Does Your Business Have Adequate “Edge Protection”?

Cybersecurity isn’t as simple as it once was.

With the recent advances in business technology comes a new range of threats.  Multiple layers of protection are paramount to properly secure small and midsize businesses.  A critical part of this strategy is edge protection.  CSP, Inc. knows that while the “perimeter” was once adequately protected by a corporate firewall alone, this is no longer sufficient. The advanced threats demand an implementation of security in layers to effectively protect your edge.

What Does CSP, Inc. Do To Keep You Safe?

CSP, Inc. is proud to offer our clients Edge Protection security solutions which provide many important security measures.  Our offerings include the following:

Next Generation Firewall

A firewall is your first line of defense for keeping your information safe, which is precisely why older, outdated versions are so dangerous.  The volume and complexity of technical threats are growing at an exponential rate.  As such, why do so many firms still leverage firewalls older than their PCs, phones, or tablets?

A firewall blocks unauthorized users and traffic from gaining access to your data. Firewalls are deployed via hardware, software, or a combination of the two.   Most importantly, after years of stagnant innovation, manufacturers are finally catching up through the introduction of Next Generation Firewalls.  We highly recommend that any business replace their aging firewall with this more powerful heir.

At CSP, we keep our clients safe using firewall technology from global security giants, Cisco and Cisco Meraki.

Anti-Malware Protection

Malware remains the top cyber threats that businesses face today.  Similar to anti-virus, businesses have historically protected against malware at the device level.  However, why let malware onto your network in the first place?  Cisco Meraki firewalls have an anti-malware module that blocks malware at the firewall level.  This is a critical added layer of security.

Intrusion Prevention Systems
An Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is an advanced layer of edge security that conducts “deep-packet inspections.”  Let’s assume a “packet” is a car traversing through a border stop between two countries.  A firewall would do a basic check of driver license, registration, and license plate.  An IPS is the equivalent of a more pervasive search:  maybe a drug-sniffing dog, mirrors under the car, and agents searching the vehicle.

The technology has been a critical part of security in Fortune 500 firms for years, but has only recently become affordable in the SMB space.  Thus, you can now receive enterprise grade security for your mid-size company.

We use Cisco Meraki’s industry-leading IPS solution in our Edge Protection, which offers continuously, automatically updated security policies, meaning no manual patching or management is required.

Content Filtering
Whether it’s a lazy employee trying to find a live feed of the baseball game, or a malicious employee using their work computer to download illicit content, they both have one thing in common: they’re putting your business in danger. Visiting the wrong website can expose your entire business to a range of threats.  Plus, the business may be liable for anything viewed on a corporate asset.

That’s why Content Filtering is so important. Cybercriminals often use seemingly safe sites to deliver malicious code to unsuspecting users.  With the right Content Filter, your employees would never have the option of visiting those sites in the first place.

We offer Cisco Meraki’s robust Content Filtering solution as a part of our Edge Protection services, ensuring that our clients’ stay on the safer side of the Internet.

2-Factor Authentication

One of the fastest growing attack vectors is brute-force password attacks.  In such an attack, a hacker will take a username and run an application that runs every password imaginable until he or she gains entry.  This exposes your firm to data theft.

Two-Factor Authentication is a great way to add an extra layer of protection to existing system and account logins. By requiring a second piece of information like a randomly-generated numerical code sent by text message, you’re better able to ensure that the person using your employee’s login credentials is actually who they say they are.

Our Edge Protection service features Two-Factor Authentication from AuthAnvil, which helps our clients maintain strict access to sensitive business data.

Don’t rely on a false sense of cybersecurity – a simple firewall or antivirus won’t do the job alone. To get comprehensive Edge Protection, made up of a range of solutions for your cyber security perimeter, reach out to CSP, Inc. at (919) 424-2000  or info@cspinc.com.