How to Prepare Your Business for a Russian Cyberattack

While Russia’s conflict in Ukraine may seem far away, cybersecurity experts warn of a new kind of warfare that could be closer at home – Cyberattacks.

Pablo Molina, Drxel University‘s chief Information Security Officer, stated that “I believe everybody should be ready for this — individuals and organizations.”

Cyber Security & Infrastructure Agency issued a Friday “shields-up” warning to U.S. companies in order to prevent cyberattacks that could be associated with a Russian invasion.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Russian hackers had already attacked the Ukrainian government’s websites and bank systems. This is a repeat of the attacks that were carried out last month and over many years.

Molina believes that attacks on critical infrastructure will be the number one concern of the U.S. government.

He stated that “certainly the power grid, internet connectivity and the financial systems, our capability to get money from an ATM in order to make payments using credit cards, water system, sewage systems and transportation networks” are key objectives. All of these are important objectives for any cyberwarfare anywhere on the planet.

Prevent a cyberattack on your business

Molina stated that organizations should employ cybersecurity specialists to:

• protect client and employee data
• protect your websites, and social media accounts
• to stop them being misused to spread malware and misinformation
• employees must be taught to recognize sophisticated attacks like phishing.

He advised that individuals also be prepared for possible cyberattacks by first securing their devices, accounts and information.

Molina warned that fake news should not be believed or shared.

He said, “Fake news and misinformation are the one thing we need to be very careful about.” “We are a divided society politically right now regarding vaccines and the economy, as well as race. It is not uncommon for Russian-sponsored trolls online to spread fake news and information, fueling those conflicts.”

Molina also advised the public to be prepared in the event of cyberattacks, which could disrupt or disable essential services like utilities or banking services.

Molina stated, “Imagine what would you do if the internet was not available?” What is your backup plan for contacting your loved ones? While I don’t recommend keeping thousands of dollars at your home, it is a good idea to have a small amount of cash in case an ATM is temporarily unavailable or you need money.

Molina suggested that people may also consider emergency preparedness.

“Should they have the ability to disrupt the power grid — how long can you function without electricity?” He said. “At the minimum, keep a flashlight and some gas in your car that you can use to charge small electronics should the wireless networks cease to work. Keep a small amount of water in your home just in case you lose water.

Here at SpartanTec Charleston, we believe in being proactive with your cybersecurity. It is not a time for fear or panic to take over but a time to prepare. Now is the time to contact us for a complete and thorough analysis of your network security and employee preparedness.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com

Best Cybersecurity Practices For Organizations

To achieve optimal health and well-being, there are many things you can do. These include flossing, meditation, eating green vegetables, scheduling a colonoscopy, and even scheduling your appointment for blood work.

The confusion is compounded by the fact that recommended practices change as people age and their health needs change, as well as as as medical science advances. Or more recently, a pandemic.

To achieve optimal computer security, there are also many things you can do. The process of achieving the best cybersecurity posture is not easy. There are many recommendations, and constantly changing threat landscapes. A good IT security framework and cybersecurity standards can be helpful in organizing and managing a cyber hygiene program. They use established policies, processes and practices to prioritize and set priorities.

Checklist Organizations Can Use To Improve Cybersecurity

Allow listing/block listing

You can control which websites, applications and email addresses are allowed and not. Two methods of controlling access are blacklisting and whitelisting. This allows users to access a limited number of files, processes, and applications. With employee training from SpartanTec in Charleston you can find out the pros and cons of each method.

Access control and authentication

Cyber hygiene is incomplete without authentication. This is the process of confirming that a user is who they claim to be. Organizations can choose between at least six types to secure their networks.

Knowledge-based authentication is the most basic. It requires that a user share pre-established credentials such as a username, password, or PIN. A good practice is to require at least two authentication factors. These include a password and a unique code that is sent to the user’s email address or cellphone.

