IT security for your business
Tools & Resources
Key learnings
- IT security helps you protect your business against cyber-attacks.
- One of the most common risks is malware – malicious software that can inflict harm in many ways.
- Securing IT systems may be expensive, but a security breach could cost you a lot more.
As more business functions move into the digital space, the importance of IT security has never been greater. But it’s also never been more difficult to keep your IT systems secure, with cyber criminals targeting businesses in ever more creative and deceptive ways. Here, we discuss the basics of cybersecurity and what you can do to keep your business safe.
IT security is intended to prevent unauthorised access to organisational assets such as computers, networks, and data. Every company has sensitive information that they want to protect and having a secure IT system maintains integrity and confidentiality.
Whether you’re an owner manager of a small business or a director of a large corporate, you need to protect your digital assets and networks from outside interference.
And while providing IT security is expensive, a security breach could cost you much more, not just financially but also reputationally.
There are many forms of threats to your IT security.
Common risks come in the form of malware. As described by the National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), malware is malicious software, which - if able to run - can inflict harm in many ways, including:
- Causing devices to become locked out or unusable
- Stealing personal and business data
- Taking control of your device to attack other businesses
- Obtaining passwords to allow access to company systems or services
The National Cyber Security Centre provides guidance on how to best mitigate malware and ransomware attacks on your business.
Types of IT security
1
Network security
This could be something like a firewall that protects your internal business network from external intruders and ensures your network remains usable.
This type of security is essential to prevent a hacker from accessing data inside the network or negatively affecting your users’ ability to access or use the network.
2
Internet security
This is a range of security tactics to protect activities and transactions conducted over the internet. They safeguard users from:
- Computer systems, email addresses, or websites being hacked
- Malicious software
- Identity theft
Internet security forms part of broader cybersecurity and computer security but is focused on the specific threats and vulnerabilities of online access and use of the internet.
You can find out more information on internet security, and compare the software currently on the market here.
3
Endpoint security
This is the practice of safeguarding endpoints from unauthorised access and digital threats that can expose data or compromise the performance of a device that receives a signal.
Endpoint devices include desktops, laptops, tablets, smartphones, and any Internet of Things (IoT) devices including sensors and digital signage.
An endpoint security strategy should include hardware-enabled protections and remote management tools to help protect endpoints that connect to the corporate network.
4
Cloud security
Is a discipline of cybersecurity dedicated to securing cloud computing systems. This includes keeping data private and safe across online-based infrastructure, applications, and platforms.
5
Application security
This is the process of making apps more secure by finding, fixing, and enhancing the security of apps. Much of this happens during the development phase, but it includes tools and methods to protect apps once they are deployed. This is becoming more important as hackers increasingly target applications with their attacks.
Securing the IT systems in your business is an absolute must and will help you prevent malicious threats and security breaches that can have a huge impact on your business.
You have a responsibility as a business owner to keep your employees and customers safe, and IT security is a huge part of that.
When you enter your internal company network, IT security also helps ensure only authorised users can access and make changes to sensitive information within the network.
Next steps...
- Research the security your business may need and make use of the National Cyber Security Centre 10 steps to cyber security guidance to mitigate your risk.
- Take some time to compare the internet security suites available and find the best one for your needs.
- Understand that you have a duty to your staff and customers to secure your IT systems against cyber-attacks.
- Encourage your employees to create strong passwords, use multifactor authentication (MFA), recognise phishing scams and adopt other cyber-secure practices.