A growing number of cyber security threats has left many companies struggling to keep up.

Many moving pieces need to be considered, such as:

• Implementing proactive monitoring of threats before they happen
• Penetration testing to identify and fix vulnerabilities
• Responding to threats with sufficient speed
• Future-proofing your network against threats that may arise

If you’re unsure where to invest your funds, we can help. At Compass Solutions, we’ll work with you to create a cyber security plan that identifies and addresses vulnerabilities. We’ll provide ongoing guidance and strategy so your business is never caught off-guard.

What Are Some Common Cyber Security Threats?

• Data breach: A data breach occurs when a hacker obtains partial or full access to business files and data. This can include legally-protected customer information like credit card numbers, addresses and more.
• Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS): A DDoS attack is caused when hackers send too many requests into a system simultaneously. This overloads your system to the point where no one else can access files or websites.
• Malware: Malware, often distributed via email, instant message, and masked links, is a packaged file that exploits vulnerabilities in software and hardware. Though the results vary, malware can quickly disable multiple computers and networks.
• Ransomware: Ransomware is a type of malware that remotely locks out access to a system and encrypts its files. The process can be reversed with a special key password that is only provided to the victim after a ransom payment is received.
• Mobile devices: Mobile devices can represent substantial security threat in their own right. These devices are more easily lost or broken into than fixed devices. If you have a BYOD policy, make sure it adequately addresses security needs.

How Do I Prevent Cyber Security Threats?

• Managed firewalls: A managed firewall is both established and controlled by a trusted third party, set up in advance to block some kinds of traffic outright and improve protection against data breach and malware access.
• Analytics systems: Analytics tools measure incoming traffic and relate it against previously-seen traffic. That improves the chance the system can tell in advance when a DDoS attack is beginning, and reroute the irrelevant traffic that would have blocked a system accordingly.
• Encryption: Data encryption is what protects data against breach when perimeter defenses like firewalls fail. Encryption requires users have an encryption key to make the data usable, and without that key, the data is largely useless to thieves.
• Mobile device management tools: Mobile device management helps protect systems by better protecting mobile devices. Remote lock and wipe functions prevent the data on devices from being seized or otherwise used against the business connected to the devices.