Biometric authentication uses biological identifiers such as fingerprint scanning and facial recognition. Other authentication options include certificate-based, token-based authentication, single sign-on and token-based authentication.

Cybersecurity hinges on access control and authentication — the ability of certain users to be verified and admitted while excluding others.

Common access control mechanisms are role-based access control which grants network permissions based upon a user’s formal position within an organization and the principle of less privilege which allows users access only to the resources they need to perform their job.

IT security professionals must regularly review the user access entitlements to make sure that no one is granting them inappropriate or out-of-date privileges. This could lead to a compromise in overall security.

Backup strategy. Create a backup strategy to ensure mission-critical data is stored in a secure place and regularly duplicated. Experts recommend the 3-2-1 rule for backup. This requires three copies of data stored on two media types, such as tape, disk, and cloud (preferred). One copy should be kept off-site if not using cloud backup.

Cloud access security broker (CASB). A CASB is a cloud access security broker (CASB) that should be implemented by any organization that depends on IaaS/PaaS/SaaS. CASB software allows secure connections between end-users and the cloud.

It enforces enterprise security policies such as authentication, encryption and data loss prevention. Alerting, malware detection, and logging are all possible with CASB software. A CASB provides greater visibility for cloud-based apps by employees and gives organizations greater control over cloud-based data security.

Management of cybersecurity assets

Protecting IT assets requires first knowing they exist. Cybersecurity asset management is a subset IT asset management (ITAM). It involves the discovery, inventory and management of assets in an organization with the aim of protecting them. This is a difficult task for three reasons.

1. It is logistically impossible to keep track of IT assets in an enterprise today because of the sheer volume and variety.
2. The corporate attack surface expands minute by minute because of short-lived temporary ephemeral entities or virtual entities, such as containers, microservices, virtual machines and containers.
3. ITAM tools are often not able to reach areas of an organization’s environment, such as smart facilities equipped with IoT devices.

Despite these difficulties, cybersecurity asset management can be done, however, it may require outside assistance from companies such as SpartanTec, Inc.

Encryption. Encryption is used to protect sensitive corporate data in transit and at within the organization.

Endpoint security. Endpoint security. In today’s workplace, many endpoint devices go beyond the traditional security perimeter. This requires ia process to identify, manage, and secure devices ranging in size from PCs to IoT Nodes.

Management strategy and incident response. To minimize the risk to an organization’s business from a security incident, it must have a pre-established incident response (IR), and management strategy. An IR team must have a mix of legal, executive, legal, and operational expertise.

Data breaches can cause financial losses as well as operational disruptions and reputational damage. This group records the who, what and when of its anticipated IR. It also creates a plan to guide in future crises.

Network segmentation. Segmentation of the network restricts how far cybercriminals are able to move, if they manage to penetrate a network. This will reduce the impact and extent of an attack.

Password policy. Hackers are open to using simple or recycled passwords. By establishing expectations, rules and requirements around user credentials, a company’s password policy can help protect enterprise security.

Patch management. The flossing of cyber hygiene is patch management. While everyone knows it’s important, not all do. Failure to floss can increase your risk of developing heart disease. However, failure to patch security breaches increases your risk.

Recent surveys found that 60% of data breach victims admitted they could have prevented their attackers from accessing their systems by simply patching known security holes. The stakes are high so it is important to learn and follow best patch management practices.

Many technologies, including CASBs and firewalls, VPNs and Secure Access Services, can be used to provide secure connectivity for users regardless of their physical location.

Training in security awareness. Mike Chapple, senior director of IT services delivery at the University of Notre Dame, suggests that employees be educated about the critical role they play in mitigating cybersecurity risk by creating a comprehensive cybersecurity training program.

Management of security logs. Security programs are only as good as their ability to detect suspicious or inappropriate activity in the IT environment. According to Michael Cobb, security logging is “the heartbeat of any security strategy.”

It’s not easy, however. Security log management best practices include logging and storing the correct events, assuring their accuracy and integrity, analyzing log data to find problems, and using log tools to manage the event volume.

