Within the last decade, small to medium-sized businesses (SMB) have embraced cloud technologies. The promises of agility, productivity, resiliency, and scalability are appealing benefits to any business leader. If you were to look around your business today, you may find the cloud touching almost every aspect of it. While cloud technologies offer significant benefits, they also introduce new security risks. This leaves executives searching for effective cybersecurity tools and solutions to reduce chances of a high-priced, high-profile data breach.
There are numerous ways you can protect your SMB in the cloud. Today, we identify three solutions that are cost-effective but proven to significantly strengthen security defenses:
Security Awareness Training
One often overlooked cybersecurity tool comes in the form of end-user security awareness training. This program teaches employees to spot modern phishing attempts through security awareness training (which should be done annually, at a minimum). According to one cybersecurity report, more than 99% of phishing attacks required human interaction to be successful. Cybercriminals count on end-users lack of knowledge of the latest hacking tricks to penetrate even the most fortified networks. The strongest defense against these attacks is a well-educated, cautious staff. Security Awareness Training is surprisingly affordable and a very effective tool for reducing your chances of a breach when combined with ongoing social engineering and phishing tests.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Another low-cost cybersecurity tool is Multi-Factor Authentication or MFA. In short, MFA supplements the traditional username and password by requiring additional identity verification before granting access to your corporate data. It is considered one of the most effective means against cyberthreats, and, according to Microsoft, it can block over 99.9% of account compromise attacks. As data becomes more accessible for employees via the cloud, it also becomes easier for hackers to discover it. By enabling and adopting MFA, you can confirm that users requesting access to your data and applications are who they say they are. MFA is also evolving, offering end-users authentication in several different convenient ways, including mobile apps, text messages, or phone calls. Having options provides flexibility for staff by delivering strong security via a range of easy-to-use authentication methods.
Single Sign-On (SSO)
.png?width=250&name=SSO%20(1).png)
This final cybersecurity tool takes away the burden of multiple and continuous sign-in requirements across enterprise applications. Think about how many online/virtual accounts you use for business? Does each one have a unique and robust password that is hard to guess (and remember)? Unfortunately for convenience, end-users typically use the same credentials (username and password) across multiple corporate and private accounts. Finding a balance between security and productivity is the real challenge, and this is where implementing a single sign-on (SSO) solution is the key. With this cybersecurity tool, you can simply login into one secure SSO home page that grants seamless access to other preestablished web-based enterprise applications. Having one master login provides the opportunity to make your employees day easier while bolstering security.
A cost-saving aspect of SSO is the lower administration expense for the addition and removal of users within numerous enterprise applications. Typically, IT admins would individually access each application as employees come and go or change roles within your company. Once SSO is enabled, IT administrators have one central place to maintain user access, decreasing administration time for a cost-effective process. Rather than chasing down password-resets and access-level tickets, your IT admins can stay more productive and focused on strategic initiatives.
Implementing these three cybersecurity tools can significantly improve your defense posture and make it increasingly difficult for hackers to breach your business. When you are ready to strengthen your cybersecurity defenses and further secure your business in the cloud, Security Awareness Training, MFA, and SSO are worth the investment. At Systems Engineering, our Account Managers help clients in multiple vertical markets select practical cybersecurity tools that align with their cybersecurity strategies and keep their businesses safe.
If you would like to learn more about the cybersecurity solutions mentioned in this article, please select the link above. You can also contact us at info@systemsengineering.com or call 888.624.6737 to speak to a Systems Engineering representative. Clients, please reach out to your Account Manager.
