Viruses are just one of the multiple ways that hackers can attack or wreak havoc on a company’s computer network. It’s become second nature now to have an antivirus in place and many operating systems come with one built it. But, if you’re trusting a basic antivirus to protect you from all threats, you might be putting your business at serious risk of a data breach.

With data security standards to meet like PCI (for credit card data protection) and HIPAA (for health records protection) a data breach means more than just losing files, it can mean hefty fines.

Our SchrankLABS team consists of cybersecurity experts and we help companies with much more than just antivirus protection in Burlington, WI, Rochester, WI and beyond, we give them full, comprehensive security for their computers and network with a layered approach.

One of the solutions we employ is Cisco Meraki MX, which offers several features to stop all types of threats before they can reach your network. So, whether there’s a spear phishing campaign sending virus laden emails to your staff or a ransomware hack trying to get in through an unsecure network vulnerability, you’ve got a strong shield of protection, keeping your data and business safe.

In this article, we’re going to go over some of the key types of tech security that companies need to prevent intrusions and keep networks secure. While antivirus software is a part of that, it’s just one piece of a complete security plan.

What’s the Best IT Security for Businesses?

A multi-pronged, layered approach to cybersecurity gives you the best and most robust type of protection. Where each part of your security apparatus has its own objective and they all work together to keep your network and devices safe.

43% of cyberattacks are targeted at small businesses. 

Large multi-national corporations aren’t the only targets of cyberattacks. According to Small Business Trends, smaller companies are often targets, and 50% of them report they had data breaches of customer or employee information with the last year.

And every data breach costs you time and money. The average cost for a cyberattack incident reported by Small Business Trends was over $800,000 due to damage or theft of data.

Solid security, beyond simply an antivirus, is what’s going to keep your business data and company protected.

When we work with companies to prevent attacks and computer viruses in the Burlington, Wisconsin area, SchrankLABS helps them mitigate potential security risks and thwart malicious attacks. Here are some of the important components we recommend for the best business IT security.

Next-Generation Firewall

A next generation firewall (aka: Next-Gen Firewall) layers multiple protections together into a single appliance. Cisco Meraki MX, for example, has an intrusion detection engine to ensure threats can’t get into your network in addition to identity-based device aware security to allow access control for mobile devices and computers.

Think of a firewall as several hubs of the same security company. For instance, an office building security system might have alarms, locks, video cameras, and night guards. All different pieces working together to secure the premises.

A next-gen firewall is very much like that with security controls over users, content, and applications on the network.

Employee Training

Most viruses and other malicious threats get into a network due to employees not recognizing dangerous websites or phishing emails. Did you know that the huge hack of the Democratic National Committee server was done through a targeted email phishing campaign? All it takes is one wrong click for a dangerous script to be downloaded and infect your entire system.

Your staff is an important line of defense against cyberattacks. Proper and ongoing training to teach them how to identify fake phishing emails and to think before they click can go a long way towards strengthening your data security.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Have you ever connected to an airport Wi-Fi when traveling? Those and other unsecure networks can be hot spots for hacker intrusions. A virtual private network, or VPN, is a secure solution to keep any data being transferred on either a public or private network secure and private.

A VPN creates an encrypted connection that tunnels traffic to a special proxy server which prevents anyone else from accessing your data while you or an employee is using an unsecure Wi-Fi.

Monitoring for Viruses and Intrusions

Regular monitoring of your network can help you stay ahead of potential cyberattacks. Trusted IT providers like SchrankLABS use special monitoring software that alert you if anything looks suspicious. Often a trained eye can spot someone trying different ways to get into a network and can shut them out with just a few clicks.

Regular, Consistent Backups

While backing up may seem more like a rule of thumb than a security protocol, it’s actually one of the things that can save you from a ransomware attack. These are becoming increasingly popular, where hackers encrypt your data, basically locking you out, and then demanding thousands of dollars to give you access back.

If you have a good backup plan that makes regular and consistent backups of all your computers and devices, you can easily recover your data onto any device at any time, rendering the hacker powerless.

Looking for Great Managed Cyber Security Solutions?Our team at SchrankLABS has multi-pronged security solutions that are powerful and affordable. Don’t wait to find out you have a vulnerability, call us today at 262-347-3199 or schedule an appointment online for a free security evaluation.