Three tips against digital dirt
Even digital devices need to be cleaned from time to time. And that doesn't just mean dusting the keyboard and fan.
The "digital dirt" must also be removed from computers, smartphones and the like, and security measures in companies must be renewed. Three tips from LogRhythmhow to wield the virtual cleaning rag most effectively:
1. get rid of old burdens
Too much of anything can deteriorate the computer's performance enormously. The speed slows down, which costs time and nerves. But it becomes especially dangerous when too many different and uncoordinated programs start working against each other. Security programs are a good example of this. Everyone knows this: you want to protect your network with virus scanners, firewalls and other preventive measures, but too many security technologies multiply the number of alerts and real alerts get lost in the mass of false alarms. IT security experts now see dealing with the mass of false alarms as one of their biggest challenges, according to the report "Security, Operations, Challenges, Priorities and Strategies" by ESG Research.
Delete temporary files and data that are no longer needed. More importantly, put current security technologies to the test. Which ones really help? Sometimes less is more!
2. take advantage of automation
Automated systems will continue to play a major role in 2018. Companies that saw potential here beforehand and expanded their organizational systems to this end have already been able to handle increasing work volumes. Automation has also long since made its way into the IT security industry, in particular. Overworked IT security experts can use automated security solutions to their advantage. Systems are finally working with each other instead of against each other, automating and standardizing security processes and thus relieving the burden on professionals instead of just adding to it. So find out how to integrate automated solutions into your security concept.
Another tip: An annual spring cleaning is a good occasion to get an overview of pending updates. However, it is by no means sufficient to deal with this only once a year. Furthermore, you can't be sure that employees will actually perform the updates. Therefore: Find out about the possibility of automated updates - do your security technologies allow them? How nice to have a technology do the work, update the programs and remove unnecessary software products that are outdated and incompatible with the security system. This ensures the regularity of updates automatically.
3. train employees
Prevention technologies are one thing, but what is most important is a comprehensive security concept. This is because most breaches are caused by human error and not by technological shortcomings: According to a Study from IDC 45 percent of security incidents in German companies are caused by employees - for example, by opening a phishing email. While companies can protect their own devices, employees are using their own devices via Corporate networks also their private end devices, which often do not have the latest software updates. This can be dangerous for the company and open doors to cybercriminals that would be better left closed.
Think through policies and regularly inform employees about new standards, rules, and security measures to keep the company server virus-proof. For example, are passwords strong enough? Should you consider multi-factor authentication? Also consider what administrator rights you give to which employee.
From Ross Brewer, Managing Director and Vice President EMEA, LogRhythm
