The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) website recommends that companies should always work on the premise that systems may be infiltrated by malware infections and employ a strategy that ensures if hit, attacks will have a limited impact. While this is sound practice, there are still processes and solutions that can be established and deployed alongside techniques to mitigate damage.
In the following sections we’ll look at three crucial security practices companies can adopt that can not only limit the harmful effects of malware, but work to defend against its intrusion.
1. Employing anti-malware software
Cybersecurity software developers have built a wide range of powerful anti-malware products that help keep systems protected against infections. After selecting a reputable brand, IT professionals can install anti-malware on all company devices. The protective software will then work to identify potential threats, filtering them out of the system or blocking company devices from downloading them.
Simply installing anti-malware is not enough to stop it infecting systems. For it to be effective, anti-malware must be constantly kept up to date, as threat operators are always enhancing malware to bypass defences. Keeping anti-malware current can ensure firms are always using the most robust and secure version of the product.
2. Ensuring backups are always up to date
As mentioned, the NCSC advises preparing for the eventuality of a malware attack, which means making sure important files are regularly backed up is vital. From confidential contact details to financial data files, the essential information a business needs to run daily should be backed up as often as possible. Should a malware infection impact an enterprise’s systems, it can restore its crucial data files instantly and return to normal operations.
Backups should always be stored offline separately away from the main network or securely on a security managed cloud service. Available options to sync data with the cloud must never be used as an enterprise’s only backup. This is because when they synchronise automatically, they could potentially copy files infected with malware over stored backup records.
Malware infections can spread swiftly across a network, impacting every connected device; with this in mind, if businesses employ USB or external hard drives for backups, they should never be connected constantly to the network.
3. Ensure staff are educated on phishing
Malware is commonly downloaded onto enterprise devices via phishing emails. These malicious emails are designed to fool recipients into clicking on links contained in their message content, which executes malware files to download. Employers should educate personnel on how to spot phishing emails and advise they never click on links contained in emails, even if the source appears to be trusted. From regular testing to informational literature, there are many ways to train staff on the threats of phishing emails.
At Galaxkey, we have created a comprehensive secure workspace offering businesses an option that allows a workforce to operate safely. With powerful tools that protect data whether it is stored or sent, our system provides excellent protection from cyber threats and never stores passwords. Contact us today for an online demonstration.
