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9 IT Security Terms Everyone Should Know

You’ve probably heard the term “malware” thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? In this article, we will define malware and a few other commonly used terms in IT so you can better protect your business. Understanding these basic cybersecurity concepts doesn’t require deep IT expertise, so read on.

Malware

For a long time, the phrase “computer virus” was misused to refer to any type of attack that harmed computers and networks. The more appropriate term for these harmful programs and files is “malicious software,” or “malware.” Whereas a virus is a specific type of malware designed to replicate itself, any software created for the purpose of destroying or accessing networks and data with the intent to steal, corrupt, or encrypt these should be referred to as malware.

Ransomware

Don’t let all other cyberthreats ending in “-ware” confuse you; they are all just subcategories of malware. Currently, one of the most notorious of these is ransomware, which is malware that encrypts valuable data until a ransom is paid for the decryption key. In a ransomware attack, the victim organization may feel compelled to pay the ransom to regain access to their data.

Intrusion prevention system (IPS)

There are several ways to safeguard your network from malware, but an IPS is one of the non-negotiables. An IPS sits behind your company’s firewall and monitors for suspicious and malicious activity that can be halted before it can exploit or take advantage of a known vulnerability.

Social engineering

Not all types of malware rely solely on fancy computer programming. Experts agree that the majority of attacks require some form of social engineering to succeed. Social engineering is the act of tricking people, rather than computers, into revealing sensitive or protected information. For some cybercriminals, it’s less tedious to convince a potential victim to give them the data they need than to create and deploy complicated software to obtain the same information.

Phishing

Phishing is a type of social engineering scheme that involves defrauding people using an app or a website that impersonates a trustworthy or often well-known business in an attempt to obtain confidential information. Just because you received an email that says it’s from the IRS doesn’t mean that it is. Don’t take such emails at face value — always verify the source, especially if the emails are requesting your sensitive data.

Antivirus

Antivirus software is often misunderstood as a way to comprehensively secure your computers and workstations. These applications are just one piece of the cybersecurity puzzle and can only scan the drives on which they are installed for signs of well-known malware variants.

Zero-day attacks

When a vulnerability is found within a piece of software, vendors will release an update to fix the gap in security. However, cyberattackers can release a piece of malware that exploits the security vulnerability before software developers can address it. This is known as a zero-day attack.

Patch

When software developers discover a security vulnerability in their programming, they usually release a small file to update and “patch” this gap. Patches are essential to keeping your network secure from the vultures lurking on the internet. By checking for and installing patches as soon as these become available, you keep your software protected from the latest malware.

Redundant data

When antivirus software, patches, and intrusion prevention fail to keep your information secure, there’s only one thing that will: quarantined off-site storage. Duplicating your data offline and storing it somewhere other than your business’s workspace ensures that even if your systems get infected with malware, you’re equipped with backups to keep your business running.

Net Activity’s cybersecurity professionals are always available to impart more in-depth knowledge of the many kinds of cyber threats. Get in touch with us today and find out how we can help you with your IT security woes.

Protecting Your Microsoft 365 Environment And Data

For many businesses, Microsoft 365 is their go-to productivity suite because it offers powerful features, cost-saving benefits, and world-class security. And while Microsoft continuously looks for ways to address security concerns, the changing threat landscape can put Microsoft 365’s security measures to the test. Here are some of the most common security risks Microsoft 365 users face and how you can protect your business from these.

Infected file synchronization

Like most cloud services, Microsoft 365 allows users to automatically sync files stored on their devices to the cloud, such as in OneDrive. However, this useful feature is not without security risks. If a locally stored file is infected with malware, OneDrive will view the file as changed/updated and trigger a sync to the OneDrive cloud, with the infection going undetected.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a great tool against malware infection. Part of Microsoft 365 Defender, this app is designed to enhance protections for Office 365 apps. It also provides great visibility into user activity to improve incident response efforts. Make sure your organization’s security administrators set this up on your systems so you can detect and mitigate cyber risks as soon as they arise.

Security risks in dormant applications

Some organizations using Microsoft 365 often don’t use all the tools and services included in the productivity suite. For instance, your organization might use programs like Word, Excel, and SharePoint every day, but rarely use OneDrive. Unfortunately, dormant applications may be prone to attack. To counter this, it’s crucial to identify unused apps and have an administrator tweak user settings to restrict availability on these apps.

Unprotected communication channels

Phishing attacks and malware are two of the most common ways cybercriminals infiltrate a system, but there are other paths of attack that you may not be aware of. Microsoft 365 applications like Microsoft Teams, which can connect to external networks, may serve as a medium for ransomware and other types of cyberattacks.

