Today, cyber attacks are more complex than ever before. While some cyber criminals still operate on the level of a teenager who types with a keyboard and sends messages through an email application, most of them now have Ph.D.s and work from their desks in offices with air-conditioning, electricity, and other modern conveniences.
These experts know how to take advantage of every loophole in the system to break into your network and steal data or use it as a springboard for further attacks. To stay protected from these sophisticated attackers and reduce the risk of becoming a target,
you need to implement multiple security measures, you can do that by hiring a Cyber Security Company. After all, there’s no single solution that can tackle every single cyber threat; rather, there are different strategies that work in conjunction with each other to reduce the attack surface while simultaneously protecting your organization against vulnerabilities. That being said, we’ve outlined some of the best practices you can adopt to keep your Windows-based network secure from cyber threats
Change the default passwords
As tempting as it may be to use the same password for multiple accounts and applications, it’s not a good idea. As the saying goes, “if Wall Street bankers can’t get it right, then why should we be any less cautious?” That is, if you want to keep your information and network safe from cyber threats, you have to apply the same carefulness to your own security practices. When it comes to passwords, you shouldn’t make the mistake of using simple words and phrases out of context. Instead, use a password made up of a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols. For example, “12345678!@#$%^&*” is a secure password. Make sure you change the default passwords of your applications and accounts to something more secure.
Also, Read Our Previous Blog: How to Block Fraudulent & Spoofed Emails— Learn to Decipher Phishing Attempts
Educate your employees on risks and safety precautions
For most people, the idea of keeping their workplace safe from cyber threats doesn’t seem like much of a priority. But when an attacker successfully breaches a network, the damage he can cause is vast. In fact, the average cost of a data breach is $3.95 million. To prevent this from happening, you need to educate your employees about the safety precautions they need to take. For example, you can have your employees regularly change their passwords. You can also have them use two-factor authentication whenever possible, such as when logging in from a new device or computer. Furthermore, you can also have them regularly scan their computer for potential security risks, like malware or spyware.
Encryption is the key
Encryption is the most important security tool you can use on your Windows network. It’s a process that transforms data into an illegible format and is therefore virtually unreadable. The problem is that not all encryption programs are created equally. Some may be easy to break while others are so advanced that even a well-funded cyber criminal team would need to work for months to crack them. Moreover, if one of your employees is caught using an unsecured device, he may also be able to access any data stored on the device or even on the network. To find the best encryption program for your organization, consult a third-party security review website, like ours. It may help you choose the right program for your needs.
Keep Windows Up to Date
Keeping your Windows software up to date is essential to ensuring the security of your network. As new patches are released, researchers generally find and fix a number of vulnerabilities on Windows operating systems. But because these vulnerabilities generally go unnoticed until a hacker finds them and uses them to break into a network, updating your software is crucial to staying protected. You can easily determine whether your Windows computer is up to date by opening the Settings app, selecting the System icon in the left pane, and then looking at the “Updates” section. Make sure that your computer indicates that it’s up to date.
Limit which users have access to your network
Cyber criminals are always on the lookout for networks that they can infiltrate and use as springboards for further attacks. And while some networks are more likely to be attacked than others, they all share one common trait: they’re connected to the Internet. So, before you grant Internet access to your network to your employees or clients, think about which ones you want to grant access to and for how long. For example, grant remote access for a set amount of time, like a week at a time, and then revoke it. This will make it harder for an attacker to gain access to your network.
Implement Strong User Authentication
In order to prevent hackers from infiltrating your network and stealing data, you need to implement strong user authentication, like two-factor authentication. It comes as no surprise, then, that it’s one of the first security measures you can implement on your Windows network. Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires a user to have two forms of authentication, like something they have, like a phone, or something they’re, like a password, in order to log in to an account.
Defend with Network Tools and Other Software
To effectively protect your Windows-based network, you need to make sure that your devices are as secure as possible. To do this, you can use an Extended Security feature on Windows 10 or enable hardware-based security on your computer. You can also use network tools and other software to protect your network.
Penetration Testing Can Help
A pen-test is a type of security testing that focuses on the implementation, configuration, and operation of a system. The Pentest program is used to test the security of a system against various types of attacks such as application-level attacks, network-level attacks, and protocol-level attacks. A pen-test is often carried out by an ethical hacker or Certified penetration tester who uses their skills and knowledge to test the security of a system.
The main goals of penetration testing are to identify vulnerabilities in the system and to determine the best ways to improve security. By conducting a thorough Penetration Testing, an organization not only can minimize the window-based attacks on their networks but also can identify vulnerabilities that can lead to financial losses. In addition, organizations should keep track of all access requests. This will help them to know who is accessing their network and how they are doing it.
Patching
Finally, it’s important to keep in mind that even when you do everything right, there’s a chance that your network will still be compromised. And to have any chance of thwarting an attack, you have to patch your systems as soon as possible. When it comes to patching, every system is different. Some are more likely to be attacked than others, and some are more likely to be overlooked than others. That’s why it’s important to know which systems on your network are the most likely to be attacked. To find out which systems are most likely to be attacked, use an application, like Network Mapper, to map out your network. You can also use a tool, like Microsoft’s, to identify which systems need to be patched. Make sure to update your systems as soon as possible to protect against the latest threats. These are just some of the best practices you can implement to keep your Windows-based network secure from cyber threats.
Get a free consultation for a complete Cybersecurity Solution from one of the top Cybersecurity companies in the U.S., Cyberware AI. Email us at info@cyberware.ai
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