How team mentality helps combat IT security threats

As the business world adopts online digital tools, data stored on premise, in the cloud or using a hybrid configuration is increasingly at risk and requires sustained protective efforts. If left unchecked, cybercriminals can exploit weaknesses in security measures and infiltrate, siphon, distort or lock away data, causing setbacks that can cost businesses a fortune.

WannaCry ransomware attack

On Friday the 12th of May 2017, a worldwide ransomware attack, known as WannaCry, hit Windows users in 150 countries, though Australia seems to have been spared of the worst. The attack proceeded to lock user files behind a ransomware crypto worm. Though this was stopped by a 22 year old researcher, it shows how simple it is to find weaknesses in common operating systems and wreak havoc worldwide.

Working together to increase security

WannaCry is but one of the most recent examples of a major cyberattack. Locally, about a quarter of Australian organisations deal with security breaches every month. The problem with cyber threats is that any attack can rapidly spread to suppliers and customers, causing a lot of collateral damage. That’s why IT managers must ensure their security measures are up to snuff and ready to deal with threats—both external and internal.

Fortunately, IT security is a serious business. In Australia, key players are working together closely to reduce the threat of cyber theft. Government and IT security vendors are adapting to better protect digital customers.

The Australian government:

Malcolm Turnbull’s government is taking steps to strengthen the legal framework pertaining to IT security. They introduced a mandatory data breach notification scheme, which requires organisations to report cybercrime to the Privacy Commissioner, as well as alert their customer base. Not complying can lead to fines of up to $1.8 million. This ties into the other data and privacy protection measures put in place, such as the Australian Internet Security Initiative (AISI).

Security vendors:

Vendors have started to collaborate to further strengthen data protection efforts. Where before they would compete, they now share information. For instance, Sophos is harnessing the power of collaboration through partnership schemes that make it easier for IT security service suppliers to tailor IT security solutions to their customers’ needs.

Customers:

By leveraging the collaborative efforts of government and vendors, customers are doing their part to help improve data security procedures by creating the demand for better solutions. This teamwork gives them greater security agility and flexibility, as they can rely upon customised multi-vendor security suites for their data protection needs.

Turning the negative into a positive

The team mentality shown by government, vendors and customers against the common threat of cyberattacks drives innovation and increases data security. Customers benefit from a wider range of security options, regardless of their IT architecture, through vendor collaboration. They can also fall back on a more adequate legal framework to mitigate losses in the event of a security breach.

With PowerCONTROL, Powernet offers management solutions catered towards all aspects of your IT architecture. From maintenance and failure management, to email management and IT security, we offer a wide array of industry leading security products to take away the hassle and cost of having to maintain internal security solutions. Our managed team’s quick response time ensures that any problem will be dealt with before it escalates and causes irreparable damage.

To find out more about our products and how we can help improve your security measures, take our free IT health check. If you have any additional questions, you are welcome to get in touch.