Cybersecurity is now an essential aspect of any modern business, whatever the size or market type, as cyber-attacks and threats continue to evolve and become more sophisticated.
To ensure the safety of your business and its data, it is essential to have a robust cybersecurity strategy in place, including measures such as Cyber Essentials and Plus accreditation, Pen Testing, and SOC services (Security Operations Centre).
In this article, we will explore why we believe these cybersecurity measures are essential and how they, and we, as a supplier of IT support services, can help protect customers from cyber threats.
Being aware is the first step to prevention
It’s human nature to be sceptical of the latest technology and also not wish to spend too much money, but, in today’s world, can businesses and individuals afford not to protect their data?
What are businesses doing to secure themselves and their customers?
Here at Elmdale IT, when auditing clients’ needs, and recommending solutions, we include discussing the security of their printing infrastructure and network as a priority. This helps us find out more about their network and IT support and regularly involves discussing all network security aspects from security of devices on the network to awareness of spoof/fraudulent emails as a way of accessing the network and company data.
Being in line with the latest GDPR regulations is also paramount so we evaluate the appropriate level of security that we need to put in place and the basic technical controls we can use, such as those within the framework of the Cyber Essentials and Essentials Plus accreditation.
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus Accreditation
Cyber Essentials and Cyber Essentials Plus are UK government-backed cybersecurity certification schemes that provide a baseline of cybersecurity measures that all organisations should implement. The Cyber Essentials scheme is designed to help businesses of all sizes to protect themselves from common cyber threats. The scheme provides a set of basic technical controls that should be in place, such as firewalls, secure configuration, access controls and patch management.
Cyber Essentials Plus is a more rigorous certification scheme that requires an independent assessment of an organisation’s cybersecurity controls. It includes all the requirements of Cyber Essentials but also includes a vulnerability scan and an on-site assessment. Cyber Essentials Plus accreditation is more suitable where a higher level of assurance or sensitive data is handled, such as government-based contracts or within banks and other financial organisations.
Penetration Testing
Penetration testing, also known as ‘pen testing’, is a method of testing an organisation’s cybersecurity defences by simulating a cyber-attack. A pen test can identify vulnerabilities and weaknesses within a company’s systems and networks, providing insights into how to improve security measures. Pen testing can be carried out on specific areas of the infrastructure, such as web applications, networks, or wireless networks.
Pen testing can be conducted in two ways, either through automated testing or manual testing. Automated testing uses software tools to simulate attacks, while manual testing is carried out by our trained professionals who attempt to exploit vulnerabilities in a system. The results of a pen test can be used to improve security measures and reduce the risk of a successful cyber-attack.
SOC Services
SOC (Security Operations Centre) services provide 24/7 monitoring and management of a business’ cybersecurity systems and networks. SOC services use advanced technology, such as threat intelligence, to detect and respond to cyber threats in real-time. SOC services can help organisations to identify and reduce potential cyber threats before they become a problem.
SOC services typically include security incident and event management (SIEM), threat hunting, vulnerability management, and incident response. These services are provided by our trained cybersecurity team who have the expertise and knowledge to detect and respond to cyber threats quickly and effectively.
Don’t overlook the not-so-obvious
It’s important to emphasise that it’s not just operating systems on a network that are a target of cyber-attacks; anything connected to a network is potentially vulnerable, including the least likely of candidates, network printers and multifunctional photocopiers (MFPs). MFPs, in all areas of the marketplace, have access to the world wide web and are included within the ‘Internet of Things’ (IoT) as vital endpoints on a network. In both cases this access makes them a risk to data security and cyber-attacks.
What can be done to prevent attacks on basic office equipment at a basic level?
At Elmdale Maintenance, part of the Elmdale Group, all the latest MFPs we supply have been designed with some effective standard security features, such as user authentication, secure print and hard drive data encryption, when they are manufactured, which comply with the Compatible Criteria Certification (ISO/IEC 15408) as well as the IEEE 2600.1 standard.
However, we also recommend strengthening data security further with a choice of options, depending on the level required, from data security kits to 3rd party tools, such as PaperCut, to track and securely release print jobs, and antivirus options like Bitdefender® which enables print jobs to be scanned in real-time to prevent potentially harmful virus attacks and data breaches.
Conclusion
In conclusion, cyber threats are a significant risk for businesses of all sizes, and cybersecurity measures such as Cyber Essentials and Plus accreditation, Pen Testing, and SOC services are essential to protect against these threats. These measures provide a baseline of cybersecurity controls, identify vulnerabilities in an organisation’s systems, and provide 24/7 monitoring and management of cybersecurity systems and networks. By implementing these measures, organisations can reduce the risk of a successful cyber-attack and protect their business and its data from harm.
For more information, please contact us on 0118 982 1444 or email:
Elmdale IT Services: support@elmdaleit.co.uk or sales@elmdaleit.co.uk
Elmdale Maintenance (for Print IT solutions): sales@elmdalemaintenance.co.uk