Online businesses are more popular than ever. Consumers view the convenience of ordering something online and having it arrive on their doorstep as one of the biggest shifts in the way they purchase something. Despite this incredible business model, there are always bad actors seeking to exploit any weaknesses that online businesses may have. This is exactly why it’s more pertinent than ever to arm businesses with managed security services to minimize the risk of a data breach. So what are some of the most incredible security advancements for online businesses and how can they be used to guard sensitive information?
Automated Threat Notifications
Automation has made businesses more reactive to cybersecurity threats. In the past, the business itself or a firm acting on their behalf would have to be actively searching for potential threats in order to avoid them. Now, automated alerts can let online business owners know the moment they have either detected a threat or have experienced a data breach allowing the company to make adjustments immediately.
Anti-Malware Improvements
Malware, or malicious software, is one of the most plaguing sources of worry for online business owners. It can quickly become the bane of their existence by slowing operations down to a halt while dealing with the situation at hand. Machine learning techniques are getting better and better about taking in algorithms that seek out this malware and detect it far before it becomes a problem.
Writing Analysis And Detection
Phishing campaigns are a huge problem for online businesses. The basic premise is that someone will send an email with a link in hopes that they will click on it and release a virus or malware into the system. This can be done by impersonating a manager or executive at the business. A way to combat this is by using some security tools that are able to recognize writing patterns of all employees and alert the business if an email is found that deviates from their usual writing style which can then be further investigated.
Cloud Security
More and more sensitive data is being stored in the cloud which requires very different protection than data that is based on the web or even stored on the hard drives of computers at the physical business location. Cybersecurity firms are expanding to include cloud security divisions which focus exclusively on protecting cloud-stored data and ensuring that it never falls into the wrong hands. This is especially important because one of the main selling points of the cloud is being able to store far more data than more traditional methods.
Greater Company Network Visibility
At times, cyber attacks will occur on just a single device within a company’s network. This allows the virus or malware to then infect the rest of the network devices one by one until it has become fully integrated and can do the most damage. Modern cybersecurity tactics can detect targeted attacks down to the singular device stopping them well before they get the chance to maximize damage.
Scalable Data Protection
In the past, far too many cybersecurity firms offered only a single service regardless of the size of the client. This meant that the biggest corporations and the smallest businesses were receiving the same security measures despite having very different data to keep safe. Now, data security is very scalable and able to adapt to business structures regardless of their size.
Allowing Customers To Streamline Logging In
Security firms want to ensure that only those who are granted access to certain accounts are able to see them. While in the past, this required a login for every employee, businesses are moving away from this trend. Instead, employees logging in at the same place every day may no longer have to. Instead, only when they log in to an unfamiliar place to the system must they answer security questions and provide security codes sent to a second device.
Frequent Vulnerability Scans
Security scans used to be something that businesses would do only when their computers absolutely forced them to. It was not at the forefront of their thoughts as it usually is today. Now, thanks to many competent cyber security services, regular scans are completed around the clock to ensure that a company knows the second a risk to their business is identified.
Machine Learning Techniques
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has led to some incredible advances in cybersecurity. The machine learning of these programs allows it to take in massive amounts of information, like common threats to seek out, and then uses this data to make autonomous decisions as to what is and isn’t a true threat to the business. This allows business owners to focus more on developing the brand and expanding operations instead of constantly worrying that important information is at risk.
Centralized Protection Of Multiple Platforms
Online businesses often keep data about themselves or their clients in multiple locations and over many platforms. Historically, it has been difficult to keep track of security for all of these platforms at once. Now, security firms are centralizing their operations to be able to detect potential threats for a company whether they store data across a single or a dozen different platforms.
Every online business is different and each of the security measures listed above may not be applicable to a sites’ exact situation. The key is developing the plan that works best for a business and stick to it. Failing to do so can ultimately cause a business to lose credibility with clients and cause their undoing. While all of these tools may not be right, some of them are and can be used in tandem to ensure safe business operations always continue.
