PCSOFT Blog

Your company’s network contains a gold mine of sensitive information that you need to protect at all costs. While it’s absolutely the case that you need to make network security a top priority for your business, thankfully, multiple aspects of your security can be covered easily enough by implementing a single, enterprise-level security solution.

The solution we’re referring to is a Unified Threat Management (UTM) tool. It’s a powerful tool that combines the fundamental security features that every business needs, into one easy-to-manage package. If you’re looking to get a handle on your company’s network security, then consider these four ways that a UTM provides comprehensive protection.

Firewalls
A firewall is the first line of defense for your company’s network, protecting your business from the onslaught of online threats trying to sneak their way in. One can go so far as to compare a UTM firewall to a sort of virtual bouncer for your network that; assesses the threat level of your network’s traffic, garners if it’s a security risk, and then clears for passage only what’s deemed to be safe.

Antivirus
Every good firewall needs an antivirus solution to compliment it. After all, some forms of malware are sneakily engineered to play on a user’s ignorance so as to bypass the firewall. In such a scenario, antivirus software is there to quickly catch and eliminate threats such as viruses, trojans, spyware, ransomware, and more. Given the destructive nature of many of these threats, you’re going to want a powerful antivirus solution in place that prevents such viruses from spreading across your network and wreaking havoc on your systems. Additionally, while there are many kinds of antivirus solutions on the market, businesses will want to take advantage of a centrally located antivirus solution like what comes with a UTM. This way, updates and scans can be done automatically and in one fell swoop, instead of being left up to each individual user.

Spam Blocker
Having spam in your inbox is totally annoying, and it can also be dangerous. One common way for hackers to spread malware is by attachments found in spam messages. Plus, savvy hackers will employ spam as a phishing tactic to trick users into opening the message and following its instructions which appeal to emotions. Examples include a fake summons to jury duty, a fake package that couldn’t be delivered, a fake resume for a job opening, etc. A quality spam blocker will prevent these messages from hitting employee inboxes in the first place, which greatly reduces the risk of a user being tricked by spam.

Content Filter
Businesses also need a way to protect their networks from the vast amount of online threats that come from visiting dangerous websites. Unfortunately, it’s all too easy for an employee to stumble upon a website that’s designed to harvest credentials or download an attachment designed to infect your network with a virus or even ransomware. With a content filter protecting your network, you’ll be able to block users from accessing suspicious websites in the first place. Additionally, a UTM content filter allows you to block time-wasting websites like social media, YouTube, Netflix, etc., making it a valuable tool that both protects your network and enhances productivity.

In order to be adequately protected, your business needs all four of these security features. A UTM from PCSOFT conveniently offers your network protection in all of these ways, and more. To equip your network with a UTM security solution that’s customized to fit the needs of your business, call us today at 02 98730080.

As useful as the Internet is with helping a workforce complete their daily tasks, it is just as capable of having negative effects for your business. There is plenty of content online that has no place in the workplace, including plenty that serves as unwanted distractions. Fortunately, you can prevent your employees from lollygagging on the job with a fairly simple solution: web content filtering.

Every consumer-grade PC comes with a basic firewall. Enterprise environments, however, require that the base infrastructure has a stronger security solution that provides greater controls, above and beyond the basic firewall. One solution that provides enhanced firewall capabilities is the Unified Threat Management system.

Companies that do their business online experience threats from all sides. Therefore, a comprehensive security solution is required. Without one, you’re at risk from malicious websites, spam messages, ransomware, and much more. Designed with the security needs of enterprises in mind, a Unified Threat Management solution can protect your business from every side.

The UTM is a unique tool that combines the top four security features that every business needs. Here is a brief overview of how a UTM protects a company’s sensitive information.

Firewalls
Every computer and device that connects to the Internet needs a firewall. However, the consumer-grade firewall that comes with a PC won’t cut it for the security needs of the average SMB. Instead, a UTM offers enterprises better protection with a strong firewall meant to safeguard an entire IT network. A UTM does this by analyzing the data flowing in and out of a network in order to recognize threats and keep them out. The advantage of having an enterprise-level firewall is that it keeps malware from spreading across your network, a risk that no business owner should have to take.

