Posts Tagged ‘data security’

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Can You Easily Guide the Forensic Process?

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

There are a wide range of IT professionals who need to access data for investigative purposes. Maybe you‘ve been seeing an increase in computer viruses, and need to identify the source of the problem or you’ve seen productivity lost because too much time was spent on social networking sites. Maybe you’ve been seeing an increase in computer viruses, and need to identify the source of the problem or you’ve seen productivity lost to too much time spent on social networking sites. Worse, maybe you’ve noticed that some files have gone missing and need to identify which employee – or employees – are responsible for the theft of your company’s intellectual property.

Investigating any of these – and many other – situations has often required contacting forensic investigators, security professionals, or setting up incident response teams. Lawyers are often involved as well as teams comb through records, collect and analyze data, and then preserve their findings so that action can be taken. As you might guess, the costs of these investigations can add up quickly – even before you begin looking at the cost of lost time and work if your systems must be taken offline.

Fortunately, there are options available that can reduce your costs, enable you to monitor all computers and workstations on your network, and allow day-to-day operations to continue seamlessly. Guidance Software is respected as a leader in digital investigations, and their EnCase Enterprise bundle will provide you with all of the tools you need to:

1. Perform computer-based forensic investigations
2. Identify misuse of company software and systems
3. Ensure staff compliance with IT policies
4. Effectively manage information and prevent theft of intellectual property
5. Keep your company’s IT network running smoothly

When you set an IT policy meant to prevent fraud and protect your network, it’s because you want to reduce the risk of system downtime. Similarly, when you want to limit the time your staff spend on activities that aren’t work-related, it’s important to be sure that you know your staff are viagra established guidelines. If a more serious breach occurs, limiting the potential damage is critical.

By taking advantage of the right tools, you can conduct your own investigations, meet the demands of your business, and save time and money in the process. Regardless of the situation you find yourself in, having the right tools available will let you deal with it quickly and appropriately – minimizing the impact on your business.

Listen to our latest webinar with Guidance Software: Best Practices for Investigating Incidences Across the Network

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Can the Cloud Help You Drive Down Business Costs?

Tuesday, March 29th, 2011

There are two ways to increase your company’s revenue and boost the bottom line. You can excel at winning new clients and make additional sales to increase revenues. Or you can cut costs. Ideally, most businesses will look for a combination of the two. Cloud computing can help to accomplish this.

Cloud computing allows you to take advantage of hardware and software as a service. Rather than buying the equipment and making space for a server room – and, of course, hiring an IT staff dedicated to maintaining that equipment – your company can backup data offsite without sacrificing its availability. With a secure infrastructure, password-protected access, and optimized resources in a managed cloud solution, you can be sure that the data you need is available when you need it.

Similarly, with software as a service, cloud computing makes it easy for your staff to access email, documents, data, and reports on the go – all via a secure, web-based login. Whether traveling for a client meeting, working with a team in another location, or telecommuting, the cloud can ensure that your staff are working as effectively as if they were in the office.

Additionally, this sort of mobile access allows company executives and staff to handle everything from inventory tracking to project management to customer relationship management from the office and on the road. Security can be managed easily, and maintaining the equipment doesn’t require additional space or additional staff.

In other words, when you take your business to the cloud – whether for hardware or software as a service (or a combination of the two) – you will find that you are able to increase the access that your staff have to information that they need – allowing them to excel and drive sales. You’ll also discover that your staffing and equipment needs decrease. As a result, you will find that you are able to:

* Maximize the return on your IT investments
* Increase utilization of your current IT technology
* Enhance the lifespan of existing server equipment
* Integrate data storage and access from a variety of platforms

Increasing your company’s capabilities will allow you to keep pace with your competitors. Decreasing costs will allow you to budget effectively; turning to the cloud allows you to devote resources to product development rather than to maintaining your company’s IT.

By turning to the cloud with the help of a solution provider like IBM, you will be able to ensure that your resources are as efficient as possible, reduce the risks of turning to the cloud by relying on a secure infrastructure, and – ultimately – reduce the costs associated with IT at your organization.

Posted in Uncategorized, virtualization | 60 Comments »

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For True End-point Security, Get Preemptive

Tuesday, March 1st, 2011

Data protection matters regardless of what business you’re in. Healthcare providers, technology companies, banks, retail outlets: no matter what your business involves, there is sensitive data. And if you wait until there’s a problem, you’ve waited too long. You should never find yourself in a position in which you look at one endpoint or another in an effort to secure your network – especially because it’s possible to address all of your security needs with a unified solution.

