Is Your Firewall and Antivirus Software Enough?

Is Your Firewall and Antivirus Software Enough?

Is your network firewall and antivirus software enough to protect you from everything that is out there on the internet? This is a question that most small to medium-sized businesses don’t seem to get a straight answer and some learn it the hard way. At Colorado Computer Support (CSS), we know that a firewall and antivirus are not enough.

With cyberattacks becoming more common and companies losing billions of dollars to cybercriminals, every business must rethink its cybersecurity strategy. While the terms ‘firewall’ and ‘antivirus’ are thrown around as buzzwords, the truth is that these are just a single layer of protection for a computer or network.

Technology is evolving fast, and it is having all kinds of impacts – most good, some bad. The advancement in AI and Machine Learning, for instance, has helped cybercriminals develop sophisticated malware and hacking tools. Ordinary antivirus and firewalls are no match for these new kinds of cyber threats.

In-Depth Protection with Layers of Security

Consider the security of your home. You probably have bars on the windows, locks on all doors, and a security system to keep watch. In comparison, your firewall and antivirus protection are a mere deadbolt on a door. You will need to add layers of security to make your network impenetrable and your computers, data, and staff safe.

At CSS, we know all about the latest threats that abound on the internet. We do not take chances with the security of our network, computers, or data. We use a multi-layered security system that guarantees protection from existing and new cyber threats. The antivirus and default firewall are almost always the first layer of security for any computer or network. In addition to these, we bolster our network with:

• Managed Detection and Response
• Next-Generation Firewall
• Microsoft 365 Filter
• VPN
• Multi-Factor Authentication

Managed Detection and Response

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) is a security system that watches the communication between everybody’s computer as it proactively scans for threats. This cybersecurity service is designed to protect a network, data, or computer assets from threats that may elude common security controls.

As an advanced security feature, MDR comes with a range of basic but necessary security tools, including advanced analytics and threat intelligence. A team of CSS cybersecurity experts monitors the system from the security operations center 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

MDR is an essential layer of security for organizations that use cloud services and run mission-critical services that should never be interrupted. This approach to cybersecurity makes threat detection faster and provides more in-depth information about unknown threats than any other system.

Next-Generation Firewall

Forget about the default firewall that comes free with your computer or network devices. These standard security tools do not provide sufficient protection against today’s fast-evolving online threats. A next-generation firewall is a deep-packet inspection system that does a lot more than inspect ports and protocols and manage app permissions.

It features an active intrusion detection and prevention algorithm that gathers intelligence from outside the network to determine the nature of a threat. Unlike traditional firewalls, next-generation firewalls have extensive visibility and control over applications that send data over the network. It monitors communication coming in and out of our network to filter packets based on their content rather than associated applications or sending or receiving addresses.

Microsoft 365 Filter

The mailboxes of Microsoft Office 365 come with a built-in spam filter as a part of the Exchange Online Protection (EOP). However, this filter is almost always not good enough for motivated hackers. If you use Microsoft 365 Business Premium, it comes with Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) that offers better, but not good enough, protection against malware, phishing, harmful links and attachments, and ransomware, among other common threats.

CSS has a filter that complements the security features of Microsoft Office 365. The filter is a lightweight but powerful tool that scans emails for spam and malicious content and flags them before harming the system. The filter also checks all outgoing emails to ensure that no personal or confidential information is sent unencrypted over email.

VPNs

One inconvenient fact many entrepreneurs still deny is that cybercriminals are increasingly targeting small businesses. They are also becoming more innovative and crafty in how they execute cyberattacks. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is an essential layer of security that can help protect your network from data breaches.

CSS offers the perfect cybersecurity-focused VPN that secures data across the network, making it more secure and robust. We recommend that any device that connects to the internet should always be a part of the VPN network. VPNs can go a long way to deter hackers and malware by ensuring secure communications through a private tunnel whose information cannot be intercepted.

Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is quickly rising to become the standard of log-in security. This is a multi-step log-in procedure that requires a user to prove who they are by requiring at least two pieces of evidence. While passwords still reign supreme to authenticate a user online, they generally provide very little protection.

At CSS we have multi-factor authentication not only on our email services but also on our computers. Every time a user logs onto their computer, they will need an extra code generated or sent to their phone to get in. This way, even if someone gets their hands on the user’s password, they cannot just log into my computer.

Conclusion

You cannot rely on your antivirus software and standard firewall as your only defense against cyber threats. Hackers are constantly upping their game and perfecting the art of hacking and cracking. The surest way to protect your business’ network, computers, and staff is to use a multi-layered approach to cybersecurity.

Do you want to talk about cybersecurity and how you can protect your network or computers? That is what we do every day. If you have questions on any of these, do not hesitate to contact Colorado Computer Support today, and one of our experts will attend to your concerns.