Security monitoring. Security monitoring. Regularly scan the network for vulnerabilities and threats, including open ports that hackers could use to launch port scan attacks. Use tools like SIEM or vulnerability scanners. Regular scanning and monitoring improves cyber hygiene, flagging both active threats and weak points that could allow attackers to gain access.

Cyber hygiene and email security

Despite the rise in popularity of collaboration platforms like Zoom and Microsoft Teams, most organizations still use email as their primary method of communication. Cybercriminals still use email to gain access to corporate networks and data, making it a very popular attack vector.

Email security refers to a variety of techniques, technologies and practices that prevent cybercriminals from gaining unauthorized access to email accounts or message content. Email security, like all cyber hygiene measures is shared responsibility by individuals and organizations.

Clear, concise and informative policies set cultural norms for safe email use and establish behavioral expectations. It is important to clearly define email’s inherent risks and dispel any security concerns employees may have about using this ubiquitous technology.

IT leaders need to understand the importance and benefits of email security protocols. Further reducing the threat of phishing or BEC attacks can be achieved through antimalware, antispam and email security gateways.

Good cyber hygiene isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It is a dynamic mix of practices, habits and initiatives from users and organizations with the goal to achieve and maintain the best possible security posture.

We all know creating a good hygiene schedule is important for your health. Creating a cyber hygiene schedule is even more important for your companies health. If this seems intimating or even impossible, give SpartanTec in Charleston a call. We can show you how to make the impossible – possible with employee training and a continuity plan.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com/

Serving: Woodhaven, Lighthouse Point, Farmington, Lynnwood, Hillside, Oak Forest, Oceanview, Mount Pleasant, Green Acres, Northbridge

IT Services Charleston SC

Charleston South Carolina, is a port city founded in 1670, is defined by its cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages and pastel antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor, while Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War rang out, lies across the water.

SpartanTec, Inc. serves the businesses of Charleston SC with IT Support and managed services. Whether you need to supplement your IT Team or need us to be your complete support solution, we are here for you. Serving Charleston, Berkeley, Georgetown, Colleton  and Dorchester Counties 

IT Services for Charleston SC Businesses

Modern Charleston businesses rely heavily on IT services to support their daily operations. Whatever IT services they may need, all play an important role in any company’s daily operations. The term ‘IT Services” can be used to cover many areas and subjects. Sometimes, it’s done in-house. Other times, a third party provider provides services that facilitate smooth IT operations. Or it could also be a combination of both, referred to as co managed IT support.

What type of IT services are you does your company need? This is a huge question with a bigger answer. Most IT services can be customized to suit a variety of business requirements. Each company has its own set of needs. One managed IT company in Chicago might offer different services than one in Charleston SC. SpartanTec would like to provide an overview of the types, their uses and how you can get the most out of them.

IT Support for Small Businesses

What are  IT services and where they fit in the business arena? Some of these are general, while others are specific for certain entities.

Managed IT Services

Managed IT is a wide-ranging, comprehensive type of service. Managed IT is usually a component of an MSP (managed service provider), which handles multiple IT service needs. Most often managed IT services are used for remote server, desktop, and device management. Another common use is remote cybersecurity.

Cloud Backup Services

Cloud computing is flexible and can be used to support many virtual services, such as ecommerce or operating systems. This service model includes cloud backups which allows companies and users to store their data on cloud servers that are not physically located in their location. This can help prevent hardware failures. Cloud backup is usually handled by service providers for either monthly or annual fees.

Monitoring Services

An MSP can provide a monitoring application that is similar to security services. It does exactly what it says: it monitors servers, internet traffic and security, as well as communications, and/or any other information that an enterprise requires. This service is great for small businesses who don’t have the IT resources, but still require strong IT support/features. These responsibilities include automatic updates of software/antivirus and monitoring the integrity of networks .

