Are You Just Assuming That Your Computer Repair Guy is Maintaining and Monitoring Your IT Security Posture?
Ask him. - You could be in for a big surprise.
Sure, everyone does firewalls and antivirus. But what about the other 80% of cybersecurity protocols?
A report from Symantec gives us a shocking statistic. 60% of companies go out of business six months after being the victim of a cyber-attack. Another report from Kelser Corporation shows that 65% of cyber-attacks are aimed at small and medium-sized businesses.
If your business does not have a properly designed and implemented IT Security strategy, you’re taking a great risk. A common mistake made by business owners is to confuse IT support with IT Security. This can be a very costly mistake.
If your company has an IT Support contract with a Managed Service Provider, this contract may cover some basic IT Security tasks, like installing security fixes and software updates on servers and computers. However, these contracts will not usually cover other cybersecurity essentials like cybersecurity awareness training, ethical hacking, and penetration testing.
What is the Difference between IT Support and IT Security?
IT Support and IT Security are closely related. However, they deal with specific requirements and different areas of IT Management. Understanding the difference between these terms is key to design a consistent security plan that helps protect your business from malicious users.
IT Support is the process of assisting with technology related products such as computers, servers, and mobile devices. Common IT support tasks include handling internet connectivity problems and password resets.
IT Security is a set of cybersecurity strategies designed to prevent unauthorized access to organizational assets such as computers, networks, and data. The goal is to maintain the integrity and confidentiality of sensitive information, blocking the access of unauthorized users.
Proactive vs. Reactive Approach to IT Security – What’s the Difference?
If you use a break/fix approach to IT management (meaning you call an IT guy every time something breaks) your computers, servers, and hardware equipment is most likely outdated and vulnerable to security breaches. The IT guy could do a good job at handling standard IT maintenance tasks, but security is a complex topic which is constantly evolving, new and more sophisticated threats are discovered every day.
If you use a proactive approach to IT management and you have the support of a Managed Service Provider to take care of your IT needs, the chances are that your IT Service Provider is taking care of some basic security tasks like keeping your servers and computers up to date with the latest patches and security updates. However, to properly protect your IT infrastructure and business you should understand the scope of their services and be sure they are providing advanced security services like 24/7 monitoring of security incidents, malware and virus prevention and endpoint protection.
We have been securing businesses in south Florida and taking care of their IT Security needs for more than fifteen years. Our Managed Security Services include comprehensive security protection from increasingly sophisticated, targeted cybercrime threats.
- Antivirus
- Firewall monitoring
- Social Engineering testing
- Employee Cybersecurity Awareness Training
- Operational/Security monitoring
- Pen Testing
- IPS
- IDS
Don’t wait until it is too late, let’s talk.