To fight against such threats, train your staff in identifying potentially malicious files and links. You can also offer guidelines on how to handle and route sensitive files and communications to safe locations.

Vulnerabilities in SharePoint

Businesses typically use SharePoint to store sensitive information like personally identifiable data, so failing to secure SharePoint content against unauthorized users is one way to expose data and your business to cyberthreats. This can be disastrous for companies that are required to comply with stringent data privacy and protection regulations. Failure to comply may result in serious consequences not only for businesses but their customers as well.

To prevent this, limit administrator-level privileges and enable encryption. Additionally, set the necessary security restrictions per user for every application. This ensures that users and hackers who get a hold of user credentials cannot exploit or misuse privileges.

Microsoft 365 provides a powerful and convenient tool for businesses. However, as long as cybercriminals exist, there are always security risks to be aware of. If you have any questions about Microsoft 365 security or would like help in implementing these tips, our team of experts would be happy to assist you. Contact us today!

If Any Of Your Staff Works Remotely, You Need to Be On Top Of This

Remote and hybrid working is now the norm for a lot of people.

But a recent survey has found that, despite it being more than two years since many of us were forced to work from home, too many businesses still don’t have the right cybersecurity measures in place for those away from the office.

The survey was originally intended to learn about spending plans from now into next year. However, the results highlighted just how few businesses have the right cybersecurity protections.

And it’s a worry.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, cybersecurity incidents – like malware, ransomware, and data breaches – have risen sharply. Cybercriminals began by taking advantage of the panic, and have since developed increasingly sophisticated tactics.

It’s costing businesses around the world billions, plus causing excessive downtime.

While the survey did show that around two-thirds of businesses have good web security measures in place, like malware filters, some results were more disappointing.

Just 50% of companies have cloud-based cybersecurity systems in place right now (although 15% are exploring their options).

Cloud security gives businesses multiple layers of protection across their network and infrastructure that helps to keep data better protected against breaches or attacks.

Not only is it a good defense, but it also identifies threats before they become an issue.

The survey also highlighted that 10% of businesses plan to implement access management, which ensures only the right people can access the right systems.

A further 9% intend to prioritize VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) to allow secure network access for remote workers.

They’re also looking at zero-trust solutions where your network assumes every device or connection is a threat until proven otherwise.

Of course, our advice is that you should already have these security solutions in place – especially if you have remote or hybrid workers.

If not, this is something to take action on quickly. All you need to do is pick up the phone or email us. We can help.

VoIP Softphones Or Hardphones: Which Is Better?

Are you thinking about installing a new business phone system or upgrading your existing one? If you are, you have the choice between VoIP softphones and hardphones. But which one is better? This article will tackle the differences between the two types of VoIP phones and which one your business should get.

VoIP Softphones

Softphones are apps or programs that let you send and receive phone calls and text messages using a computer, tablet, or smartphone connected to the internet. Using softphones come with the following benefits:

1. Cost savings
Softphones can be installed directly on your computer or mobile device. This eliminates the costs of additional telephony hardware, setup, support, and maintenance that’s often included in hardphones.

2. Mobility
Unlike hardphones, softphones don’t need to be connected to cables. You can send and receive calls and text messages in areas with good internet connectivity. This is the perfect solution for workers who are always on the go.

3. Easy to upgrade
Softphones are packed with features such as voicemail, one-touch dialing, personalized greetings, and more. You can easily access newer features through software updates. With hardphones, on the other hand, you’ll need to purchase newer models to access the latest features.

VoIP Hardphones

VoIP hardphones resemble traditional desk phones, but instead of using analog phone lines, they rely on the internet to make and receive calls. VoIP hardphones also come with various features not found on traditional telephones, such as call monitoring, auto attendants, and video calls, to name a few. Here are the benefits of using VoIP hardphones.

1. Easy to use
Because they look and function like traditional phones, VoIP hardphones are generally easy to use. Softphones are software-based, so some training may be required for users to become familiar with a softphone’s features.

2. Better call quality
Unlike softphones, hardphones don’t have to compete with other programs for computing resources. This can reduce a softphone’s performance and negatively affect call quality.

3. Better uptime and stability
Hardphones won’t run into too many issues as long as your internet connection is stable. Since softphones run on your computer or mobile devices, if you encounter problems operating them, you won’t be able to use your softphone. Also, if your laptop or mobile device runs out of battery, calls on the softphone will also be cut.

Both VoIP softphones and hardphones offer a variety of benefits, so choosing which is best for your business comes down to your needs and preferences. If you want to learn more about VoIP phones, get in touch with Net Activity’s experts now.

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