Learn the Language. Win the Game.

AMANDA ROHLEDER | Sales Supervisor | Nex-Tech

EDR, DPI, MFA, SAT, SIEM, and ATP. Is it a foreign language or a game of cybersecurity bingo? When it comes to protecting your technology, staying educated can feel like both. The cybersecurity landscape is as complex as it is ever-changing.

Yet, it’s become more important than ever to master the seemingly impossible game that is cybersecurity. If you’re wondering how best to spend your budget or educate your employees, winning begins with learning the language. While this is never an easy task, our team of well-trained experts understands — and can help you and your employees achieve your goals.

Ready to learn? Let’s get started with an analogy: Using cybersecurity to protect your network is like using physical security measures to protect the building in which you conduct business.

FIREWALL | “Build A Fence”

The first step in protecting your building is to build a fence around the property. For example, install a gate and keep it locked. This security measure ensures that only authorized people can enter. It also allows you to keep an eye on those who enter and exit your facilities, and determine whether they should be there.

When it comes to cybersecurity, we call that fence a firewall. It protects the perimeter of your network by monitoring anyone who attempts to enter, while enabling you to deny entry to those who have no good reason to enter your network.

DPI, ATP | “Make the Fence Higher”

Building a fence around your business is a great first step. But suppose you encounter an intruder who’s a little more motivated? To prevent someone from jumping the fence, add barbed wire to the top.

Your firewall has evolved to include features that add an extra layer of protection, just like barbed wire. Deep packet inspection (DPI), advanced threat protection (ATP) and sandboxing can inspect network traffic on a different level. DPI digs deeper to catch hidden malware that traditional firewalls may not detect.

ATP “barbed wire” is becoming even more sophisticated, using techniques such as AI and machine learning to scan and understand new threats.

SANDBOXING | “Add A Security Guard”

Meanwhile, think of sandboxing like hiring a private security guard and installing a metal detector for extra protection around your facilities. When the metal detector picks up something that shouldn’t be there, the intruder is pulled out of line and denied entry.

Sound extreme? With ever-evolving cybersecurity threats and new tricks to enter your network, there is no such thing as being too cautious.

Even after implementing extra security measures around your buildings (and in your network), make sure you’re still covering the basics. That means keeping your doors locked with electronic access control — a physical security term our team knows about, too. Take your security a step further by requiring the use of a key fob and a fingerprint for entry.

Authentication adds another layer of protection to your network. If you’d like to make it even stronger, one of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent bad characters from entering your network is to add multi-factor authentication. Make them use two keys, instead of just one, to double-check identities.

SIEM | “Install Security Cameras”

With these measures in place, you might assume that it’s now impossible for anyone to enter your property. However, it’s still possible that a particularly tricky intruder could be roaming your grounds and sneaking into restricted areas. Your response might be to install security cameras so that you can provide footage to law enforcement in the event of an intrusion.

SIEM (security information and event management) is the cybersecurity version of physical security cameras. This feature tracks and logs everything a user is doing within your network and on your devices. In other words, it’s forensics for your network.

EDR | “Supplement with a Night Guard”

What happens if criminals do sneak onto your property? At first glance, they might not even look like intruders. They could look like service professionals who have a legitimate reason to step inside your fence. But now, they’re propping open doors they shouldn’t access and stealing right under your nose. A night guard who shines a light on things will be your best line of defense.

This same scenario can happen in your network. Despite your best efforts, some of the trickiest bad characters can slip past all your defenses. That’s why you need an EDR (endpoint detection and response) solution. This part of your cybersecurity plan monitors what’s happening inside your network, and how the characters who come past the firewall are using the tools they bring inside. If they look legitimate but their behavior seems off, the EDR “sends the night guard” to check it out.

Don’t forget security essentials like protecting the windows, back doors and side entries of your business. Intruders can easily recognize those points of vulnerability, and the same is true for your network. Vulnerable points include email, browsers and much more. Fortunately, a layered approach between network and endpoint protection, such as antivirus and spam filters, can strengthen your cybersecurity efforts.

SAT | “Train the Team on Preparedness”

No matter how many physical security or cybersecurity measures you put in place, education is essential. If your employees don’t know to close the gate, an intruder will easily slip past your defenses. And if your team isn’t aware of proper cyber habits, your network is that much more vulnerable to compromise. Security awareness training (SAT) includes short online training courses, quizzes and fake spam attacks to keep your team prepared to defend against any cyber threat.

Learning the language of cybersecurity is just one step to helping your organization win that complex game of bingo. Determining the right tools and approach needed to protect your business depends on your set-up, complexity, budget and ultimately, your risk tolerance.

As your experienced IT partner, Nex-Tech has the strategic moves to help you navigate those factors, create a unique plan and succeed in your cybersecurity game. If this analogy has you thinking you also need to elevate your physical security plan, our team has a solution for that, too!