Data Recovery and Backup

Many service providers offer data backup via cloud services or external data centers. No matter what method you use, data backup is the protection and recovery of information in the case of an unanticipated problem such as a natural disaster or malicious intrusions. This is sometimes called “Backup Disaster Recovery” (or “BDR strategy”) or “backup data recovery”. Backup is essential for organizations to prevent downtime and information loss.

Firewall Services

A cybersecurity strategy must include firewalls. Most companies already have firewalls in place. However, some businesses will opt to use SpartanTec, Inc., Charleston SC, for additional firewall protection.

Some managed firewalls, for example, can be hybrid models which allow additional network monitoring or control options beyond what is available with the standard rulesets. Some firewalls offer one solution that can cover all internal networks and remote devices. The specific requirements of each company will determine the type of firewall that is best suited for them.

Cybersecurity Services

This broad category covers all services that fall under cybersecurity. It is the act of or process of protecting networks, data and computers from malicious attacks using various methods. Anti-virus, firewalls, and network monitoring are all examples. These include layering networks. Cybersecurity services are often more valuable because they have more resources and are better equipped.

Office 365/Email

Office 365 by Microsoft is the all-inclusive package. It includes Word and Excel. This package is great for companies who need different software to organize their documents, but don’t wish to subscribe to a monthly plan. This is also known software as a Service (SaaS). Office 365 can be used to update your email management platform or as a cloud server. Office 365 is a great choice for companies that rely heavily on email to communicate.

Anti-Virus Protection

Anti-virus services are a subset that includes cybersecurity and are one of the most sought after types of IT services. Anti-malware protection can be provided as software or monitoring. To combat the constantly changing threat of malware, every company that depends on the internet should have anti-virus software installed.

Remote Support

Remote support allows IT professionals to offer remote support. This support can be used to remotely control a device over the internet to assist with troubleshooting. Remote support is available for software repair, IT assistance and other needs. Remote support is very helpful for IT professionals who aren’t physically available. An MSP can typically handle this.

Remote and mobile networking

Staff can work remotely using mobile and remote networking. This allows staff to work remotely from anywhere, even if they are not in their office. This is compatible with BYOD policies. This feature is useful because it allows employees to be flexible and also allows them to work remotely. This feature is helpful if the company is located far from their headquarters.

Which IT services should you use?

It may be possible to learn about the various IT services available and choose which one suits your needs. There is no single right answer because every company has different needs. It can be hard to determine if third-party resources will work best for your company.

However, not all businesses have the same resources so it is easy to lose sight of IT’s importance to your business. Before you start looking at third-party solutions, consider the following.

• You are responsible to deal with malware intrusions and attacks, as well as network disruptions.
  
• Projects can be delayed, stalled or scrapped when there is not enough expertise or resources.
• Some tasks, such as storing documents can be done more efficiently.
• There is no way to fully recover or protect data in the event of a major disaster, hardware failure, or malware intrusion.
• It is impossible to connect remote and mobile devices to the company’s network.
• To meet the demands of your new staff, you must increase your resources quickly. You lack the capital to invest in new hardware.
• Your customer service model is slow, and it can’t handle high volumes of requests over a long period of time.

These scenarios may be relevant for your business. Managed IT services is the best option. Instability or internal problems can cause lost productivity and lower profit margins.

Conclusion

Businesses can use IT solutions to increase efficiency and lower communication costs. Modern businesses need to protect their data, offer quality customer service and stay on top of the latest technology. All of this while maintaining a healthy profit margin. For small and medium-sized businesses, this is much easier said than done.

Does your company need to take a look at any of these services/ If yes, then it is time for an in-depth review by SpartanTec, Inc. in Charleston, SC.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com

Cyber hygiene: What is it and why is it so important?

Cyber hygiene is a practice that organizations and individuals use to ensure the security and health of their users, data, devices and networks.

