The number of online data breaches as well as other forms of cybercriminal activity has steadily increased over the past several years. In April, May, and June of 2018, 765 million people worldwide were impacted either directly or indirectly by a data breach. With cyber-attacks occurring once every thirty-nine seconds, the number of people who are impacted by data breaches is expected to increase with each passing year. This is because more businesses are conducting themselves online and poorly secured internet-capable devices are used to connect to computer networks as well as the internet. In addition, cybercriminals have developed more advanced tools for penetrating supposedly secure computer networks. With these tools, cybercriminals are also able to remain undetected for longer periods after compromising a computer network.
As a business owner, it is important to take the security of your computer network seriously so as not to become a victim of a cyber-attack. In addition to using basic security measures such as antivirus and anti-malware, it is also necessary to use a network intrusion prevention system (IPS). A network IPS serves not only to protect your network from an attack, they also to prevent an attack from being initiated. Discussed below are five of the top benefits your business stands to gain from using a network IPS to protect and prevent your business network from malicious cybercriminals.
The Top 5 Reasons
1) IDENTIFY UNFAMILIAR HOSTS AND NETWORKS
At any given point in time, there are several devices connected to your business network. Using it for communication and other forms of data transmission is essential to your business. In addition, your business network may exchange data with other networks as information is transmitted to disparate geographical locations. The devices connected to your network, as well as the other networks that you may be connected to, form attack vectors that can be used by cybercriminals to access and compromise your network. Using a network IPS, all devices connected to your network are identified and validated. Alerts are generated for unfamiliar devices or networks attempting to connect with your business network as this may be indicative of a potential cyber-attack.
2) CONTROL ACCESS TO YOUR NETWORK
A major aspect of ensuring the security of your network is controlling the devices that have access to it. Only trusted devices should be allowed access to your network. In addition to allowing only trusted devices, access control also reduces the number of attack vectors that can be used by cybercriminals to target your network. You can use a network IPS to control which devices have access to your system and what kinds of administrative rights each device has.
3) NOTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL THREATS
Once a potential cyber threat has been recognized, it is essential that timely alerts are sent to the network administrator and other relevant parties necessary in securing your network. The earlier these individuals are engaged, the sooner action can be initiated to mitigate or even prevent the cyber-attack. Using a network IPS offers you the ability to configure various types of network alerts depending on the needs of your business.
4) NETWORK TRAFFIC ANALYTICS
Knowing what kinds of traffic and the source of the traffic that has access to your network is important in ensuring its integrity as well as security. It is therefore important to perform regular and frequent network analytics of the traffic accessing your network; reports can be generated for further analysis, if necessary. Once this analysis is performed, you can control the kinds and the sources of data traffic that can get into your network. With a network IPS, you can easily analyze and regulate data traffic in and out of your network.
5) YOU SAVE MONEY USING NETWORK IPS
Ultimately, using a network IPS will save your business money in the long run. An IPS fully protects your network against any form of compromise. Businesses that become victims of data breaches often lose considerable amounts of money dealing with the fallout such as the loss of customer trust, legal consequences, and rebuilding the network. In some instances, these businesses may never recover from a cyber-attack, but 60 percent of small businesses fail to recover after a cyber-attack and, therefore, collapse.
The Bottom Line
At Cyber Sainik we have experts on hand ready to work with you in setting up an intrusion prevention system for your business. We work with you in determining your network configuration and develop a solution suited to your business needs. Contact us today for more information.
