Every day there there is news about some new malware, data leak or company hack. Your business is vigilant, but it feels like you always have to be doing more about cybersecurity to remain protected. Meanwhile, you want to balance security measures with convenience, usability and cost. That balancing act puts you somewhere on the sliding scale of security.
Usability and convenience anchor this sliding scale at one end, while security sits at the other. You have to find the right balance to create effective user-friendly solutions that are in your budget.
Tipping the Scale of Security
You can maximise protection by being highly restrictive. This might include multi-factor authentication, strict access controls, limit applications and use encryption with long and complex keys. But, these measures can slow down workflows and make it more challenging for users to access the resources they need to do there job.
On the other end of the scale, you might focus on ease of use and convenience with lower-level security measures that are less restrictive. These measures make it much easier to perform tasks and access resources, but they also open your systems to security concerns with unauthorised access and data breaches.
The key is finding the right level of security, which is specific to each particular system, application, and business.
Calibrating Your Security Balance
A proactive IT provider can help balance your security needs and while maintaining usability. They should take into account factors such as:
- the type and sensitivity of the data;
- the potential impact of a breach;
- regulatory compliance;
- user experience;
- your budget.
They will also consider your specific needs and contexts. For example, a medical facility or finance company may want to be more security conscious.
Then as technology evolves and threats change, your business needs to adapt.
Levers on the Security Scale
IT experts have several ways they can help you reach your security-scale sweet spot. They can provide balance when they:
- the type of antivirus applications that work in your environment;
- ;the type and level of antispam to protect your email systems;
- recommend the type and configuration of firewalls and security gateways on your links to the internet;
- configure who has access to your various resources;
- set up password managers to help users keep track of all your and your staffs unique passwords;
- adjust the strength and type of encryption used for data at rest and data in transit;
- use monitoring and logging mechanisms to detect and promptly respond to security incidents;
- update and patch software while remaining sensitive to system uptime and compatibility;
- secure remote access with virtual private networks (VPNs) or other secure methods;
- set policies for data retention and data backup;
- develop plans for responding to security incidents and breaches.
Let Our Experts Help
All businesses, whether big or small, need to continually revisit their security and see what can be improved to fit within your needs. The right balance considers system requirements, costs, potential risks and usability needs.
Partner with DP Computing for the regular assessments and adjustments you need. We can help you maintain an optimal position on the security scale as technology and threats evolve. Contact us today for a free no obligation chat.
