When it comes to network security & compliance, it is easy for small to medium sized businesses to say, “not me”, “they are only after the big guys.” The reality is that attacks on all networks have been increasing year after year as hackers have become more sophisticated, and small businesses are being affected every day by relaxed or non-existent security policies.

The Federal & State Governments around the country are requiring more and more that businesses of any size meet minimum cyber security requirements. In fact, it has become an absolute necessity to have Cyber Liability Insurance for the business.

A 2022 study by Gartner, the world’s premier IT metrics organizer, showed that 1 in every 5 small businesses networks will be compromised. With the ever-increasing technological advances, it is likely that these numbers will keep climbing, these numbers could mean a significant risk for a potential breach, lost or stolen data, or some type of malicious threat.

There are a number of ways SMB Technologies helps to ensure that your business is at minimum risk:

  • Updates – Keeping computers and network equipment updated is one of the most effective steps to preventing a possible network security issue.
  • Endpoint Detection & Response – Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), also referred to as endpoint detection and threat response (EDTR), is a cybersecurity solution that continuously detects and mitigates cyber threats on endpoint devices.
  • Managed Detection & Response – Managed detection and response (MDR) is a cybersecurity service that provides organizations with a team of experts who monitor your endpoints, networks, and cloud environments and respond to cyberthreats 24/7.
  • Firewall – A common mistake in small to medium business networks is the lack of a business-grade firewall solution. Often, business owners are unaware of the difference between having a network router and having a network firewall in place.
  • Passwords – Password and password protection are proving to be an area that needs attention when discussing network security. Using sophisticated software and tools, hackers can easily gain access to small business networks through simple or default passwords.
  • Antivirus/Antispam – Most people know that antivirus and antispam software are necessary components of network security, but many people don’t realize why it’s so important until their computer or network is infected with a virus, malware, spyware, or a host of other potentially dangerous issues.
  • Email/Spam Filtering – Filters all email for nefarious emails and possible “Bad Actor” stuff.

    Patch Management – The process of distributing and applying updates to software.

  • MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) – Multi-factor authentication is an electronic authentication method in which a user is granted access to a website or application only after successfully presenting two or more pieces of evidence to an authentication.
  • Firewall Monitoring & Reporting – Firewall monitoring is the tracking of important firewall metrics that play a critical role in efficient firewall performance. Firewall monitoring should typically include firewall log monitoring, firewall rule monitoring, and firewall configuration monitoring.
  • DNS Filter – DNS filtering is the practice of blocking access to certain sites for a specific purpose, often content-based filtering. If a site or category of sites has been deemed a threat, then its IP address is blocked with a DNS filter, and access to it is prevented.
  • Disaster Recovery Policies & Procedures – Disaster Recovery involves a set of policies, tools, and procedures to enable the recovery or continuation of vital technology infrastructure and systems following a natural or human-induced disaster.

    Phishing Tests & Employee Training – Ongoing testing with mock phishing emails and weekly employee phishing training.

  • Dark Web Scans – Monitors your information on the Dark Web.

Do you need to be PCI, HIPPA, NIST, ISO or CMCC compliant give us a call today! No matter the size of your business, network security is a definite requirement for every business in the digital age. If you are worried or unsure of where to start SMB can help with an internal security audit, our team can help get you on track.