Ten IT Risks Managers Should Take Seriously

If you are a business manager, you will need to make sure that you are not only complying with the data protection regulations and law, but will also have to protect the company’s main assets: information. If the IT system is not maintained and updated regularly, and it is vulnerable to insider or outsider attacks, the oversight can cost the business its reputation and customers. To help you maintain continuous service and protect customer and company data, you should check the below list of threats that can compromise your system security.

1. Firewalls

One of the most important aspects of online security your business should pay attention to is firewalls. Whether you have an intranet network or a wireless one, it is important that you are protecting the confidential files through a firework. While most Microsoft, Linux, and Mac systems offer a basic firewall protection, you will have to make sure that you are monitoring the performance of the pages. Some installations or even software might turn off your firewall, making your system vulnerable to attacks.

2. Software Updates

Most hacking attacks happen because the system administrator fails to update the software or install the crucial security updates. If you don’t have the staff to complete this job professionally, you should get in touch with a professional IT Support service that will check your updates and install the important software regularly. This way, all your software will keep on working smoothly, and you will not compromise your productivity.

3. Compatibility Issues

If your company uses several different software and applications, they can crash your network. It is important that you are checking whether other users have experienced problems when running the two software simultaneously. If there is an issue, you should get in touch with the software developer, so they can fix it before it would cause data loss or damage to the software elements.

4. User Error

It is crucial that you train your staff to work on the systems not only efficiently, but also safely. If the software requires administrators to log out before they would turn off the computer, or back up the files, it is important that you provide them with the right training and procedures. If you fail to provide clear instructions, you can’t expect them to follow them. From failing to notify the management of security breach to downloading a gaming app that slows down the system, your employees can be responsible for many downtime hours.

5. Virus

Viruses are responsible for data loss, and increased IT costs. You will have to create an internal IT policy and protect your internal email systems through antivirus software. Don’t allow users to download software from unknown sources, and make sure that they don’t click on emails and links that seem suspicious. If you notice a difference in how your computers react and work, it is important that you get in touch with a PC repair and IT security professional who will diagnose the problem and carry out a malware, virus, and spyware removal before they could further damage your system.

6. Malware

Malware can spread in different ways. You will not notice the attack, and the only thing your employees will see is that the system is slower than before, and it doesn’t go on the sites they want to go on. If you don’t monitor malware, you might end up losing data, or make your system vulnerable to attacks. In some cases, malware can cause spyware to enter your system or network, and this will result in security breach and data protection issues. It is important that you comply with the latest GDPR regulations and keep your customers’, employees’, and business partners’ data safe from third parties.

7. Spyware

Spyware can enter your system through downloads or email, and track and trace everything you and your employees do on the internet or the computer. This can result in data breach and your company could end up receiving a huge financial fine. If you fail to protect user information, as well as personal data, you are breaking the law, and you will be held legally responsible. Spyware protection software can help you prevent attacks and identify threats at an early stage, so you can avoid paying a huge price for your mistakes.

8. DDOS Attack

DDOS or Distributed Denial of Service is a cybersecurity threat that cannot be taken too seriously. If hackers gain access to your system files, they can compromise them and restrict your access. This means that your website server will become unavailable, and you will lose business, customer, and your reputation. If you are hosting your entire customer management system on your network, you can expect everything to collapse in just minutes. In some cases, hackers will offer to release and restore your files for a set fee, but the damage to your reputation will be unavoidable.

9. Copying Files

If you store confidential information on your servers or your hard drives, you need to find a way to make them password-protected, so you are reducing your risk of internal attacks and fraud. Corporate spies will try everything to get access to your business strategy, technology blueprints, or other trade secrets, just to sell it to the highest bidder that might be your competition. You should have a clear policy on mobile devices in and outside of the office to avoid sensitive information getting in the wrong hands.

10. Access Levels

To make sure that nobody can access sensitive and confidential information other than those authorised, it is important that you talk to your network engineer about setting up different access levels for various users. You need to make sure that everyone has enough data and information to do their job, but not more. Access level control is an effective way of protecting your data.

Companies should take IT security risks seriously. The above list is only a sample, and hackers, spies, and software developers come out with new programs every day. If you would like to maintain your corporate reputation and remain compliant, it is important that you keep your systems checked and updated regularly.