Cyber hygiene is about protecting sensitive data from theft and attacks. This concept is similar to personal hygiene. Individuals can take precautionary measures to protect their health, such as flossing to reduce cavities and handwashing in order to prevent the spread of diseases. By following cyber hygiene precautions, organizations can protect their health and avoid data breaches.

It is important that cyber hygiene does not fall solely on IT security analysts, technicians and managers. It is a shared responsibility that all users and departments must prioritize. A common way that employees can contribute to cyber hygiene is to follow current email security best practices. This includes avoiding public Wi Fi and creating strong, unique passwords.

Cyber hygiene: What are its benefits and why is it so important?

Cyber hygiene has many benefits. Organizations can reduce the likelihood of data compromise, operational interruptions and data loss by ensuring they have a good cyber hygiene.

Security posture is the enterprise’s overall cybersecurity program strength and how well it can handle emerging and existing threats. A basic cyber hygiene program can help you achieve optimal cybersecurity.

Cyber hygiene issues can result in data compromise, data loss, and security incidents. Data breaches can lead to financial loss, government fines and operational downtime. They also cause organizational upheaval and damage to the reputation of the organization.

What are the challenges in maintaining cyber hygiene?

Cyber hygiene is crucial, but it’s not easy. These are some of the common challenges:

Complexity and breadth of IT environments. It is extremely difficult to maintain cyber hygiene in today’s enterprise due to the large number of users, devices, and assets that are often scattered across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Monotony. Cyber hygiene cannot be achieved by simply crossing off a checklist. It requires end users and security professionals to engage in a constant stream of important, but often mundane, tasks.

User buy-in. IT security teams cannot achieve good cyber hygiene by themselves. They require the engagement and support of all end users within their organizations, even those who are not experts or interested in cybersecurity.

Cyber hygiene best practices for users

Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. This means that although organizations must prioritize cyber hygiene, individual users also need to be vigilant.

Users should be aware of these cyber hygiene best practices.

• Backups. Backups. Regularly back up your important files to a secure, separate location. This will ensure that you are protected and isolated in the event of a network breach.
• Education. Users should not click on attachments or links in emails. Keep abreast of new phishing techniques and malware.
• Encryption. Protect sensitive data with device and file encryption
• Firewalls. Firewalls and routers should be properly configured and set up to prevent bad actors from accessing private systems.
• Password hygiene. According to Verizon’s 2021 Data Breach Investigations Report 61% of all breaches are user credentials. To prevent unauthorized access, maintain good password hygiene and use multifactor authentication (MFA), to make it more difficult.
• Management of patches. Patch management. Install all available security patches and software updates on company-owned devices as well as personal devices.
• Online discretion. You should not post any personal information that a bad actor could use in order to reset or guess a password or gain access to private accounts. Cybercriminals may use personal information already online to launch social engineering attacks.
• Security software. Antimalware and antivirus software are essential to protect your system against malware, viruses, ransomwares, rootkits, Trojans, and other malicious programs. Regular scans are recommended to identify unusual activity.

Good Cyber hygiene  may be difficult to achieve, but, it can be accomplished with help. SpartanTec in Charleston SC is a cybersecurity company you can call on for help. We have been around since 2002 and have seen many changes in internet security. We are a company you can trust to keep your data, employees and devices secure from external and internal threats.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com/

Serving: Woodhaven, Lighthouse Point, Farmington, Lynnwood, Hillside, Oak Forest, Oceanview, Mount Pleasant, Green Acres, Northbridge

What is a Managed Firewall?

Although firewalls can be equipped with all the security features necessary to keep bad guys at bay, they are only as effective and efficient as their management. You need a managed firewall service to get the full benefit of having a network firewall.

What is a managed firewall?

Monitoring your network can take up significant time, resources, and cost. Managed firewall services provided by SpartasnTec in Charleston SC, offer solutions that cover administration, operation monitoring, maintenance, and monitoring of your firewall infrastructure.

