Businesses have a lot of data to protect and it’s not so simple as implementing a catch-all solution that can keep your data secure. Each business is different and should be evaluated based on their unique criteria, something we do for our clients when creating cybersecurity plans. In fact, it takes several solutions working in tandem to maximize data security. We recommend a combination of a unified threat management tool, a Bring Your Own Device policy, and a virtual private network solution. Let’s take a longer look at 3 ways you can protect your data:

Protect Your Data

Unified Threat Management

A unified threat management tool consists of several security solutions conveniently wrapped into one. They include the following:

• Firewall: A firewall looks at the data flowing in and out of a network to keep any threats from passing.
• Antivirus: If a threat manages to sneak past the firewall, an antivirus solution can identify and eliminate it.
• Spam blocker: Email is one of the more susceptible business solutions to attack, but a spam blocker can keep these messages from being threats and wastes of time by keeping them out of the inbox in the first place. This can be especially important to protect employees from falling into a trap like a phishing attack.
• Content filter: Content filters keep employees from accessing dangerous or time-wasting websites throughout the workday.

All of this combines to form a comprehensive security tool that can significantly decrease the odds of being infiltrated by the myriad of threats out there.

Bring Your Own Device

Businesses need to be wary of mobile devices in the workplace, as they can become a bridge between online threats and your organization’s network if left unprotected. Many employers pay for their employee’s cell phone plans as well, which can connect the business’s data to dangerous threats. This is why we recommend that all businesses implement a BYOD policy that employees must adhere to in order to use their personal devices for work purposes to help protect your data. A proper BYOD policy should prioritize security through a mobile device management system that whitelists and blacklists applications, as well as provides the option to remotely wipe the devices should the need arise. We can help set up these processes if you are unsure about how to go about them.

Virtual Private Networks

Virtual private networks, also known as VPNs, are particularly helpful for businesses that have devices out of the office that still need access to important data. We have multiple blogs on why you should have a VPN if you do not already. A VPN acts as an encrypted tunnel, connecting your employees to important data in a secure environment. This keeps onlookers from stealing any data while it’s moving about, and it’s invaluable for organizations with many moving parts.

Those are 3 ways you can protect your data. Symmetric IT Group can help your business get its security options in gear. To learn more, reach out to us at (813) 749-0895 and check out our information security page to find out how we can help implement the best safety practices.