With everything that goes into running a business, it’s easy to overlook these common IT security risks — especially when so much of our businesses rely on technology for data and information storage. That’s why it’s vital to safeguard each piece of technology that comes in contact with your company — from the internal servers to your employees’ mobile devices.
It’s also why following best practices, like regularly evaluating your IT planning strategy, and utilizing managed IT services is the number one way to remain vigilant and protect your information.
Without a solid strategy and experts helping make sure nothing falls through the cracks, these 6 common IT security risks become a very real possibility — and can cost your company serious revenue.
1. Lost, stolen, or hacked equipment during travel
Any time technology or equipment leaves your facility, it is at risk of being stolen or hacked. Consider how common it is to drape a computer bag over the back of a chair in an airport, or leave a laptop on the seat next to you at a café. These instances create easy targets for thieves and often result in a larger loss of business information than most other malicious hacks.
And speaking of malicious hacks, any time someone accesses an open Wi-Fi channel, like those in hotels during corporate travel or even those in cafés often used for remote work, their equipment can be accessed by anyone else on the same network. The best way to protect your equipment and data is to securely encrypt each device and ensure that it can be remotely wiped if needed.
2. Unsecured Servers
According to a recent study, U.S. data breach incidents tracked in 2017 hit a new record high of 1,579 breaches. And one of the easiest ways for those breaches to occur is through unsecured servers. Whether you leave your server physically vulnerable behind an unlocked door or aren’t using the proper cybersecurity measures, small and medium companies often overlook common safety measures that would protect their data.
Protect your data by double-checking your security measures, and always use the most powerful tools available, such as:
- Firewalls
- Virtual Private Network (VPN)
- Secure Remote Access
- Intrusion Detection
3. Downloading Unverified Third-Party Software
It’s common for businesses to look for free software that can provide benefits like project management or time-tracking. While some of this software is harmless, it is an easy way to infiltrate a company computer with a virus. It’s very common for malware to hide within an unverified download. And once it’s in your company’s computer it can destroy or steal valuable information.
4. Email Phishing
In a 2019 Data Breach Investigations Report, we learned that 50 percent of all security incidents are caused by people inside the organization. Most of those cases are not malicious, intentional attacks but simply negligence, like delivering documents to the wrong person or clicking on a suspicious link in an email. In fact, email phishing, or opening an attachment or link from an unknown, unverified sender, is one of the most common ways hackers infect companies with malware.
5. Shared Credentials
Again, worker negligence is frequently the cause of a security breach. Workers often share logins or credentials with each other while out of the office or in a rush. This leads straight to a lack of accountability and compromised security — especially in emails. Your employees are the first line of defense against common IT security risks. So, it’s vital they have at least basic cybersecurity training.
And you can get that training, as well as verification that none of these risks are overlooked when you used managed IT services. With these services, you have an expert constantly planning, preparing, and checking on these risks and more for you. They’ll help you run your business smoothly and be responsible for your IT protection, giving you peace of mind with your customized solutions. Keep yourself and your company safe from the five most commonly overlooked IT security risks: lost, stolen, or hacked equipment, unsecured servers, downloading unverified software, email phishing, and shared credentials. Contact us now to learn more about how managed IT services can protect you and your company.