The managed firewall service includes an assessment of your security risks and monitoring network traffic. Any abnormal traffic patterns that are not “normal” will be detected and corrected once the we have established what normal traffic looks like.

Managed firewall solutions typically include network monitoring, set-up, maintenance and modification of firewall rules. They can include detailed analysis, reports, and feedback. Updates and patches are an integral part of the solution.

Firewalls are not plug-and-play devices. It is not possible to just install a firewall on your network perimeter and expect it to do its job. Firewall management requires extensive knowledge and constant monitoring. It is just the beginning of a long process. Do you have the staff to do the job?

Common firewall problems and complexities

Only a small portion of the complexity involved in managing a firewall is represented by the resources needed. Companies should also be aware of other less obvious issues.

Balance between security and user-friendliness

If protocols are too restrictive or don’t allow users to access specific data or applications, firewall rules can be a business inhibitor. Companies can be vulnerable to data theft and security breaches if they have access to more information than is necessary to perform their job duties.

Auditing is not necessary

Although it is a good practice to analyze firewall rules on a regular basis, many companies overlook this critical step. Don’t be one of them. Hire IT Support Charleston SC to help you.

Inability to keep pace with changing threats

The complexity of managing a firewall increases as the threat landscape changes and the company’s attack surface grows. Even though firewall rules and configurations may have been adequate weeks or months ago to block cyber threats, they are no longer effective today.

Multiple locations, multiple firewalls

All of the above complexity can be too much for one firewall, but many organizations need multiple firewalls. Each firewall is unique and requires its own configurations and rules. Each firewall can multiply the work.

Complexity of industry compliance standard

Your firewall must be PCI DSS compliant if your company accepts online payments. But, simply installing a firewall to protect your network may not make you PCI DSS-compliant. As a guideline for how firewalls should install, be updated, and be maintained compliant with PCI DSS, there are more than 20 sub-requirements.

The benefits of having a service provider manage the firewall

Working with a managed security provider (MSSP) such as SpartanTec, Inc. in Charleston SC for firewall management goes beyond the solutions and complexity outlined above.

Empowering digital transformation

As organizations adopt SaaS, hybrid cloud, IoT and public clouds, IT environments are changing. Digital transformation may be delayed because traditional security controls might not have the ability to adapt to these changing IT environments. Even worse, the transformation can be slowed down by inadequate security controls.

Monitor your network 24/7

Managed firewall services that are highly regarded will monitor and manage your firewalls from their SOC (security operation center). A fully redundant, secure SOC should be available to the MSSP. It should also have advanced security technology and emergency backup power.

Threats can be better managed by collecting data, monitoring your network traffic, and analyzing for known vulnerabilities.

Solutions customized to suit your environment

You can have your firewalls managed whether they are on-premise, cloud-based, hybrid or virtual. SpartanTec, Inc. can provide managed firewall solutions that are tailored to your network environment. Contact SpartanTec, Inc. now if you wish to know more about managed firewalls and IT services.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com/

Serving: Woodhaven, Lighthouse Point, Farmington, Lynnwood, Hillside, Oak Forest, Oceanview, Mount Pleasant, Green Acres, Northbridge

IT Support Mt Pleasant SC – Cyber Security Solution for Growing Businesses

Mount Pleasant, SC is a large suburban town located in Charleston County, South Carolina. In the Low Country, it is the fourth largest municipality and largest town in South Carolina, and for several years was one of the state’s fastest-growing areas, doubling in population between 1990 and 2000.

Mount Pleasant Welcomes Businesses

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina is home to stunning natural beauty, low taxes, the best schools, low crime and an unbelievable array of recreational opportunities, shopping, dining and culture. What you might not know is how attuned and attentive to business Mount Pleasant is – with incentives, support and hands-on, real-time help built for startups and smart growth.

SpartanTec, Inc.is proud to serve Mt Pleasant and surrounding Charleston County with IT Support and Managed Services for companies with no IT team or to supplement an existing IT department.