Business owners are aware of antivirus and anti-spyware tools, and most use them on office and personal computers. Firewalls are used with frequency as well. Full-disk encryption, network access control, port protected media encryption, and even VPN for remote access are used on some networks as well.

All of these elements are available individually – but most business owners don’t want to – or don’t have the time to – monitor multiple software installations to keep them up to date. Many others aren’t sure that it’s worth the cost that comes from buying multiple tools. As a result, they make the choice to go with what they know. They buy some tools – the ones that they think they need – and install those on the system and hope for the best. The challenge is that sometimes hoping all of the endpoints are covered isn’t enough. Then they are left reacting – and scrambling to make things right with their customers or clients.

Rather than putting your own business at risk, why not take a preemptive approach? You can secure your data completely with the right tools – tools like the Check Point DLP Software Blade. On any Check Point security gateway, the blade will simplify management of your company’s security policy and protect your data in a wide range of file formats. Real-time remediation, consistent inspections, and alerts to all users offer full protection.

In business, it can be difficult – if not impossible – to prepare for every possible situation. You can never tell when your customers will have issues or when a project will go over budget. But you can protect the data on your computer network – and you can do so in a way that isn’t stressful. When you can mitigate malware, protect data, enforce your network security policy compliance, offer secure remote access, simplify system control and management, and streamline the user experience for all of you staff – all with a single solution – why not take advantage of it?

Posted in Endpoint Security & Management | 132 Comments »

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Unified Threat Management – A Turnkey Solution for Complete Network Security

Thursday, February 10th, 2011

Protecting your company’s network does not need to be challenging. Having the security that you need doesn’t even require a team of dedicated IT staff who monitor your systems around the clock. In fact, there are even turnkey solutions available – provided you know where to look.

Many Fortune 100 companies (a list that includes companies like Walmart and Exxon Mobil) know the importance of a secure network and ensure that their servers are maintained with security protections that are regularly updated to block the latest threats. They use tools that are easy to manage and that offer a hardware warranty. More importantly, they ensure that their system provides confidentiality by keeping all of their records secure. They accomplish all of this with tools such as Checkpoint’s Unified Threat Management solution.

Unified threat management solutions are scalable for any business because of its use of a blade architecture. Business professionals and IT departments can create a customized solution that meets their specific needs. Need a firewall to prevent attacks, email security, and anti-virus and anti-malware protection only? Choose only the elements of a threat management solution that address these needs and can easily be installed, managed from a single point, and upgraded to protect the network from the latest threats as they develop. Encouraging more staff to telework? Add a VPN software component that can add new users to the system with a single click. Productivity can be enhanced even more with components that allow specific URLs – such as those for social media networks, gossip sites, and online gaming – to be blocked.

Maintaining the integrity of the network is critical to business success regardless of the industry-focus and size of the organization. Unified threat management and security solutions can make a business more efficient. The tools you select should be customizable and scalable – and should also reduce costs. In addition to being financially feasible, threat management tools should not require a huge time investment for installation or updating the network protection.

Posted in Uncategorized | 118 Comments »

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Data Loss Prevention: Keep Your Company out of the Headlines!

Monday, January 31st, 2011

Wikileaks has been in the news a lot lately. That, in itself, isn’t really a problem. But, it has led to a lot of company names hitting the headlines, too. That, of course, is a big problem – especially for their employees, shareholders, clients and other stakeholders. When sensitive data slips from your company’s grasp, the potential for costly and embarrassing outcomes skyrockets. If you can maintain control of your data, however, the risks recede significantly.

So, the challenge before your company doesn’t involve the malicious activity of a website operator in a foreign country. Instead, it’s completely within your control: you need to do a better job of protecting your information.

Data loss prevention has always been important for companies in highly regulated industries or that store a considerable amount of personal customer data. The priority assigned to DLP, however, is poised to surge, as the consequences of doing it poorly become increasingly severe – especially in the age of Wikileaks.

In addition to keeping your company off the front page of the Wall Street Journal (or, for that matter, Business Insider), your DLP solution should be able to handle a wide range of requirements, from litigation prevention through regulatory compliance. Rather than compartmentalize your DLP needs, look for a solution – e.g. the Check Point DLP Software Blade – that provides a comprehensive approach to automated leak prevention, data security and monitoring.

