We’re living in a digital age that is beneficial for all business owners. Whether you’re running an international corporation or a small business from your home, technological advances mean that it’s easier than ever to sell and advertise goods and services to your target demographic, which is why there’s an increasing rise of online shops.

According to Oberlo, there are 2.05 billion global digital buyers in 2020. There will also be an estimated population of 7.7 billion people, which is about 25 percent of the world?s population shopping online. This number is expected to rise rapidly to hit a massive 2.14 billion people in 2021.

However, as the world of eCommerce has developed, so have criminals and individuals with bad intentions. Cybercrime is at an all-time high, and you?re going to have to put in a lot of effort into protecting your company?s data, money, and reputation.?

The key to achieving this is to understand information security, cybersecurity, and network security.

Related: Healthcare Cyber Security Trends: What You Need to Know

What is Information Security?

Criminals operating online are likely to seek ways to access your business? private information. They will generally search for digital data that you have stored in your devices and on digital drives, such as the Cloud.?

Information security, sometimes referred to as ?Infosec,? makes sure that all of your business? data is stored securely. It protects anything that you need to protect from unauthorized access, unauthorized use, unwanted disclosure, recording, inspection, and modification. It also protects your data from destruction, as some cybercriminals seek to damage your files for the sheer sake of causing disruption.

Governance Framework

You can protect your business? information by using a cybersecurity program like those available at Cyber Security Resource. When starting, make sure that you have a structured plan in place. This will form the framework necessary to ensure your security strategies align with your business goals.?

It will outline who is responsible for storing specific information, which creates accountability and ensures that critical tasks are stored correctly and securely. This creates a seamless connection between your business? usual operations and information security, ensuring everyone prioritizes the safe storage of your data.

Employing a governance framework also ensures that you track user permissions and authorizations, a powerful method for managing and mitigating potential attacks that target users.

Contact Cyber Security Resource to keep your data and files safe from hackers and cybercriminals

CIA Triad

The CIA triad is essential for any safe information storage. CIA stands for ?confidentiality,? ?integrity,? and ?availability.? Making sure that any stored data conforms to this triad and meets expectations adequately will help to ensure that all information is appropriately stored and is only accessible to those it should be available to, as well as making sure that only the correct data is being stored.

?Here?s the breakdown of the triad into three core elements:

• Confidentiality – confidentiality focuses on making sure information is only accessed by the people who are authorized to access it. Generally speaking, privacy will be enforced through encryption.
• Integrity – integrity focuses on making sure that information can?t be modified by people who are not authorized to change it. This gives a better guarantee that all information is reliable and can be trusted.
• Availability – availability focuses on data that can be accessed by authorized people as and when it is needed.

Information Security Measures?

Like many SOPs already enabled in most workplaces, there are very real, concrete measures you can take to building up blockades that protect stored data. You can take additional precautions that cover all of your bases outside of the powerful antivirus software available thorough our team. Thinking about information security measures that extend beyond technical are worthwhile points to consider, including:

• Technical Measures: these are the measures we have already taken (or should have taken) and include hardware and software that create extra levels of security within a system.
• Human Measures: this is where the human element of data security comes into play. These measures include targeted training for staff and anyone who has access to your network, as well as constant updating of SOPs for the team to reference.?
• Physical Measures: the most tangible, visible elements of security measures, physical measures are any precautions that make it physically harder to access your system. It includes double-locking sensitive materials, restricting access to a site to only approved personnel, and locking all doors to your office.
• Organizational Measures: this includes steps the entire organization can take collaboratively, such as establishing an internal unit that specializes in data security, or allocating staff that specifically monitor things like indicators of compromise.?

What is Cyber Security?

Cybersecurity is closely related to information security but covers a much broader base. The main objective of cybersecurity practice is to protect your entire virtual business from any form of cyberattack that may be carried out by a cyber-criminal. When you focus on cybersecurity, you will need to find a means of protecting your entire IT infrastructure and network.

Related: Security Risk Assessment

Social Engineering

Cybercriminals are aware that individuals working in your IT department are knowledgeable about hacking and security. Because of this, they are much more likely to target individuals in your organization who may not be quite so knowledgeable when it comes to tech and potential threats. Criminals will use social engineering attacks to draw valuable information from your employees.?

Some common tactics include:

• Phishing – sending fraudulent emails, pretending to be authoritative bodies, and requesting information from your employees.
• Pretexting – sending emails impersonating an authoritative figure (perhaps someone of influence within your own business) to request information from employees.
• Baiting People – leaving a malware-infected device, such as a USB stick, in your work premises in the hope an employee will pick it up and plug it in.
• Quid pro quo — an attack where hackers promise a benefit in exchange for information, where baiting takes the form of a specific service. For example, a scammer calling you saying your SSN has been compromised, and to confirm it with them over the phone.?
• Tailgating — perhaps the most straightforward attack, tailgating is exactly what it sounds like; following/tailgating a physical person into a restricted area for access to a network computer. This can include criminals who impersonate delivery personnel, or maintenance workers
  

  Some recommendations for defending against social engineering attacks:

• Lock all computers, and keep offices locked.Tailgating — perhaps the most straightforward attack, tailgating is exactly what it sounds like; following/tailgating a physical person into a restricted area for access to a network computer. This can include criminals who impersonate delivery personnel, or maintenance workers
• Do not allow anyone other than authorized personnel to enter a building even if you believe they are only delivery or maintenance workers, anyone who accesses your office would have verification that they are supposed to be there.
• Invest in better security such as working with our team at Cyber Security Resource, where we walk you through the process of becoming a more secure operation.
• Do not open emails from a sender you do not know, and make sure to double-check that the sender is sending from the proper email address?s security precautions. For example, one email encryption for medical personnel that is HIPPA compliant will have a different email address than one that does not.

What is Network Security

Your business is likely to have its own network that employees work from and where they send internal messages. Network security focuses on protecting this network. A proper security system from Cyber Security Resource will install the necessary hardware and software needed to achieve this! This software and hardware will detect threats before they can even emerge, therefore, stopping them in their tracks.

Security Threats

Potential threats that can cause problems with your network security include:

• Viruses
• Worms
• Trojan horses
• Zero-day attacks
• Hacker attacks
• Spyware
• Adware

Common Network Security Components

There are several network security components that you may find yourself implementing to protect your network. Some of the most common include:

• Firewalls – a firewall can be installed on your devices to establish a barrier between your internal network and incoming traffic from external sources. This can block malicious malware or individuals with bad intentions from accessing your system.
• Anti-virus – anti-virus software is a type of program that is specifically designed to search for and prevent software viruses and other malicious malware from your network system.
• Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems – intrusion detection and prevention systems are sometimes called ?IDPs.? It is a form of software that monitors your network for malicious activity or violation of your company?s policies.
• Virtual Private Networks – virtual private networks, also known as ?VPNs,? help to extend a private network across a public network. This allows users who are working from home to send and receive data safely like they are connected to your private network.

Contact Cyber Security Resource for Network Security, Cybersecurity, and Information Security services

Conclusion

No matter what size or field of business you?re operating, you?re going to be hugely dependent on technology to progress and flourish. Any instance of tech failure can result in substantial financial losses, as well as hurting your business? reputation.?

With that in mind, you need to keep things up, running, and secure at all times. Use Cyber Security Resources to achieve this! They’ll provide you with all of the support you need, whether it’s protecting information, protecting your business from cyberattacks, or protecting your internal network!

Starting and maintaining a successful business is challenging, so don’t let hackers or criminals destroy what you have created. Contact Cyber Security Resource today for a consultation.

Related: Information Systems