Steps Businesses Can Take To Secure Their IT Infrastructure
A company’s IT infrastructure represents a major vulnerability. The important data owned by a company is stored within this infrastructure. Very few businesses would be able to function without the use of computer systems. Organizations typically take several steps designed to protect their networks. Here is a guide to some of these measures.
Implement Zero Trust
Many businesses are turning to zero trust solutions in order to keep their networks safe. Zero trust security relies upon the doctrine of continuous authentication. Instead of applications, humans, and hardware being able to freely communicate and access data from within the network they are part of without challenge, elements within a zero-trust network must always positively identify themselves when communicating.
Conduct Regular Training
Human employees are by far the most important security assets that a business has access to. Roughly 95 percent of all security breaches involve some kind of human error. It is vitally important that companies provide their staff with regular and adequate training so that they can prevent security incidents from happening in the first place.
Develop Data Backup And Recovery Plans
Mistakes will be made, and data will be lost in the course of a company’s digital life. It is vitally important that data backup and recovery plans are put in place as a contingency. The emergence of affordable and secure cloud storage has led to a revolution in the way companies back up and restore their important data. A backup copy of all files can be automatically produced and sent to a remote server – ensuring that work is not lost when a network is compromised.
Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication
Conventional password authentication systems are staggeringly outdated. Malicious actors can quite easily use human manipulation or brute force attacks to discover a password. Most companies use multi-factor authentication to protect their precious networks. While a password is often required as part of a multi-factor authentication process, it is not typically considered to be the most secure roadblock. Biometric or device authentication pages are often used to provide an extra robust layer.
Biometric authentication is very effective at keeping the wrong people out of a network. The unique information contained within fingerprints, iris shapes, facial shapes, and voice tones can be used to positively identify an authorized person – matching them up with their password. Device authentication relies on a system being aware of a mobile device owned by the authorized party. A unique password is sent to the mobile device of the authorized person when a login is requested – almost certainly confirming that they are the party attempting to log in to the network.
Use Firewalls Effectively
Firewalls are only useful if they are utilized correctly. Some IT specialists suggest placing firewalls around individual elements of a network in order to prevent lateral movement. Others suggest firewalls should only be used around the entire network in order to facilitate efficient communication. Firewalls have somewhat fallen out of style as a foolproof security tool.