Through real-time remediation, rapid suspected breach alerts and sensitive data identification features, DLP solutions can provide an extra measure of tangible data security to keep your company from falling into a Wikileaks-style public scandal … not to mention lower compliance and operating costs through improved security and data management.

You don’t have to find yourself at the mercy of a sensationalist, e-vandal or other malicious internet user. Keep your company’s private information private, and you can gain a greater degree of control over risk and operating costs – not to mention your company’s reputation. Use a DLP solution to prevent your data from falling into the wrong hands.

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Five Ways DLP Protects Your Company

Wednesday, December 1st, 2010

There are people out there who want your company’s data. From nefarious plots to scam the public to simple acts of digital vandalism, your company’s sensitive information is a target. And the threat isn’t just outside your company. Even within your own walls, there’s the possibility of malicious systems use and abuse. Some of the threats are easy to identify, while others are subtle. Given the wide range of risks your company faces, it’s easy to understand why data loss prevention (DLP) – such as Check Point’s endpoint security solutions – should be a crucial part of your IT security infrastructure.

Before you roll out a DLP solution, it helps to know how your company is exposed. Let’s start with five major threats for which DLP solutions provide protection:

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Prepare for an IT Security Audit with Integrated Endpoint Security

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Almost nothing is as hectic and stressful as getting ready for an IT security audit. You examine systems, run through your checklists and brace yourself for the findings, wondering what emergency projects will wind up on your team’s plate. Instead of readying yourself to react to the results, it’s better to implement measures in advance. Take a hard look at your IT security infrastructure even before your next IT audit is scheduled, and identify the gaps that you need to fill before a sense of urgency arises.

Among the greatest challenges faced by IT security professionals is the need for integration. Disparate solutions, even if they are best of breed, can lead to operational complexity: your team is left to monitor a number of different systems, which can create significant security risks. It’s easier in this type of environment for some incidents to fall through the cracks.

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Work from a Secure Office, even on the Road

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Nobody plans to throw caution to the wind – it just happens to us sometimes. When your company’s employees are out on the road, they may have to connect and work quickly. Whether it’s routine business or a serious client emergency, it isn’t unusual for road warriors to use free airport wifi, a signal from Starbucks or even a PC in the hotel business center.

In trying to keep up with the needs of the company, they could be opening the company up to the risk of data loss. From time to time, people forget to close files, log out of applications or delete items intended for temporary use. As a result, sensitive information becomes freely available to anybody who’s looking, and the wrong set of eyes could cost your organization years of market development, brand rehabilitation and customer confidence.

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Data Encryption: Give Your Security Policies Built-in Enforcement

Thursday, October 7th, 2010

Whether you’re looking to set an internal baseline or comply with external regulations, you’ve probably had to create an IT security policy. In doing so, you’ve defined the “rules of the road” for your employees and created a framework for protecting your company’s data. There’s only one problem: policies are only as reliable as the people who are supposed to follow them. If an employee forgets or breaks the rules, your data – and your entire company – could be put at risk. Frankly, there’s no substitute for solutions such as automated data encryption from Symantec PGP.

Policies, in themselves, provide little protection. They become more effective when paired with monitoring programs and consequences, of course, but these measures are usually retrospective. Some monitoring frameworks are designed to identify likely breaches, but too often, they are focused on determining when a policy violation has occurred … which leaves you stuck fixing a problem instead of preventing it. This means the best you can do is contain the damage – to your brand, client relationships and budget.

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Five Ways to Turn Policies into Real Data Security

Monday, October 4th, 2010

Security policies are guidelines to be enforced – they don’t provide real results. At the end of the day, there’s no substitute for active protection. Don’t rely merely on policies to keep your data safe. Instead, implement data security solutions that transform your internal controls into tangible protective measures. Here are five ways you can turn rules into actual security.

1. Automate your security processes: Instead of spelling out the rules to your staff, use a security solution that allows you to implement customized controls and restrictions that ensure your data can be reached only by the employees who have a reason to do so.

2. Use access control: Don’t just tell employees what they can see and what they should avoid. Use a solution such as Juniper Networks Access Control to grant or prevent employees from reaching sensitive or otherwise restricted systems and data.

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