Maintaining data security is a business management strategy that cannot be overlooked, considering the various protection tools available, but especially the number of attacks that exist today due to companies' daily use of the internet.
I see many managers only becoming concerned about information security after they've already suffered some kind of attack. Many search for information on the subject and find our blog.
What not all of them do is implement a basic security system, identifying potential weaknesses and proactively addressing those vulnerabilities.
In this article, we will discuss the principles of information security and the most common and essential solutions for protecting company data.
What are the principles of information security?
To understand what information security represents, it is necessary to know its basic principles and characteristics.
Confidentiality
It is the reliability of the information that must be guaranteed to the user. The user must be assured of the good quality of the information they will be working with.
Integrity
It is the guarantee that the information will be complete, accurate, and protected against unauthorized alterations, fraud, or even destruction.
This prevents information breaches, whether accidental or intentional.
Availability
It is the assurance that information will be accessible and available on an ongoing basis to authorized individuals.
Nowadays, the cloud and remote access mechanisms make it possible to have information available from anywhere, at any time.
Authenticity
It involves knowing, through proper record-keeping, who accessed, updated, and deleted information, so that its authorship and originality can be confirmed.
As we saw above, information security encompasses several aspects that should be included in the implementation plan for your company's data security systems. These aspects are also part of the basic premise of the General Data Protection Law, widely disseminated in news portals and here on this blog .
Next, we will examine the fundamental and basic tools for effective data security in the corporate environment.
What are the basic information security requirements for businesses?
Business owners understand that company data is important. Information regarding products or services offered, employee names and documents, revenue, accounting, and much more, is available in the systems used.
Given the highly sensitive nature of this information, many managers are seeking security tools that protect data against cyberattacks and comply with the LGPD (Brazilian General Data Protection Law).
Without a basic protection system, simple failures can cause enormous damage, ranging from the exposure of financial assets and loss of customer data to data kidnapping , demanding a large ransom for the return or unlocking of such data.
All information is considered an asset of the business. Therefore, it is extremely important that it be protected through information security tools and practices, such as those listed below.
1 – Map out the weaknesses
Identifying potential threats within your company's network can greatly facilitate the implementation of effective data security. By grouping the data, it's possible to identify which weaknesses are considered minor and which require more immediate attention.
To identify potential problems in the internet network, there are internet network security and vulnerability tests.
Some of them are based on granting access to websites considered harmful, while others perform tests to open ports on devices and detect virus infections.
I even wrote another article here on the blog with more detailed information on the subject.
2 – Keep equipment and systems up to date
Equipment and systems undergo continuous technological evolution and need to be replaced and updated periodically. Furthermore, when acquiring such tools, quality and performance aspects compatible with the company's needs must be considered, ensuring they work in a way that perfectly meets the company's requirements, without overloading, failures, or defects due to improper use.
Furthermore, there is the "originality" factor. Many companies today choose to use pirated tools to reduce costs. However, this practice can lead to several problems, mainly regarding data security, since these are modified versions of the original, where security features and authenticity verification have been removed.
For operating systems, the logic is the same. Updated versions contain security improvements as well as new features, as new forms of intrusion and security vulnerabilities emerge.
Therefore, keeping company equipment and systems up-to-date is one of the key points for efficient data security in companies, as they are used massively every day.
3 – Structure a backup system
It's always worth reiterating the importance of having a backup , from which important data can be recovered after any incident.
In some types of attacks, such as ransomware, which blocks data until a ransom is paid, the main way to solve the problem is to restore the company's data from a backup copy.
The backup strategy should be implemented in such a way that a backup copy is kept in a location disconnected from the original data location. If the backup copy is made on an additional disk constantly connected to the server or network where the original data is located, in the specific case of ransomware, it is possible that the backup files will also be locked at the time of the attack, rendering the backup useless. It is important to have a backup copy in a location separate from the original data location.
Backups are fundamental to the security of company information.
4 – Implement a firewall rules system
A firewall is a security device that controls the flow of data on a network. It allows you to filter traffic, configuring what should pass through and what should be discarded.
When properly configured on a computer network, a firewall acts as an additional layer of protection against external attacks and increases the security of the network, equipment, systems, and company information. Typically, a firewall is one of the main defenses at the perimeter of a private network, being an essential component in protecting against unwanted traffic and intrusion attempts.
5 – Develop a document outlining the company's internet usage policy
Establishing guidelines for organizational members regarding the rules for using information technology resources is perhaps one of the cheapest ways to improve data security.
These rules, listed in a document, signed and agreed to by the user before making any use of company equipment, serve to prevent uninformed, unprepared, negligent, and in some cases even malicious employees from putting company data at risk, at the mercy of cybercriminals.
Developing an information security policy within a company can reduce potential expenses and investments related to corrective measures resulting from cyberattacks.
6 – Control internet access
Controlling internet access is a common practice in companies and is becoming increasingly important and necessary. Unlike information security policies, access control does not require the employee's good sense and willingness to prevent access to harmful and non-work-related websites.
In most security incidents or breaches, the gateway for attacks or virus installation is users who fail to identify potential risks and end up clicking on fake email messages or malicious links on the internet.
Therefore, using an access control in the company can close the vast majority of entry points for hackers into the company network.
Among those available on the market, some solutions for controlling internet access stand out, such as DNS Filter , Lumiun Enterprise , NextDNS , and Cisco Umbrella .
Among those mentioned, only Lumiun Enterprise offers full support in Brazilian Portuguese and payment in the national currency, which is a major advantage considering the rising value of the dollar.
7 – Use secure remote support tools
With the large number of professionals working from home, it's quite common for companies to provide some support to these employees remotely. However, without the company's security systems working in favor of the employee, the data and devices involved will be at risk if secure remote support tools are not used.
Among all the solutions, the most widely used is undoubtedly the Enterprise VPN.
The acronym " VPN " stands for Virtual Private Network, a networking technology that uses the internet to connect a group of computers and maintain the security of the data that travels between them.
The main advantage for a company using VPN is undoubtedly the increased information security when there is a need to transfer confidential data between branches or for employees who work remotely and need to access data on the local network.
Therefore, if at any time one of the company's employees remotely accesses the company's internal data, it is extremely important to use a VPN connection, keeping the company's data protected.
Conclusion
To the same extent that technological updates produce resources for information protection, they open up new opportunities that can be exploited by malicious individuals to commit cybercrimes, aiming to gain fame and money.
Numerous cases of security breaches at large companies and systems are reported monthly, and they need to be thoroughly studied in order to acquire new protection practices and solutions.
Of all the essential data security tools mentioned above, which ones are used in your company? I hope the answer isn't worrying, but if it is, I hope this material has helped you implement as many of them as possible as quickly as possible.
Until next time!
4 comments
Comments closed