An organization’s information resources are its most valuable resource with the possible exception of its personnel. The data they collect, store, and process is instrumental in driving competitiveness and growth. Companies that neglect information security are taking unnecessary risks that threaten their ability to succeed in today’s business landscape.
Threats to Your Company’s Information Security
Information security is a major concern for IT decision-makers for good reason. Multiple threats need to be addressed to ensure an organization can provide effective information security. The following are some of the most common and dangerous threats to an organization’s valuable system and data resources.
- Insider threats – Deliberate or accidental insider threats pose a serious risk to virtually every organization. A simple mistake by a trustworthy employee can inadvertently expose confidential intellectual property and lead to a devastating data breach. The permissions necessary to maintain business operations may be misused to steal data for personal gain. Monitoring how systems and data resources are used throughout the organization is essential in mitigating insider threats.
- Phishing attacks – A phishing attack utilizes social engineering to deceive individuals into divulging sensitive or proprietary information. The goal of a phishing attack is typically to entice the recipient of a message to click on a malicious link or provide login credentials. A successful phishing expedition can result in the victimized environment being infected with one of the other threats on our list.
- Viruses – Links to malicious websites may introduce viruses into the environment. A virus may perform various destructive actions including destroying files or logging keystrokes to steal login information. The virus may exfiltrate sensitive files and lead to a data breach.
- Ransomware – This particularly virulent form of malware may be delivered via a phishing attack. Ransomware encrypts data resources and holds them for ransom. Newer variants also exfiltrate data and expose it publicly if ransom demands are not met.
- Advanced persistent threats (APTs) – A phishing attack may also provide the entry point for an APT. An APT is typically carried out by a sophisticated group of threat actors. They may remain hidden in an environment for an extended period, waiting for the opportunity to enact their malicious plan.
Factors That Contribute to Information Governance and Security
Providing effective information security needs to be an essential component of a company’s business strategy. The threats are too serious to be ignored, making it crucial that security is given the attention it deserves in organizations of any size. Small companies can quickly be put out of business by a successful cyberattack or data breach.
Several complementary measures need to be enacted to ensure a company’s valuable data resources are successfully protected. Information governance and security require a multi-faceted approach that includes the following elements.
Achieving visibility into the complete IT environment
Achieving visibility into the total computing environment is the first step in devising a security and governance strategy. It is vitally important for an organization to understand what data resources it is collecting and processing. The company also needs to know where this information is stored. With this data in hand, an organization can implement the necessary cybersecurity solutions to protect its resources.
It is getting increasingly complicated to accurately obtain the visibility required to protect an organization’s IT environment. Many companies have deployed multi-cloud or hybrid environments that can be difficult to monitor or view from a centralized platform. Gaps in visibility pose unknown vulnerabilities and risks that are impossible to quantify and must be addressed to ensure robust information security.
Performing accurate threat and risk analysis
Threat and risk analysis need to be performed after achieving visibility and inventorying the environment. Systems and data resources should be categorized based on their importance to the business so they can be afforded the level of protection they require.
Insider and external threats need to be considered when developing an information security strategy. These threats need to be aligned with the risks they pose to the business so the organization can implement the appropriate measures to ensure robust security for the environment and its resources.
Implementing effective cybersecurity solutions
An organization can use the information gained through visibility and analysis to implement effective cybersecurity measures. Following are some of the more common security solutions that virtually all companies should incorporate into their cyber defenses.
- Firewalls – Hardware or software-based firewalls enable an organization to control both inbound and outbound network traffic. Only approved entities are granted access to network resources or are allowed to transmit data outside the environment.
- Antivirus software – Updated antivirus software can identify and eliminate known viruses that enter the environment. Virus database definitions need to be updated frequently to address new virus variants.
- Intrusion detection and prevention systems – Intrusion detection and prevention systems identify suspicious behavior and either warn security personnel or take automated action to prevent the threat in real time.
VAST View for Effective Information Governance and Protection
VAST View is a comprehensive and effective solution for strengthening an organization’s information security. VAST View provides visibility and management of on-premises, cloud, and hybrid computing environments. The platform’s capabilities give a company valuable tools for improving its information security.
VAST View offers powerful features for companies planning a cloud migration or those that already have a cloud presence. The information available from VAST View can also help efficiently manage an on-premises IT environment. VAST View includes these components:
- Discovery and Assessment – VAST conducts a thorough discovery and assessment of your existing environment to better understand how to migrate it to a new cloud or manage it in its current state.
- Planning, Cloud Migration, and Optimization – Organizations migrating to the cloud will benefit from VAST View’s planning and cloud migration components. A detailed roadmap will be developed to optimize your cloud spending and achieve the maximum advantages from the migration.
- Governance and Orchestration – VAST View provides real-time logging, monitoring, and tracking access to your cloud resources. You can uncover vulnerabilities and develop rules to ensure your data is secured. The platform’s automation and orchestration features help you use your cloud resources efficiently and address business requirements.
Enhance your information security in the cloud or on-premises with VAST View. Get in touch and see how easy it is to get started.
