rewarding and challenging. To get started, contact your trusted technology advisor today.