Cyber Security Advice from Michael Antonio

The importance of cyber security awareness has been demonstrated time and time again. For example, the number of attacks on connected items increased tenfold in the first half of 2019. In many parts of the globe, this number is frighteningly high. Companies have to spend millions of dollars every year just to keep their data secure.

Michael Antonio knows a thing or two about this. He is an ex-government official who now focuses primarily on critical infrastructure protection. He is the owner of Max Security LLC and was the former chair department of the Homeland Security’s Network Security Information Exchange. He knows a thing or two about cyber security and has helped companies improve their infrastructure.

Here’s a bit of advice from Michael on what you can do to secure your network.

1. Control your information system

The number of Internet-enabled devices continues to grow. There are already seven billion connected objects in the world, and according to IoT Analytics, there would be three times as many by 2025 (a total of more than 21 billion). The hyper-connectivity of the Internet of Things offers great economic potential, but it also involves significant risks in terms of cybersecurity.

Securing this environment requires controlling one's digital profile, involving drawing up an inventory of applications and devices and other IoT devices that store and use personal and business data on a daily basis. Solutions, including using data encryption, provide visibility and security for interconnected and complex IoT systems. They also help ensure device authentication and that control information / data is not tampered with. Secure your information system. It will only be possible to secure your personal and professional IT environment once you have made a complete assessment.

95% of attacks that infiltrate corporate networks are the result of phishing (“spam”) attacks. As this statistic suggests, employees are generally poorly qualified to detect this type of threat, and hackers use social engineering to trick users into giving away sensitive information.

Protecting yourself against phishing scams doesn’t have to be very difficult. The first step is to identify them: it is necessary to always check the email addresses and URLs included in the emails you receive and from which you do not know the sender. Technologically, the use of multi-factor authentication and dynamic security policies can also limit even the most effective phishing attacks.

The main idea to remember about cybercriminals is that they most often rely on human error to gain access to systems. Ongoing employee training as well as the deployment of intelligent security technologies can help strengthen security by reducing the risks associated with human error.

2. Protect your information system

An important first step in protecting information systems is to use different passwords for personal and business accounts. Second, make sure your software is up to date, as updates often include fixes for identified security vulnerabilities. Finally, beware of public WiFi, especially when connecting from new locations. Hotels and other public spaces are common targets for hackers due to their insecure networks. Users should also ensure that they have all sensitive data in a company protected environment.

However, the most important thing is to be aware that cybersecurity is present in everything you do. By combining best practices and cutting-edge technologies, you can spend your time without having to worry about any major attack on your company’s networks. It’ll make life very easy for you.