SpartanTec Mount Pleasant SC Network Security

Cybercrime targets small and medium-sized businesses in excess of 77% of the attacks. Yet, 42% of small and middle-sized businesses do not consider cyber crime a threat. While cyber security is essential for your business, it can also take away time and resources from your growth activities. Advanced attacks are more difficult to prevent than traditional security measures.

• Your growing business needs for low-maintenance, low cost, and high-value cybersecurity
• To increase your defenses, integrate with conventional cyber security products
• Protect your business from the disruption and cost of a breach
• Advanced attacks are detected in real-time — even when other security solutions fail
• Fortifies your cyber defenses

Cybercrimes today go far beyond mere nuisance attacks. It’s not surprising that 60% of victims of cyberattacks against small businesses are forced to close their doors within six months after a breach.

For specific information, well-organized groups can launch sophisticated threats against your company. Attackers often target smaller businesses that supply larger companies with products and services. They can eventually reach larger targets by establishing a foothold within smaller companies. They attack via email and the internet 90% of the times.

SpartanTec Mt Pleasant IT Support

• At a price you can afford
• Without adding stress to security resources
• Correlating email and internet activities is a way to find other solutions that are not possible. These activities can seem innocuous when seen in isolation.
• For your growing business

The Network Security solution is ideal for any IT department that has a single employee or one who needs to expand its security capabilities.

Network Security against advanced cyber threats like ransomware and spear-phishing emails. This solution will ensure that your company runs smoothly, without interruptions, disruptions, or waste of effort.

Effective defense against targeted attacks

Targeted attacks are tailored to your company’s weaknesses. The attacker will research your weaknesses, identify your key assets, and create an attack strategy to accomplish their goal.

SpartanTec Mt. Pleasant SC also creates a targeted defense. Our systems scan your email and web traffic against thousands possible computer configurations in order to detect suspicious activity. We scan both embedded URLs and attachments. Web activity is considered interactions. This means that our system scans web activity as if a person visited the pages and clicked on all the links to download different resources.

Actionable intelligence accelerates response

Alerts are indicators that something is wrong with any security system. The more security systems you have the better, as they often lack the intelligence to validate, prioritize and evaluate the alerts. Only 19% of all alerts are important. Security teams only have the ability to investigate 4% of all alerts. This means that they spend a lot of time sorting through irrelevant alerts.

SpartanTec, Inc. is a different company. Our Threat intelligence database can validate alerts and eliminate false positives. False positives are alerts that indicate malicious activities when none exist. Security staff won’t feel overwhelmed by alerts. They will be able to spend more time investigating actual threats.

Contact us today at 854-205-2881 to discuss your companies specific security needs and budget.

SpartanTec, Inc. Mt Pleasant
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
854-205-2881

Serving Woodhaven, Lighthouse Point, Farmington, Lynnwood, Hillside, Oak Forest, Oceanview, Mount Pleasant, Green Acres, Northbridge

Small Business Cybersecurity Statistics You Should Know

Small businesses, similar to all enterprises, have to manage customer data. This includes PII, which means personally identifiable Information. They are often not equipped to protect their data from cyberthreats. They are easy targets for state-sponsored and scripted criminals. That’s why cybersecurity is crucial.

Even amateur cyber criminals are aware of the likelihood that they will find a user who will fall for the phishing email, or an employee with a default password or obvious password. This is especially true in small businesses where cybersecurity training and employee awareness are often neglected in the hope that bad actors won’t be too busy hunting big-game hunters.

Small businesses can also be negligent when it comes to network security. They leave equipment with default passwords and don’t implement WPA2/WPA3 protection. Small businesses are also less likely to follow cybersecurity best practices such as strong passwords, frequent changes, patch management, principle of least privilege and revoking access when not needed.

Small businesses are at risk

Small businesses are most at risk from social engineering. This is mainly through phishing scams. Attackers can trick innocent users into giving out sensitive or confidential information or clicking on malicious files or links that contain malware. IT support professionals working with small businesses are increasingly concerned about ransomware and double-extortion attacks.

