5 Key Security Stacks That Businesses Need to Have

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5 Key Security Stacks That Businesses Need to Have

Back when technology was still a new concept in offices, an antivirus used to be considered “cybersecurity.” But both cyberattacks and IT infrastructure have come a long way since the early 2000s, and companies now need a multi-layered security stack if they want to defend themselves against threats.

A “security stack” is simply the multiple cybersecurity tools that an organization uses to combat cyber threats. They are typically integrated throughout multiple layers of the network and technology environment, from cloud data storage to endpoint devices.

The pandemic has only increased the attack volume and cost of remediating cyberattacks. Criminal hacking groups are also finding new ways to disrupt operations and cause widespread impact.

97% of companies have been impacted by a breach in their supply chain, and 93% suffered a direct breach as a result of a supply chain security vulnerability. Additionally, supply chain attacks rose by 42% during the first quarter of 2021.

Another vulnerable area of a network is all those new smart gadgets. These IoT devices suffer an average of 5,200 cyber attacks every month, according to Cyber Magazine.

Costs for remediating attacks continue to become major threats to the health and wellbeing of small businesses. Just one ransomware attack can cost over a million dollars to remediate.

It’s important to build a security stack for your business network that is multi-layered and includes a cohesive strategy. Here are some of the key things you should include.

Zero-Trust Framework

Zero-trust is a security approach that can be used as a framework for your entire security stack. It is becoming the norm in many organizations because it’s designed to protect against unknown threats by taking a “trust no one” stance. It includes a continuous check and balance system to ensure only authorized users and programs are allowed to access system resources.

Using zero-trust as the guiding tool when putting together your cybersecurity strategy will help ensure that all parts of your security stack are working together to defend against unknown threats.

Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR)

Endpoint detection and response tools provide the ultimate protection against malware, viruses, ransomware, insider attacks, and other threats. This is a system that automates the detection of potential threats and the actions needed to neutralize them.

It is designed to detect endpoints and traffic to and from these devices to ensure no dangerous code or system commands get through. 

EDR helps protect against:

  • Account takeovers
  • Malware (ransomware, spyware, viruses, etc.)
  • Phishing attacks
  • Compromise due to device theft

Mobile Device Management

Mobile devices now make up at least 60% of the endpoints in an organization. Yet many aren’t as well protected and monitored as employee computers.

Tablets and smartphones can now do the same types of work that most PCs do through the use of mobile business apps, so it’s important that you manage their security, even if they are employee-owned.

A mobile device management tool, such as Intune in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, allows you to protect the business side of an employee’s mobile device while allowing privacy for the personal side.

Using mobile device management allows you to improve mobile endpoint security considerably through the ability to:

  • Remotely update apps and OS on devices
  • Monitor device access to company assets
  • Grant or revoke access remotely
  • Remotely lock or wipe a lost or stolen device
  • Automatically lock out devices that aren’t pre-registered in your system

Access Controls

Compromised user credentials are now the number one cause of data breaches in the world. It’s also become a number one target in phishing attacks, with hackers sending links to fake login forms as a way to breach user credentials.

Because of the number of passwords that employees need to remember regularly, they often adopt poor password habits, such as using weak passwords and reusing the same password across multiple accounts.

It’s important to have foolproof access controls in place that can ensure only authorized users are allowed to access company accounts. One of the most important things you should put in place is multi-factor authentication.

Another helpful security tool is single sign-on (SSO), which makes managing user access to business accounts easier because it consolidates logins for multiple accounts.

Cloud Security Management

Most business processes and data are now stored in the cloud. Cloud service providers offer some portion of security, but cloud security is a shared responsibility.

It’s also up to the company to have account security configured properly and to keep all cloud data backed up in case of a data loss incident or outage.

Cloud security needs to be one of the base components of any security stack in this day and age.

Request a Security Audit Today to See Where You Stand 

How does your security stack “stack up?” C Solutions can provide your Orlando area business with a security audit to uncover and fortify any found vulnerabilities.

Schedule a free consultation today! Call 407-536-8381 or reach us online.