IT Defense in Depth Part II | Managed IT Solutions For Businesses
 

IT Defense in Depth Part II

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Defense in Depth Part II

In our last blog we started talking about the different layers of security necessary to fully defend your data and business integrity. Today we will look at the human aspect of it, and network defenses. The human layer refers to the activities that your employees perform. 95% of security incidences involve human error. Ashley Schwartau of The Security Awareness Company says the two biggest mistakes a company can make are "assuming their employees know internal security policies: and "assuming their employees care enough to follow policy".

 
Here are some ways Hackers exploit human foibles:

Guessing or brute-force solving passwords
Tricking employees to open compromised emails or visit compromised websites
Tricking employees to divulge sensitive information

 

For the human layer, you need to:

Enforce mandatory password changes every 30 to 60 days, or after you lose an employee
Train your employees on best practices every 6 months
Provide incentives for security conscious behavior.
Distribute sensitive information on a need to know basis
Require two or more individuals to sign off on any transfers of funds,
Watch for suspicious behavior

 

The network layer refers to software attacks delivered online. This is by far the most common vector for attacks, affecting 61% of businesses last year. There are many types of malware: some will spy on you, some will siphon off funds, some will lock away your files.

However, they are all transmitted in the same way:

Spam emails or compromised sites
"Drive by" downloads, etc.

 

To protect against malware

Don't use business devices on an unsecured network.
Don't allow foreign devices to access your wifi network.
Use firewalls to protect your network
Make your sure your Wi­Fi network is encrypted.
Use antivirus software and keep it updated. Although it is not the be all, end all of security, it will protect you from the most common viruses and help you to notice irregularities
Use programs that detect suspicious software behavior

 

The mobile layer refers to the mobile devices used by you and your employees. Security consciousness for mobile devices often lags behind consciousness about security on other platforms, which is why there 11.6 million infected devices at any given moment.

There are several common vectors for compromising mobile devices

Traditional malware
Malicious apps
Network threats

 

To protect your mobile devices you can:

Use secure passwords
Use encryption
Use reputable security apps
Enable remote wipe options.

 
Just as each line of defense would have been useless without an HQ to move forces to where they were needed most, IT defense-in-depth policy needs to have a single person, able to monitor each layer for suspicious activity and respond accordingly.

 

 

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