Simplified Firewall for SMEs
Simplified firewall for SMEs! Everyone has been talking about Cyber security risk. Big names like Cisco, Sonicwall and Fortigate will be known to many. But for SMEs, smaller companies may find themselves confused by many proposal from IT vendors and sold a couple of firewall hardware based on fear factor. What actually is firewall and cyber security?
Cyber security is the practice of defending computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks (definition by https://usa.kaspersky.com/resource-center/definitions/what-is-cyber-security).
Firewall is a network security system that monitors and controls incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules. A firewall typically establishes a barrier between a trusted internal network and untrusted external network, such as the Internet according to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewall_(computing). So firewall is just the first line of defense. Do you even have one?
You may read up more in my other article about firewall protection for network.
Today, as most SMEs are engage on the internet with more activities, we need to know how to protect ourselves even more. Here are some activities that we have seen over the years and has been growing concern:
1. IPPBX being compromised means hacker can use your phone to make calls (which you may incur monetary loss from telco charges),
2. Email being compromised means your email can be hijack to request money from your customers or you paying to a party thinking they are your supplier’s request for payment,
3. PC/Laptop being compromised means your files got locked with ransom request (most commonly encountered by MYOB or ABSS accounting solution using remote desktop)
4. Server being compromised means yours or your clients personal data being leaked out.
These are just a few of the common issues most SMEs have experience before. Yes, you probably may have been a victim. Every month, we receive distress calls from some of you due to one of these issues faced. Sometimes we need to call SMEs to inform them that one of their computer has been sending out mass emails.
YOU MIGHT NOT EVEN KNOW YOU ARE A VICTIM!
What can SME do to better protect themselves? Why is it better, and not fully protect yourself? We know very well that even governments around the world with unlimited budget cannot fully protect themselves, we can safely say there is never a way to fully protect oneself from cyber risk, unless we are detached from cyber world totally.
First basic protection is antivirus software. Do ensure all computer has antivirus software and they are regularly updated. Next is your operating system update, which you had been prompted to update regularly. You are now oblige to update your operating system more regularly then ever. After taking care of your machines, then next is your network. You need simple firewall, as too complex SMEs will not be able to afford or manage.
Firewall is not as simple as just buying a hardware and leaving it there. Many just buy based on vendors recommendation (usually the sales person who sounded very technical). Firewall require constant management. Just like country immigration department facing pressure from intrusion or illegal entries, office firewall is a form of customs against cyber attacks. So buying a firewall without proper rules (which requires constant review) is like outdated immigration policy. To deployment firewall, you require to purchase a hardware or software, and require the technical knowledge to manage constantly with latest policy against latest known threat.
We have simplified firewall for SMEs by merging both component. SMEs engage us will not be required to purchase hardware. Just pay for management, and we will provide necessary hardware to protect your network, and manage it for your on the backend.
Contact us for a quick discussion especially you have remote desktop, IPPBX and other solutions that you have to work outside office. We will explain further how we are going to protect you with our simplified solution!
