Data is a critical asset for businesses of all shapes and sizes, and it won’t be an exaggeration to say that it has replaced oil as the most valuable commodity. However, even though modern businesses generate massive amounts of data, but give little to no consideration to data security.
Most businesses care about the potential of data in the industry and the profits it could bring without realizing the far-reaching effects data security can have on entire enterprises.
Importance of data security
When data security is an afterthought within a business organization, a single data breach can result in data loss and cost millions in revenue. It could potentially destroy a business’s reputation and credibility in the market and ultimately lead to its demise.
Furthermore, data from a small enterprise is just as valuable as data from a major business firm. Protection measures available to both are not equal. The big names in the industry can afford dedicated teams protecting their data networks. Still, SMEs can’t always spend a fortune to finance such security, which makes them an easy target for cyber-attacks.
With that in mind, we have highlighted four advanced, widely-available security tools and solutions that can protect your data networks. Keep reading to learn more!
Four security solutions to optimize business operations
- Network Attached Storage
Consider investing in a Network Attached Storage (NAS) device to accommodate your company’s ever-increasing data storage needs. NAS systems provide the backbone of many standard corporate systems, including email applications, accounting and payroll databases, video creation and processing, data logs, and data analytics. In many fields, NAS systems are the crowd-favorite storage option for large and small organizations because of their efficiency, scalability, and cheap cost.
For instance, Synology NAS extends that capability by letting you set up your very own cloud infrastructure for storing, accessing, backing up, and sharing any information without worrying about data breaches or theft.
Given the adaptability and widespread adoption of NAS systems, most cloud-based service providers also provide NAS services. This enables businesses to combine NAS with cloud services in a way that may better optimize their costs, operational efforts, and overall performance, all while maintaining complete control over their data’s whereabouts and safety.
- Domain Name Service Protection (DNS)
All internal and external application connections are routed via DNS (Domain Name Service). Name resolution is a standard and well-understood procedure, which from a security standpoint, is one of the first lines of defense against suspicious activities. In simpler terms, it is a device’s first course of action when communicating over an IP network.
DNS is a robust procedure that secures your network communications early in the process, regardless of the kind of device partaking in the communication. When executed correctly, it may become one of the most valuable investments you make to secure your network data.
Even though firewalls are often the first line of defense when protecting networks that directly connect with the Internet, DNS is the baseline security measure for any network communications involving the business itself, even from outside the firewall.
DNS protection ensures that participants communicating over a network don’t interact or exchange data with a malicious entity or a compromised network that has been diverted or hijacked. It is one of the easiest methods to steal data from unsuspecting victims – one that even firewalls can’t detect.
After all, exchanging data with a hacker or hacked network makes everyone involved in the conversation vulnerable to security risks.
- Firewalls and Next-Generation Firewalls
Firewalls are designed to evaluate data traveling to and from a network and decide what should be permitted or forbidden. These decisions may be made using sophisticated methods like advanced analysis and deep packet inspection (DPI).
In most cases, they serve as the go-to defense mechanism since they are simple to install and have minimal effect on regular business procedures.
Firewalls and next-gen firewalls are common in the corporate world – so much so that malicious entities design their assault to bypass even the most sophisticated defenses on the market. So even though firewalls can provide good protection and cut exposure to malicious entities by half, expecting complete protection is foolish.
Therefore, a multi-layered security approach is still necessary for fool-proof protection from risk exposure.
- Endpoint Security
EDR, or Endpoint Detection and Response, systems such as anti-virus and malware protection programs safeguard a business’s network endpoints against viruses and other malware by scanning files and monitoring system processes in real-time.
You can also extend endpoint protection by leveraging VPN (virtual private networks) that protect data communications and resources on the network by encrypting the connection between endpoints.
All these security programs can actively detect sophisticated network threats like malware, viruses, and ransomware. The admin can authorize all the devices operating over the network, so every entity on the network is verified. VPNs, in particular, add an extra layer of security over the network and encrypt the incoming and outgoing data streams.
For example, with EDRs, remote employees can efficiently work over public networks without worrying about exposing sensitive data. However, in this scenario, securing the endpoint is essential. Although a VPN can be a friendly companion, it can become a terrible enemy if the main computer hosting the VPN is hacked locally – this offers a direct channel to the business’s data network and infrastructure.
When the message seems to be coming from a computer you “trust,” it is more difficult to identify a malicious actor hidden behind the cloak of security. Some of these specialized strategies have inspired whole concepts like “Zero Trust” to aid corporate users in protecting their data from exposure risks and malicious entities.
The Bottom Line
Technology has historically served as the cornerstone for data security. As cyber risks continue to grow, so do technologies to counter those risks. Although virus protection programs and strong passwords are a fantastic start, they barely cover the intricacies required to protect corporate data effectively. SMEs require next-generation technologies, such as Synology NAS or Cisco Firewalls, to counter a next-generation risk.
Nowadays, cybercrime and exposure risks to data are pressing threats for most modern businesses. Thus, strengthening data security and focusing on solutions that optimize security should be a high priority for businesses looking to protect their critical data from malicious threats.
Consider these four security tools to protect your company’s information and reputation. These tools can help you optimize security and help businesses focus on more critical tasks at hand.
