Your Business’ Cybersecurity Starts with Secure Connectivity

Nothing drives a point home better than a well-researched statistic. Here’s a cybersecurity stat for you to mull over: Back in 2009 it was estimated that global malware infections hovered around the 12.40 million mark. Nine short years later that number had jumped to over 812 million computer infections.

If you don’t fully grasp the importance of secure connectivity and the all-important value of having a solid cybersecurity system in place, we encourage you to read on.

Did you know that there are around 24,000 malicious mobile phone apps blocked…every day? Or that 3 billion Yahoo accounts were hacked back in 2016? (Source) These cyber criminals mean business. The increase and complexity of malware infections mean that the question is not so much if you’ll be hacked, but when.

Cybersecurity Facts – What is Malware?

If forewarned is forearmed then it’s a good idea to educate ourselves on what is out there and what it does. Let’s explore the most common cyber threats.

Malware is short for malicious software which has been created for the specific purpose of infecting a host system for nefarious gain. They can take various forms as we will see below.

Virus

A virus, as we’ve come to know it in medical terms, infects and spreads once it is established in the host. This is precisely what a computer virus does, and because the world is so much more connected than ever, a virus can easily spread throughout an entire network. They can spread through infected programs, script files, or executable programs depending on their function, which can include stealing information, money or taking down a network. Viruses are spread by making use of human activity such as file sharing.

Worms

Much like viruses, worms infiltrate a system and can slow down your machine, consume bandwidth, steal data or delete files. However, unlike a virus, they are self-replicating and can instigate a mass email send to all your contacts containing infected files.

Spyware

As you can no doubt tell by the name, spyware is a well-hidden type of malware which monitors your computer’s activity. Information such as banking passwords or financial data can be collected and used by criminals. Spyware often spreads by hiding within legitimate software programs and is very difficult to detect.

Ransomware

Again, the clue is in the name. Ransomware has the ability to block your system, essentially locking you out of your computer or your entire network until a ransom has been paid. Of course – being criminals – there is no guarantee that they will release access to your system once you’ve paid making this a particularly nasty form of malware.

Trojans

Allegedly used by the Greeks to good effect in ancient times, a Trojan is a program which has been designed to look and act like an innocuous function on your computer network. Once installed, the program collects sensitive data, steals resources or blocks access.

Of course, these aren’t the only malicious activities out there in cyberspace, but – well – you get the picture.

Signs That You Need to Beef Up Your Cybersecurity.

How secure is your system? Have you experienced any of the following?

• Slow browser speeds
• Freezing or crashing
• Connectivity problems
• Increased CPU usage with no identifiable reason
• Unfamiliar icons or programs appearing

If you’re mentally checking off some of these problems, then it’s very likely that you need a cybersecurity audit and to beef up the walls to your system.

Secure Connectivity From Huge

There is an entire industry centred around waging war with these cyber-criminals, and we would certainly advise you to get in touch with professional cybersecurity agents if you suspect that you have a problem.

However, you will definitely need the basics in place before you begin. What are we referring to?

if you or your employees access the internet, you need the protection of a firewall. This means that you also need someone to install, monitor and upgrade your system, as well as analyse logs in the event of an incident.

In other words, you need a managed firewall service from Huge Connect. It’s getting more and more complicated to ensure your business’ data is secure. Small businesses simply don’t have the resources to employ a dedicated in-house team of highly skilled IT security professionals. This is why a managed Wi-Fi and Firewall service is the ideal way for SMEs to make sure they are properly protected without having to invest in staff, software and equipment.

A managed Wi-Fi and Firewall service from Huge Connect means that we do all the hard work for you. We provide, install and deploy the latest security protocols, as well as take care of all your hardware requirements, licences, configuration, maintenance, support and ongoing management. It’s simply the easiest way to enjoy complete peace of mind about your data security.

With our managed firewall system, you get constant, 24/7 monitoring, meaning any potential threats are identified and neutralised before they impact your network availability or business operation.

If you have cybersecurity concerns and you need to start solving your issues with secure connectivity, then give the Huge team a call on +27 878 200 220.