Modern-day digital brands entirely depend on the Internet for business; from managing to storing data including financial information, and filing documentation of their businesses, they perform everything via the Internet.
Information online is not immune to malicious attacks. The advancement in technology also paves illicit ways to hinder data through hacking and cyber theft. There are high chances that even an established online business is prone to cyber-attacks. To escape such threats, brands need to tighten their security. To this end, network security trends come into play.
What Is Network Security?
Network Security refers to a set of technologies designed to protect the integrity, confidentiality, and usability of a company’s infrastructure. It is used as a precautionary measure to prevent cyber attacks, malicious use of confidential information, or accidental damage to the network’s private data and entry or proliferation within a network.
A study by IBM reveals that 62% of all cyber-attacks are targeted towards mid-sized and small businesses. Every day, 4,000 startups fall prey to cyber-attacks. Startups frequently neglect the significance of protecting their online companies, making them easy targets for hackers looking to steal or leak sensitive information.
Why Is Network Security Important?
The importance of network security has increased during the covid-19 outbreak. A majority of the workforce is forced to employ a remote working model.
Work systems are widely distributed under one huge network across multiple locations, leaving more vulnerable scenarios for a network breach.
An online brand, irrespective of the size of its enterprise, cannot ignore network security and should make it its primary concern. Here, we give five reasons why you must focus on network security trends before it’s too late.
Data Is The Heart Of A Business
Business data is an asset, and it reflects a business model, its functions, personal information, employee information, client information, and financial data. If such data is exposed, then the business could fail.
Brands should build adequate network security measures to withstand third-party intrusions and prevent the catastrophic effects of data hacking.
Marriott International suffered a massive data breach in 2020, where information of 5.2 million guests was accessed through the login credentials of two employees.
Identity Theft
The Internet makes information more vulnerable to threats. Identity can be stolen from the sleeves of the possessor. Identity theft is one of the most committed cybercrimes, where the company’s identity is leaked and sold to other parties.
These cyber elements will take away your business by accessing your confidential files.
Network security will safeguard your business from hackers and keep your identity intact.
Honda was forced to shut down its global operations after a ransomware attack on one of its internal servers.
A Dent In Reputation
Cyber attacks not only leech on personal information but also on client data. Your clientele data will be equally at the risk of putting your brand reputation in the crosshairs. The consequences of such a data breach will have a chain reaction on your brand image in your niche. So, businesses should focus on network security.
Ethical Liability
Network security is not an option but an obligation to businesses. Every business is obligated to comply with policies that address security and safety requirements. If your business is online, you ought to develop security and safety precautions for your business.
By building network security, you will not only protect your business from cyber thefts but also fulfill your ethical responsibility.
Eases Network Performance
The performance of a company’s network matters the most. Network security reduces downtime and lagging across the network and increases the performance of your system. With little to no disasters in the network, the cost of maintaining the system reduces and ultimately paves the way for profits.
Network Security Solutions for Startups
Small businesses can shield their networking system in many ways, based on the type of network attack.
Antivirus and Anti-malware Software:
Antivirus and anti-malware software protects the system from viruses, worms, ransomware, Trojans, and spyware.
Often malicious software will infect a network but lie dormant.
Every time a new file is introduced into the system, antivirus and anti-malware software scans for malware. It continuously tracks files to find out anomalies, remove the virus, and fix the problem.
Application Security:
Attackers often infiltrate an application’s code. As threats become more potent and prevalent, it becomes essential for startups to check for security flaws in their applications. Application security is a process of making applications safer by finding, fixing, and enhancing the safety of apps.
Database administration tools (e.g., phpMyAdmin), content management systems (e.g., WordPress), and SaaS applications are the frequent targets for application security.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP):
Businesses must make sure that their employees don’t disclose their confidential information to the outside world. For this, companies deploy DLP technology to restrict employees from sharing data outside the network by blocking ports and websites for uploading, sharing, or even printing the company’s information.
Email Security:
Brands need security techniques to protect business email accounts, business information, and trade secrets against unauthorized access and malicious threats.
Good email security application uses technology to inspect incoming emails for viruses and filter suspicious data. It also encrypts outbound email traffic to protect data, users, mailboxes, and businesses from cybersecurity schemes.
Firewall:
Firewall creates a strong barrier between networks - a trusted internal network and the untrusted outside network, such as Local Area Network (LAN) and the Internet. The network security device sets some predefined rules to prevent a network or a device from unauthorized access by blocking traffic based on an organization’s established security policies. A firewall’s main task is to allow non-threatening traffic in and to keep threatening traffic out.
Network security will benefit businesses not only in the present but also in the long run. As a stitch in time saves nine, brands need to prioritize network security beforehand and not after the cyber attacks. From safeguarding the data to increase performance, network security is a boon for all online businesses.
