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Secure Your Business Network in a Hybrid World

Meet Joseph, your new Security Specialist.

Think about how much your business has changed in a short period and how much business we all do in the cloud these days. Most of us have moved from software to cloud resources. Our networks are used to connect to third-party providers like Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Office 365, or Google Docs. Many accounting systems and payroll services are online. CRMs like HubSpot or Zendesk are in the cloud. Each one of these connections can help you be more productive, but they can also create greater threat exposure.

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At MicroTech, we have a Joe to support every aspect of your business’ IT system. You may already be familiar with Joey, our networking expert, and soon you’ll meet Joanna, our collaboration connoisseur. Today, we’re pleased to introduce you to Joseph, our security guru. Joseph knows that one of the most common IT mistakes small and medium-sized businesses make is assuming they that cybercriminals are only targeting large enterprises. This can lead to lax practices that open the door to hackers.

According to a study by Accenture, 43% of cyberattacks are targeting small businesses and just 14% have taken the appropriate cybersecurity measures to defend themselves. More than half of all small businesses have suffered a security breach of some sort within the past year.

When a breach occurs, it’s expensive. The average annual cost of a single attack on a small business averages more than $25,000 and can run as high as $200,000. Many small and medium-sized businesses are unable to recover. The National Cyber Security Alliance reports that 60% of small and mid-sized businesses that suffer a data breach are forced to close their doors permanently within six months.

Traditional antivirus software and firewalls are no longer enough to handle the ever-growing security threats that businesses face on a daily business, especially in an era where we have many employees working remotely. In today’s environment, you need a much deeper and more robust level of security to protect yourself.

Peace of Mind is Within Reach

A trusted Managed Service Provider like MicroTech can help you deploy the security solutions you need to protect your business. Joseph recommends that businesses employ a multi-layered strategy to prevent threats, including:

  • Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW)
  • Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
  • Next-Generation Antivirus Protection
  • Endpoint Security
  • Network Monitoring
  • End-User Training

Next-Generation Firewall

A Next-Generation Firewall (NGFW) provides security capabilities that go well beyond a traditional stateful firewall. Not only does it inspect incoming and outgoing traffic for threats, but it allows control at the application level. The best NFGF solutions offer integration intrusion prevention and regular updates to block emerging threats.

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)

When employees connect remotely, it increases the threat vectors. Anyone gaining access to their computer, laptop, smartphone, or Wi-Fi network has the potential to infiltrate your network or steal their login credentials. A VPN creates a private tunnel over a public internet connection and encrypts the data as it goes back and forth and masks user identity.

Next-Generation Antivirus Protection

Next-generation antivirus protection goes beyond scanning for known threats. It leverages machine learning to detect threats by analyzing behavior and device characteristics.

Endpoint Security

Endpoint security extends your security protocol to various endpoints attached to your network, such as desktops, laptops, or mobile devices. Endpoint security not only protects your network, but it protects devices from malicious attacks and risky activities. This is especially important with remote devices and employees that use personal devices for work.

Network Monitoring

If a hacker gains access to your network or data, they can do significant damage. The faster you can identify a breach and stop it, the less damage that will occur. 24x7 remote monitoring and support provides a rapid response to threats.

End-User Training

Despite deploying the most sophisticated tech solutions, 88% of data breaches are still traced back to human error. Whether it’s clicking on a malicious link in an email, using weak passwords, or falling victim to a phishing attempt to steal their credentials, employees can be your biggest security weakness. Training your staff on best practices for IT security is essential.


Grab a Cup of Joe with Joseph

IT security can seem a bit overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to be.

Joseph and the team at MicroTech can assess your IT infrastructure and provide proactive solutions to protect your business. We can put the right solutions in place and monitor your networks 24x7 for you, so you can relax and focus on growing your business.

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