Antivirus
Antivirus software is also needed, should a threat ever make it past your firewall. Antivirus software works by eliminating any threats found on your network, which includes viruses, malware, spyware, and more. Antivirus software utilized by a UTM makes sure to regularly update itself with the latest threat definitions, and having it be centralized makes it easier to manage and more secure than having a separate antivirus solution for each and every workstation.

Content Filtering
A content filtering solution is a must for companies that have employees browsing the Internet in any fashion. This security tool works by blocking users from accessing websites that host malware. A content filtering tool also gives you the option to block websites you deem to be inappropriate or a waste of time, like social media or pornography. You can also set these limitations on a per user basis, which means responsible employees and management can have more freedom to access the websites they need in order to do their jobs.

Spam Blocking
Spam blocking is a security tool that eliminates spam messages from hitting email inboxes. This is a crucial tool for every business to have, seeing as spam email is one of the most popular modes used by hackers to spread their malware and other threats, including but not limited to, ransomware. Spam blocking is a great preventive measure that you can implement to curb one of the biggest security risks posed to every organization, user error.

As you can see, a network that’s equipped with these four security tools is much better off than a network that uses only one, or even three. A UTM consolidates all four of these security tools into one powerful security solution, allowing companies to not have to worry about online threats so they can better focus on hitting their marks for growth and profitability.

All that said, every business has different security needs based on company size and how they use their technology. This is why you’ll first want to contact the IT professionals at PCSOFT before implementing your own UTM, or going with whatever other security tool that will best serve your needs. For help with your company’s security needs, call PCSOFT today at 02 98730080.

Firewalls are easily one of the most basic parts of any network security infrastructure, and they’re an important component that shouldn’t be taken lightly. The firewall is the first line of defense against any threats coming into your network, and it’s one of several essential components to prevent data breaches on your network. An enterprise-level firewall is an important investment for any serious business.

In a more broad sense, cybersecurity and threat management is a critical part of running a business. In light of the many high-profile hacking attacks that hit in 2015, it feels like nobody is safe from the evil grasps of hackers. Entities like health care providers and government officials even have trouble keeping hackers at bay, so it should be a safe bet that your business is threatened by their presence, too. Regardless what kind of business you run, one fact will always remain true: hackers will attempt to infiltrate your network, if you let them, and a company without any security measure in place might as well roll out the red carpet for hackers.

It’s for this reason that many security solutions have been developed to reclaim the Internet from hackers, and firewalls are the first step toward protecting yourself while conducting business on the web. Here’s how a firewall can help your business succeed.

The Benefits of Having a Firewall
Firewalls are one of the most important parts of protecting a business’s network. They can detect the presence of unwanted data flowing into or out of a network, and notify the system administrator of strange activity. This effectively allows the firewall to scan for potential threats, and reject traffic which contains them. The firewall can even disallow threats to leave the network, so you can quickly eliminate them before they cause too much damage or try to infect other systems. In essence, a firewall should be able to identify threats, and work alongside a quality antivirus solution to eradicate them.

There is no excuse not to be using a firewall. It’s one of the most basic cyber security tools you can use, and there are plenty out there to choose from. That said, you will want a powerful enterprise-level firewall that suits the specific needs of your business - stay clear from firewall solutions designed to protect single or home users.

What They Don’t Protect You From
Despite their best efforts to prevent all threats from making it to your network, firewalls aren’t perfect. For example, an employee could click on an infected email attachment and a virus could make its vile little nest within your network. Now you have a problem that managed to bypass your firewall, due to user error. Other social engineering hacks, like spear phishing scams and spam campaigns, are designed to bypass firewalls and infect systems in other ways. This is why firewalls are often seen functioning alongside an antivirus solution that can detect and get rid of threats that have made it past the firewall’s defenses.

You also need to consider the quality of the firewall before assuming that it will just protect you from anything. A consumer-grade firewall that comes alongside your network router likely isn’t equipped to protect you from the myriad of threats that exist on the Internet; at least, not as well as you’d like to be protected. Instead of hoping that your default firewall will be enough, you should invest in an enterprise-level firewall that’s designed specifically with your business in mind.

An enterprise-level firewall works best when it’s partnered alongside other security solutions that augment its power, like antivirus, spam blocking, and content filtering solutions. These four features combined make a Unified Threat Management (UTM) solution, which is a comprehensive way to keep any network safe.

For more information about how security components like firewalls, antiviruses, or UTMs can protect your business, give us a call at 02 98730080.