February 6th 2024 marks Safer Internet Day, an annual reminder of the need for responsible online behaviour. Responsible online practices and user awareness play a pivotal role in fortifying data security against evolving cyber threats, where sensitive information is highly valuable.
In the January 2024 data breach dubbed ‘Mother of all Breaches’ (MOAB), more than 26 billion records of breached information from sites like Adobe, Twitter/X, LinkedIn and Evite were compromised. This includes over 12 terabytes of personal information complied and reindexed leaks, breaches and privately sold databases.
This insight from the cyber security experts at Central Technology explores the significance of cyber security in wake of this rise in attacks, its impact on businesses, and how CT works to help ensure robust protection of your data.
What is Data Security?Â
Data security is the process of safeguarding sensitive information to prevent unauthorised access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction. It involves implementing measures to protect data from breaches, ensuring privacy, and maintaining the integrity of valuable assets. By securing data, businesses can minimise the risks associated with data loss, financial damage, legal implications, and reputational harm.
In today’s digital age, data above all is one of the most valuable assets for businesses and protecting it has become a critical concern. Â
How does Data Security affect your business?Â
A data breach can have severe consequences for organisations, it can leave them vulnerable to significant costs associated with data loss, including lost revenue, legal fees, and reputational damage. Â
To mitigate these risks, businesses must implement robust data security measures. This includes developing data security management plans, implementing multi-factor authentication, regularly updating software, encrypting data, and conducting regular training for employees to not only educate them on how to identify but also avoid potential security threats.Â
How important is Data Security?Â
One area where data security has become especially important is cloud computing. The convenience of the cloud has made it a desirable option for businesses looking to store and access data remotely. However, this convenience also consequently brings the challenge of ensuring your business’s data is kept secure.
Cloud data has the ability to be accessed from anywhere in the world, as a result, businesses must carefully select cloud service providers that have robust security measures in place. This ensures the protection of data against unauthorised access, data breaches, and potential vulnerabilities.
How can we help?Â
At CT, we take data very seriously. We understand that maintaining customer trust is essential, and we go to great lengths to ensure that our customer’s data is safe. Our data security services include backup solutions, technical support from certified engineers, secure datacentres that comply with ISO 27001, and 24/7 management to ensure maximum efficiency.
As a Veeam Platinum Partner, we also offer cloud services to our customers, allowing them to securely store and access their data remotely.
Comprehensive data security protection
Across our 20 years of experience in the IT industry, we have helped many businesses get data secure and decrease their risk of data loss. Our Cloud Solutions offer customers the peace of mind that their data is in safe hands.
One example of this is back in 2021, an education customer was hit by a ransomware attack causing the irretrievable deletion of crucial virtual machines (VMs). Attackers wiped first-level backups on the Veeam server, but most VMs were recovered from a recently installed CT Cloud Backup service. To further protect the school we implemented security measures included Microsoft 365 Advanced Threat Protection and anti-virus software on new servers and workstations. Luckily, the school had both first and second-level backups, supported by CT Secure Cloud Backup installed a week prior to the attack.
Director of IT Services at the affected school reflects on the incident, “While first and second-level backups were historically deemed sufficient, evolving attack strategies, such as the complete destruction of online accessible backups, exposed vulnerabilities. The recovered VMs from the old RM network revealed critical issues like the absence of anti-virus software, disabled firewalls, and unrestricted administration access via remote desktop.”
In conclusion, data security is an essential aspect of modern business operations that should be implemented as soon as possible. By implementing robust cyber security measures, businesses can protect their data from breaches, safeguard customer privacy, and maintain trust with their customers. At CT, we are committed to helping our customers secure their data and achieve peace of mind.Â
To learn more about our Data & Cyber Security services contact our team of friendly experts who will be more than happy to answer any questions you may have.
Contact us today and trust us to deliver comprehensive solutions that empower your business for a secure digital future.
