Businesses’ security should always be top concern, as the risks of falling victim to cybercrime are too awful to simply hope for the best.
Unless your life is dedicated to studying viruses and antivirus measures, trying to understand them inside and out will feel like running headlong into a brick wall, as the digital landscape we find ourselves in is changing faster than you can say Bill Gates.
It shouldn’t be part of your business’ job spec to worry about this, so our blog is here to keep you in the loop with what you need to know, and what you need to do to keep your business secure.
Understanding malicious software
Malware is a term that refers to any type of software that’s function is to gain unauthorised access to a device or network, and threaten your business’ security. It can come in many different forms, such as:
- Viruses – A self-replicating code that corrupts files and destroys data.
- Worms – Each worm works independently, and can spread across networks and infect many devices.
- Trojans – Wearing the facade of legitimacy, this program can lull people into a false sense of security, and infect its malicious code.
- Ransomware – Hackers can take control of data or information, holding it ransom and demanding money for its return, which would be very financially and reputationally damaging for a business.
- Spyware – Monitoring your every move, spyware covertly gathers information, such as bank details, and sells it for profit.
- Rootkits – With their presence often going unnoticed, attackers are able to remotely control the infected device.
The scope of chaos it causes is huge, it can compromise a business’ security in many ways, some examples include:
- Sensitive data and privacy breaches – Such as stolen personal information, login credentials, or financial details, as well as monitoring of online activity.
- Financial losses – Financial fraud occurs when online transactions are intercepted, and funds redirected, as hackers have the ability to drain a business’ bank account.
- Loss of control – A company’s files and data can become corrupted, inaccessible or in some cases, if a ransom is not paid, permanently destroyed.
- Reduced performance – Your systems will become slow and unstable, prone to crashes and shutdowns, making day-to-day operations near impossible.
- Network breaches – Once in, malware does not have to stay isolated to one device, but can spread and infect other devices on the same network system, proving detrimental to any business.
It’s easy to have a ‘that will never happen to me’ mindset, but even the most tech-savvy person is not safe. Cybercriminals, are smart, and so is their technology, they can hack into computers through many avenues, using many tricks, including:
- Phishing emails – Through peaking employees’ curiosity with an email offering free this, or new that, simply clicking on the attachment triggers the installation of malware.
- Corrupted software – Whether it’s a legitimate website or not, downloading software from the internet is dangerous, as it offers a platform with which hackers can install malware to the unsuspecting downloaders’ device.
- Network or VPN vulnerabilities – If either are not secure, vulnerabilities can be exploited leading to, for example, network sniffing, IP spoofing, or WiFi eavesdropping.
- Impersonation – Hackers have learnt to adapt to our lack of trust, resorting to impersonating somebody that the victim knows, such as a friend, family member, or colleague, to gain trust and access.
Understanding antivirus software
How can your business protect itself against such attacks? The solution begins with effective and proactive business antivirus software.
Antivirus solutions work by detecting malware across a computer’s files, programs, and data, matching it against a database of known malware codes to identify threats. It may block websites known to be malicious, preventing employees from unknowingly downloading any malware.
The software doesn’t only keep a business secure against viruses known on the database, but with advanced solutions, can find new threats by monitoring websites and emails in real-time and catching-out any suspicious activity as and when it comes up.
On top of great detective skills, antivirus software is stellar at getting rid of any foes. It corners any infection it finds, and prevents it from digging its claws into anything else, and from causing more problems.
Yes, viruses evolve quickly, but so do the antivirus solutions. They are automatically updated to stay one step ahead, so your company is always getting the best that technology can offer.
Do you still need antivirus software if you have a VPN?
It is important to remember that VPNs are different from antivirus software. A VPN’s job is to encrypt your internet connection, increasing privacy and security, but it doesn’t detect issues or deal with them. This means that it is not a standalone defence against cyberthreats.
Our recommendation
For any business, the necessity for antivirus software speaks for itself, so the biggest question is: which one?
Our antivirus suggestion
An award-winning antivirus solution, ESET is designed to keep you and your staff protected in the background, allowing you to carry on with your day-to-day task of running a business. Its multi-layered protection platforms feature ‘a unique balance of prevention, detection and response’ with useful elements such as file server security, secure intranet protection, and security for online banking.
The advanced packages implement a ‘zero-day’ detection. This is a regularly updated system that identifies new types of malware as they develop, stopping them from infiltrating your network. The whole system can be accessed by an easy-to-use portal that gives you a single pane of glass view of your network and any threats.
ESET is easy to install, runs intelligently in the background, and overall presents as a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes, including enterprise protection. It is purchased on a per-licence basis, important when the requirement for security goes beyond your devices. It is important to remember your hardware and servers need protecting too!
Introduce security awareness training
As a first line of defence you may also consider adopting security awareness training.
Cyber security awareness training is a crucial component in safeguarding your organisation against potential virus threats. By educating employees on best practices, such as recognising phishing emails, identifying suspicious online behavior, websites and QR codes, companies can significantly reduce the risk of devices becoming infested with viruses.
These training programs help employees understand the importance of protecting sensitive information and staying vigilant in the face of evolving cyber threats such as QR code scams. By promoting a culture of cyber security awareness, businesses can empower their workforce to be proactive in defending against potential cyber threats, ultimately enhancing the overall security posture of your organisation.
Conclusion
With all of the information at the tip of your finger, it is necessary to use the resources that are available at the touch of a button. Being proactive about your business’ security needs is the only way to prevent disaster from striking. Why risk allowing a simple mistake to snowball into your companies’ sensitive data or finances from being tampered with?
We understand the prospect of implementing cyber security can be a daunting one, but with more than 40 years’ experience in helping businesses, our experts can explain how best to protect your business, from cyber threats to malware defence, firewall protection to endpoint security.
If you would like to have a no-obligations discussion as to how we can help your business with its business security needs, please do not hesitate to get in touch with me.
