Lack Of Confidence In Cybersecurity Posture Prompts Increase In IT Budgets

Almost 80% of IT executives and IT leaders think that their companies have insufficient protection against cybersecurity even with the increased investments made on cybersecurity last year in an effort to address the challenges brought on by work-from-home and distributed IT.

That increased level of concern over the capability to address cybersecurity threats in these day’s complicated IT environment has prompted 91% of companies to boost their cybersecurity budgets this year, almost matching the 96% increase in ITspending last year.

The Cybersecurity at Crossroads report was based on the impact of the transition to a work from home setting and the distributed IT landscape on IT security. The survey revealed that 78% don’t trust their organization’s IT security posture and think that improvements should be made. About 32% of the respondents of the study have the least confidence in the IT security posture of their company. About 30% don’t trust their security related technology and 27% on their skillsets and internal teams. They reported the highest confidence level on the data management strategy of their company however only 45% trust this part of security operations.

The Other Key Findings Include:

1.      Cybersecurity is being added into different business aspects, which indicates an increasing recognition of the risk that a cyberattack presents to company operations.

2.      Organizations shifted their cybersecurity modernization priorities last year as a result of the urgent challenges that were presented by the global pandemic.

3.      Most long range and complicated security projects were placed at the back seat to prevent and deal with activities such as anti-virus and anti malware upgrades, firewall as a Service or FWaaS, and multi-factor authentication.

The Survey Includes Key Challenges That Companies Face When Boosting Their Security Posture

1.      55% of the respondents said that lack of automation is the primary challenge in terms of security management and operations. Companies are unable to evaluate and respond to the countless events and notifications generated by the rising complicated security infrastructure.

2.      Only a meagre 27% of the respondents expanded their security staff last year, marking a slight decrease from 30% the previous year. Because of this, IT teams and ITConsultant Columbia SC were stretched thin and without most of the IT support experts needed to perform the range of IT tasks required by the evolving threatscape of the year.

3.      Only 57% performed a data security risk assessment last year even though there was a need to recheck their security posture as new threats came out during the global pandemic.

About SpartanTec, Inc.

We offer the Best Managed IT and Co-Managed IT Services and Cloud Solutions in the Carolinas, dedicated to the highest level of customer service and support.

At SpartanTec, Inc. we are committed to continuing education; increasing our knowledge base ensures that we stay on the cutting edge of technology. In an ever-changing world of technology, we provide our clients with top Managed IT Services, or provide IT department staff augmentation with our Co-Managed IT Services.

When you have a reliable partner in computer network maintenance and IT Support, you can get back to what you do best. Call SpartanTec, Inc. now for more details.

 

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence

7-Step Strategy To Fight Ransomware

 "Your files have been encrypted. Follow the instructions to pay us and get them back."

Ransomware demands like this appeared on many computers in 2020, and experts predict the ransomware scourge will only get worse in 2021. Why?

Ransomware provides criminals with easy income, for one; and extortionists with minimal technical skills can get in on the act. They can build code from open-source repositories, buy a package, or even use "Ransomware as a Service." Contributing to the dismal outlook are signs that attacks will grow more sophisticated, targeting specific victims and perhaps even using artificial intelligence.

With ransomware, victims most often have to pay in Bitcoin, which enables the kidnapper to remain anonymous. Attackers often force victims into making hasty decisions with threats of raising the ransom price or encrypting more files if demands aren’t met promptly.

 

 

Avoiding these risks requires advanced planning and a strategy for responding to demands and mitigating damages. Here are some cybersecurity tips:

1. IT Consultant Columbia SC says backup offline for the best prevention. Drives which are attached to a computer are as vulnerable as the main drive. A cloud backup, updated frequently, is safe from ransomware installed on a computer. Run backups as frequently as possible — and update automatically.
2. Have a policy for the worst case. Advance planning forestalls panic. Will the company refuse to pay no matter what? Will it pay if the potential loss goes beyond a certain level? The time to set a ransomware policy is when the business isn't facing an imminent threat.
3. Develop an incident response plan. Responding to a ransomware attack requires quick and effective decisions. The first step is to isolate the targeted machine to prevent further damage. The company needs to inform the FBI; local law enforcement can't do much.
4. Develop an operational contingency plan with the help of an IT Support expert. Even with good backup, an attack will cause a period of disruption. You can't restore the files till the malware is removed, or you'll just have to start over. Plan in advance how the business sustain operations while files are unavailable and computers have been pulled off the network for software repair.
5. Make sure top management is on board. Ransomware policy affects the whole company, not just IT. Executives should understand the risks and sign off on the policies.
6. Conduct security training to reduce risks. Most ransomware is spread through phishing emails and malicious or compromised websites. To minimize risk, train employees on how to recognize dubious email and not open unexpected attachments.
7. Maintain a comprehensive security strategy by hiring IT Services Columbia SC. Anti-malware is just one part. Your security infrastructure should extend protection to all endpoints, use segmentation to limit proliferation and enable quick, coordinated, adaptive responses to threats. Deploy a tightly woven fabric of integrated solutions including firewalls, IPS, antivirus software, sandbox technology and everything in between.

SpartanTec, Inc. can deliver the advantages of an integrated, collaborative security platform to prepare you in advance for the worsening ransomware forecast.

SpartanTec, Inc.
Columbia, SC 29201
(803) 408-7166
http://manageditservicescolumbia.com/

Serving: Myrtle Beach, North Myrtle Beach, Columbia, Wilmington, Fayetteville, Florence