No one needs to tell you that technology is wonderful. We use it for almost everything. In this age of connectivity, it doesn’t only entertain us, it’s been spoiling us rotten. There are times when we half-expect it to make us coffee!
But tech can also bring dangers into our data, particularly with web security. According to a 2018 study by Ponemon Institute, it doesn’t matter whether you have a small business or a large company. When it comes to web security threats, treat all kinds as high risk. What’s more alarming is this: 47% of businesses admit that they don’t know how to protect themselves from security issues.
Whether you’re a budding entrepreneur or part of a growing organization, it’s important to learn these dangers. Three leaders from the IT industry’s top companies share their security practices and how these can help business owners who deal with information technology.
Voyager Innovations’ BJ Taduran, SITESPHIL’s Benjie Zamora, and Isla Lipana & Co.’s (PwC) Mark Almodovar offer easy-to-remember but valuable tips on how you can plan for your business’s future with strong security.
Most of our data are not stored in our devices. It’s up in this thing called cloud. We just access our data every time we go online. This makes processing faster. Taduran shared that 21% of files stored in the cloud contain sensitive data, and that 50% of enterprises already using the cloud will have an “all-in cloud” strategy by 2021.
As you might have guessed, the security impact of all that presents risks. You need to think like a hacker when you develop solutions in protecting your data.
Thankfully, there are ways to make them secure, such as Globe myBusiness’ Unified Threat Management, or a firewall. This helps you create a secure environment where network access in your office is controlled. Be ready to set aside budget for this, because the best security practices do require a bit of capital.
Pretty sure, your business uses digital technology. You’re likely to have some office documents stored on your phone or computer, are we right?
All that data is a goldmine for hackers because they are exposed to security issues. They can copy or sell your data and you’ll be left with nothing. Once a hacker gets inside your system, all of your device’s content is good as gone!
It’s not enough that you just hire a web designer to set up your website. If you’re willing to pay for that, why not a web security specialist? Coding, and any kind of development, should be done safely, according to Zamora. You can’t simply wait for a breach to happen before you start looking into security programs.
If you check companies with the best security practices, planning to protect every part of your system is a must. Develop a Secure Web Gateway and a Web Application Firewall (available with Globe myBusiness) that will monitor traffic. These can also identify and block threats to your system.
We enjoy free games as much as the next person, and we’re always on the lookout for productivity apps to help us with work. But most mobile applications come with certain dangers.
A quick Google search will show you a list of apps that carry destructive malware. And Almovar shared that new malware are constantly detected on corporate devices each month. All those annoying ads when you play games can also be taking information from your device.
Be careful what you download from the internet. To make sure you and your gadgets are safe wherever you are, you will need Mobile Threat Protection and an Endpoint Security from Globe myBusiness. These will protect you from remote devices affecting your network.
And remember, your employees need to know that they don’t need to click on everything.
So, you’re now convinced that you need to keep your data secure. Your team needs to completely feel the same way too. Taduran said that everyone, even top level management, should be all-in and make security their responsibility.
Imagine if one division in your team doesn’t treat these security issues with the same urgency? And don’t be fooled. About 11% of corporate devices attempt to access adult, illegal, or gambling content everyday. That’s risk right there and a security problem waiting to happen. Remember: a hacker only needs to access one device to get through all your data.
Zamora suggested developing information security policies. Also create an organizational roadmap of the high risk areas. Use that to prioritize what needs to be worked on first.
When investing in your infrastructure, people, and training, top management is always on board. So should it also be when you invest in technology and security, Almodovar mentioned. Zamora added that the best way to get the heads to listen is to speak in numbers. Show them the cost of not being secure through stats and possible losses.
A quick glance at those numbers will change their minds in an instant. An average cost of a breach is $5.5 million. Almodavar also shared that 51% to 59% of organizations have experienced data loss and rising malware issues, and 174 million records were stolen in 855 data breaches – all because of insecure mobile devices.
As mentioned in the beginning, technology has spoiled us. And it’s all because of convenience! How easy is it to log-in to an establishment’s free wi-fi service? But don’t forget that you have responsibilities when using your device.
Hackers know we’re slacking, so remind your team that simple actions like using free wi-fi can create threats to your business.
The best security practice, in this case, is to provide your team with pocket wifi if you want them online all the time. They must know that unencrypted wi-fi hotspots are gateways for hackers, malware, and hidden spyware.
To ward off phishing attacks via email, you will need Globe myBusiness’ Email Security that will proactively detect and block advanced malware.
You should also remind them to protect their devices through using passwords, especially when accessing data through mobile applications. This way, they’re the only ones who can view important files and information. Make sure their passwords aren’t easy to guess, too!
It’s so important to be up-to-date with developments in technology and the dangers lurking within. Make it a habit to apply good security practices in your company because this trickles down to your customers, too.
As Globe Telecom’s Chief Information Security Officer Anton Bonifacio pointed out, “It pays to look at the company values, and their vision-mission. For Globe, customers are at the heart of our business. If we want to serve customers better, data security is part of the customer service. It goes with the logic of why are we putting air conditioner in stores, or why are we serving water?”
Information Technology’s no longer about simply keeping digital systems up and running. Managing and securing it should go hand-in-hand.
Don’t regret investing on ways to protect your data. You’ve worked so hard to grow your business. You’ll regret it more if someone steals your idea, or wipes out your data because you weren’t protected.
This topic is part of the Philippine Software Industry Association Enablement Seminar Series to strengthen the knowledge of IT industry leaders. They make the Philippine IT industry globally competitive by providing holistic education to IT and software talents. Globe myBusiness, a leader in the ICT solutions and telecommunications field, is partnering with PSIA for this enablement seminar series.
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