March 2010 Newsletter

Four Downturn Trends that Could Threaten Your Network

Evidence of a tough economy is everywhere. And, unfortunately, a challenging economy doesn’t just affect your bottom line; it can increase the threat to your company’s network security too.

According to SCORE: Counselors to America’s Small Business, a full 70 percent of small firms that experience a major data loss go out of business within a year, and even those who survive may never fully recover from the loss of productivity, business disruption, costs of remediation, and damage to their brand. So, it’s in your best interest to be on guard to the following downturn trends:

Trend 1: More Unemployment Means More Hackers
With more people out of work, incidents of hacking and malicious spamming are on the rise, according to Michael Sanchez who works in Cisco’s security division for small and medium size businesses. “Hackers have more time, and the people they target are more susceptible to money-making or money-saving offers,” he says. “Spam e-mail promising to cut your long-distance phone bills in half can be very tempting,” but visiting malicious websites can infect your PC with malware that captures private personal or company information, or turn your PC into a covert botnet used for criminal activities.

To protect your business, reduce threats from external sources by stopping them before they get in, says Sanchez. A solid email security appliance can stop most malware-carrying emails before they even enter your network.

But make sure employees understand they shouldn’t click links from unknown sources and have a fallback plan in case they do take the bait.

Trend 2: Beware the Disgruntled Ex Employee
Nobody likes losing a job, but some former employees have been known to get revenge by infecting networks. Even a nuisance infection can waste precious time and money to clean up. The more serious variety can take down your network or make sensitive information vulnerable to theft.

Trend 3: “Phishing” in a Big Pond
Look out for expertly devised “phishing” offers that are targeted to exploit people looking for work, extra income, or cost savings on loans and services. You’re hooked when you click a URL that you receive in an email or see on a social networking site. Even if you don’t give up any information, just visiting the site can deposit malware on your computer that can be used to surreptitiously collect passwords or remotely control your computer to send spam.

Trend 4: More Threats, Fewer Defenses
To reduce costs, companies often try to get by with fewer people. “It’s usually someone’s job to check firewall logs once a week for unusual activity,” says Lee Warren, an IT professional specializing in setting up and maintaining networks for small businesses. “What happens if that person is reassigned to other activities?”

One result is lost business: “I worked with a company that exported organic California produce to Japan,” he says. “If an infection wiped out an email ordering a flat of raspberries that had to arrive in 12 hours, they lost that customer forever.”

Put Your Mind at Ease—and Your Business in a Safer Place
To thrive in a challenging economy, businesses can’t afford infections that can rob you of time, information, sales, or brand reputation. Nor can they afford solutions that are costly or take a lot of manpower to manage. Gain peace of mind and protect your business with all-in-one security solutions specifically designed for businesses your size.

Would You Like Additional Information?
For additional information on this article, please contact your local Nexus Account Manager or email us at connect@nexusis.com.