How to create a comprehensive security ecosystem

How to create a comprehensive security ecosystem

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There have been many changes in technology and the cybersecurity threat landscape over the past five years. Your business may be using new technologies to increase productivity, collaboration, and connectivity, and to support hybrid or remote work. This means there are more systems to protect from a cyberattack. If you have not created a comprehensive security ecosystem, now is the time to do it.

Elements of a Security Ecosystem

Endpoint Security

Endpoint security focuses on securing any device that is connected to a network or IT system, including laptops, mobile phone, desktops, IoT devices, servers and virtual environments. This is essential, as endpoints are key vulnerability points of entry for cybercriminals. If a hacker gains access to one of your endpoints and executes malicious code, they can potentially steal your private data or launch a larger attack. When deciding on an endpoint security solution, it is important to implement a solution that goes beyond traditional antivirus and has smart features with an emphasis on user behaviour.

Update & Patch Management

Many cyberattacks and data breaches can be avoided by ensuring all of your operating systems and software are up to date. Although this is simple in theory, employees will often delay updates and patches due to the inconvenience of having to restart their devices. This can be avoided with the use of a solution such as Microsoft Intune. Intune is a mobile device management and mobile application management tool that allows IT administrators to remotely manage your employees’ devices.

Email Security

In 2021, 83%* of reported cyberattacks or breaches were phishing attacks. This is no surprise as email has been the number one attack vector for many years. A successful phishing attack can launch a multitude of other cyberattacks, including ransomware, that can have devastating consequences for your business. A comprehensive email security solution can stop phishing emails before they reach a user’s inbox. Similarly, many modern email security solutions have features that combat internal threats, if a user’s email account is compromised.

Disaster Recovery

Although security solutions are typically designed to prevent an attack, it is still important to have a solution in place that allows for data recovery in the event of an attack, or other disaster. This is only possible with a disaster recovery plan, which requires two key objectives, the recovery point objective (RPO) and the recovery time objective (RTO). The RPO is how frequently your business must backup your data to recover from a disaster. The RTO is the amount of time your business’s systems can be down without causing significant damage for you and your clients. A comprehensive disaster recovery solution may also automatically quarantine any ransomware and revert back to a safe backup to limit the impact of the disaster.

Security Awareness Training

While these solutions should stop many attacks before they pose a threat to your business’s IT systems, your employees should be able to identify and report potential threats in the case of a cybercriminal passing the layers of defence. Cybersecurity awareness training will encourage your employees to understand the cybersecurity threat landscape, how to identify security risks and the process of reporting potential cyberattacks or poor security practices. Effective cybersecurity training can decrease the chance of your business falling victim to a cyberattack, whilst developing a positive security culture within your business.

How to Create a Comprehensive Security Ecosystem

1. Take Inventory

Before implementing any new security solution, it’s important to take inventory of all IT systems, software and current security solutions. Make sure you have visibility of how data is shared across systems, as this will affect how each element of the ecosystem will be implemented. After this step, you should be able to identify any potential gaps in your security controls. Talk to the Extech Cloud team about our feasibility study.

1. Set Goals

Set clear goals to measure the success of your new security ecosystem. They may include a decrease in the amount of cybersecurity incidents, an increase in patching cadence, or an improved score on employee phishing tests. These goals will measure success, as well as dictating which solutions will be implemented. We can help you set realistic goals.

1. Research Solution

It is important to spend time researching before implementing your security ecosystem, to ensure the solution provides adequate security without harming crucial functionality, flexibility and usability. To support businesses that do not have the resource or expertise in-house we have developed the Extech Cloud Feasibility Study. We thoroughly explore your business to understand how you and your people operate on a daily basis, to be able to provide the right solution for you.

1. Implement Solution

When all the planning is complete, we can help you to implement your solution.

1. Monitor and Evaluate

After the creation and implementation of the security ecosystem, we can help you to monitor the effectiveness of the solution. This will ensure that all systems are working as intended, as well as providing a view of any threats that the systems have identified or mitigated. Over time, you can evaluate the effectiveness of your ecosystem in terms of meeting the goals set in step 2.

Looking to implement a security ecosystem in your business?

We can help you secure all your IT systems and create a comprehensive cybersecurity ecosystem. If you want to discuss your cybersecurity requirements, contact Extech Cloud today. You can also ask about our no-obligation, no-fee feasibility study.