What to expect from an assessment…
How secure is your network? The best way to find out is to attack it. Network Security assessments provide you with a professional security consultant to identify and assess risks in Internet-based networks using the same penetration testing model they use to secure government, military, and large commercial networks.
There are any number of reasons that would motivate a business Owner to perform an assessment. For example, if an IT employee recently gave his notice, it would be a good idea to have an independent third party assess the IT infrastructure and provide an unbiased report of how the employee is leaving the IT environment; are there any open issues that need to be addressed? Another common motivator is that the business owner feels the business has outgrown the capabilities of the current IT Service Provider. No matter what the motivation is; having an assessment preformed can help you establish the current health of your IT environment and you receive the added bonus of evaluating the professional service and engineering work of the assessing IT Service Provider.
Small Business Security: What You Need to Know
In today’s business world, there is nothing as essential as small business security. Your network provides access to critical applications, and houses sensitive company and customer data. A single network security breach can shut down your operations for days, or allow a hacker to steal vital business data. The FBI estimates that US businesses lose US$67.2 billion annually due to computer-related crime.
That’s why small business security is dependent upon defending against common threats, such as:
- Viruses, spyware, and malware. These malicious programs can install themselves through e-mail and visits to Websites, and can record passwords, or troll through files for credit card, bank account, and other sensitive information.The use of Websites to host malicious code is exploding, and makes small business security especially vulnerable. Antivirus vendor, Sophos, reported that it was identifying 30,000 new malicious Websites per day. These malicious Websites—as well as many legitimate sites that were infected with malicious code—infect millions of users each year.
- Hackers. The number of organizations targeted by professional attackers is likely to grow and raise the threat to small business security. While much of the current professional cyber-crime activity targets home users, organizations are likely to see more infected systems attempting to access protected networks.
Network Security for Small Business….
Network security for small business is becoming increasingly complex, as new Internet threats appear daily or even hourly.
Small business networks face constant threats from viruses, worms, Trojan horses, spyware, zero-day attacks, and more. Achieving effective network security for small business requires a solution that’s designed to fit your needs today and can adapt to tomorrow’s security threats.
Aside from protecting you against such threats, the best network security for small business gives you many business benefits.
The Benefits of Network Security for Small Business
Effective network security for small business:
- Provides a secure e-business foundation
- Enables your business to be in compliance with industry and government regulations
- Gives employees easy, secure access to the tools and applications they need, whether they’re in a home office, a hotel room, or at an airport departure gate
- Lets you easily, securely grow your network
Network security is more important now than ever….
Network Security is the process of taking physical and software preventative measures to protect the underlying networking infrastructure from unauthorized access, misuse, malfunction, modification, destruction, or improper disclosure, thereby creating a secure platform for computers, users and programs to perform their permitted critical functions within a secure environment.
Update: HIPAA Compliance Violations – get a secure no-cost assessment now….
- Hackers are targeting healthcare. The threat of cyber-attacks on healthcare has increased significantly due to the high value of electronic Personal Health Information (ePHI) on the black market.
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Health Insurance Portability and Accountability (HIPAA) violations tripled over 10 years. Confirmed HIPAA violations are skyrocketing. Their growth rate over the past 10 years outpaces almost any trend that comes to mind.
- Stolen laptops continue to result in huge fines. In several instances, a single stolen laptop led to fines in excess of $1,000,000 from the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS).
- A stolen thumb drive averages $925,000 in HIPAA fines. Since 2012, it costs an average of $925,000 in HIPAA fines for a single stolen thumb drive.
- Stolen office computers can be subject to fines too. Even a computer that never leaves your office can still be subject to a costly fine due to a HIPAA Privacy Act violation.
- Unpatched and unsupported software can also lead to fines.
- Accidental and non-malicious internal threats are increasing as well.
HIPAA violations are on the rise…
NSA Newsletters – The Next Wave
HIPAA assessments are the key…..
Last updated June 30, 2017. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), sets the standard for protecting sensitive patient data. Any organization dealing with electronic Personal Health Information (ePHI) must ensure that all the required physical, network, and process security measures are in place and followed. This of course includes HIPAA compliant email.
- Organizations include Covered Entities(anyone who provides treatment, payment and operations in healthcare) and Business Associates (anyone with access to patient information and provides support in treatment, payment or operations). This also includes making sure you have HIPAA compliant email baked in when it comes to your email service provider.
- Even subcontractors, or business associates of business associates, must also be in compliance.