Sometimes it isn’t advanced threats that cause incidents, but little things like an employee leaving a sticky with his credentials on a desk. This can expose the entire system and lead to a variety of threats.

The Covid-19 crisis highlighted 2020 as a year marked by cyberattacks that leverage vulnerabilities in hastily created work-from-home deployments. After global lockdowns, small businesses were most at risk.

Security was often neglected in the quest for continuity. Many small businesses let employees access their internal resources from their personal devices, blurring the lines between business and personal devices. Smaller companies that have limited IT resources and staff had to deal with this large-scale, unplanned work-from-home experiment.

Cybersecurity Statistics for Small Business Owners

It is important to keep up with current cyber-attack statistics in order to understand the state of cyber threats and commonly used vulnerabilities. This will also help you to identify the implications of successful cyberattacks and how to mitigate them.

Here are 10 critical cybersecurity statistics that will help you see the lack of preventative and combative actions in small businesses despite modern cyber attacks.

1. 43% of data breaches are small- and medium-sized businesses.
2. If you are still unsure about your small business being a victim of cyberattacks, 61% have reported at least 1 in the past year.
3. A CISCO benchmark study found that 40% of small businesses were affected by a serious cyber attack and had to go offline for at least eight hours. This downtime is a significant cost in a security breach.
4. Ransomware was not one of the top cyberthreats small businesses identified in the CISCO study. MSPs may underestimate the threat of ransomware for business owners, but they aren’t. Ransomware is a concern for 85 percent of MSPs.
5. 30 percent of small businesses believe phishing attacks as the biggest cyber threat.
6. 83% of small- and medium-sized companies aren’t financially ready to recover from cyber attacks.
7. 91% of small businesses don’t have cyber liability insurance, despite the staggering statistics. This demonstrates how unprepared small businesses are to deal security breaches.
8. Only 14% of small business owners consider their cyber attack mitigation and risk mitigation abilities highly effective.
9. 43% of SMBs don’t have a cybersecurity plan.
10. One fifth of small businesses does not use endpoint protection, and 52% of SMBs don’t have IT security specialists in-house.

Moving forward: What is required?

These statistics show the dire cybersecurity situation for small businesses. While it is true that advanced cybersecurity tools, techniques and expertise are not cheap, the cost of a successful hack can be enough to take a small business out of business. It may appear that you are either damned to do it or damned not to.

Small businesses should try to cut costs wherever possible. If you don’t have the budget for security personnel, consider hiring an MSSP or MSP with security features like SpartanTec in Charleston SC. You can make a big difference by taking small steps. Focus on what is essential to survive in a complex threat environment. Even the most basic cybersecurity practices can greatly reduce the risk.

Here are some tips to improve your cybersecurity without spending a fortune:

• Most people fall for social engineering tactics that lack cybersecurity awareness. Your employees should be educated about common social engineering tactics, conduct phishing assessments and reinforce basic cybersecurity concepts.
• Make sure your OSes, apps, and security software such as antivirus and firewalls are up-to-date.
• Use multi-factor authentication and enforce password policies.
• Secure remote access to internal resources and encrypted data transfer with a VPN.
• DHS offers free scanning and cybersecurity assessments for small businesses in order to identify known vulnerabilities and misconfigurations. These services can be leveraged.
• Cyber liability insurance is available.
• In case of ransomware and other malware attacks, always have an offline backup of your data.
• Security incidents are bound to happen, even if you do everything right. It is best to prepare for these incidents with an effective incident response plan. An IR plan isn’t a one-and done project. To stay on top of evolving threats, your IR plan must be regularly updated and tested.

Call SpartanTec, Inc. now if you need help in boosting your company’s cyber security measures.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Charleston, SC 29407
843-418-4792
https://manageditservicescharleston.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence, Charleston