According to Gartner, global information security spending is forecast to surpass $124 billion this year as businesses around the world prepare themselves for the next big cyberattack. The figure continues to increase year on year as organizations find themselves under increasing pressure to boost their data security, privacy, and compliance efforts.
From growing expenses to a worrying lack of cybersecurity resource expertise, business leaders all too often view information security as a cost burden instead of a competitive benefit. Fortunately, there are ways to get costs back under control without overspending and getting in the way of innovation.
Antivirus software
Although the rise of a new breed of cunning social engineering scams has diminished the value of antivirus software, it’s still a core component of any security strategy. Fortunately, most modern operating systems come with basic antivirus solutions built in, while enterprise-grade solutions are available with inexpensive, and sometimes free, subscription plans.
Unified threat management
Wider network security revolves around three main things — firewalls, intrusion detection, and intrusion prevention. Although there’s a degree of crossover in terms of functionality among the three, you need all of them. Fortunately, you don’t need to buy three separate solutions thanks to the availability of unified threat management tools, which consolidate all functions.
Endpoint protection
To protect constantly expanding attack surfaces brought about by the rise of internet-connected devices in the workplace, administrators need to retain full visibility into every endpoint on the network. Most business-ready operating systems provide full disk encryption, while enterprise-grade virtual private networks (VPNs) protect all data being sent to and from endpoints.
Round-the-clock monitoring
Cyberattacks can strike anytime, hence the need for 24/7/365 protection. Fortunately, that doesn’t have to mean maintaining an information security department that works around the clock. Managed security service providers (MSSPs) offer round-the-clock monitoring and management for your entire network for a predictable monthly fee.
Employee training
Many employees have developed poor cybersecurity habits. These subpar practices — as well as the general lack of awareness and the perception that information security is solely a technical issue — often make employees the weakest link in the security chain. Training your employees doesn’t have to cost a lot, and it’s also a legal requirement for many organizations.
Mobile security
Mobile devices are reported lost or stolen all the time, but far worse than losing them is having an unauthorized user gain access to the data they contain. The more affordable and secure solution is to avoid storing sensitive data on the device entirely, and instead keep it in the cloud where administrators can grant and revoke access rights to it as needed.
Security assessments
Every business needs to be proactive when it comes to information security, and while carrying out regular risk and threat assessments might be expensive, it can save you a fortune in the longer term. In fact, many MSSPs will conduct basic assessments for free to help you choose the optimal solutions within your budget.
Data loss prevention
Many security incidents take the form of accidental data leaks, in which sensitive data is sent through an unsecure channel. Data loss prevention (DLP) comes standard with many enterprise-grade software to allow administrators to apply rules that prevent employees from sharing sensitive data like payment card or patient health information.
Online backup
No matter how robust your security infrastructure may be, you should always prepare for the worst-case scenario. Cloud backup helps safeguard your business not only from cyberthreats, but also from hardware failures, natural disasters, and accidental deletion. Since online storage is an integral part of any cloud service, it only costs a flat monthly subscription fee.
Tech Squared goes beyond tech support alone to offer the full range of services and solutions you need to drive business growth and regain control over your expenses. Call us now to start your journey towards a hassle-free digital transformation.