Most data security measures focus on keeping intruders from infiltrating company devices, but insider threats are also increasingly dangerous. Sony found that out the hard way in 2014. The physical doors at Sony were supposedly left open, allowing a group of hackers to wreak total havoc. The intruders freely accessed company computers and other equipment. They stole and leaked confidential, sensitive information, released films, and more. Recovery of damages caused by the insider threat cost Sony $15 million.

“Insider Threats” Defined

An insider threat occurs when someone uses authorized access to misuse an organization’s critical data. Examples of individuals who can become insider threats are current employees, terminated employees, contractors, partners, and third-party vendors. According to more than 54 percent of executives in Fortune 1000 companies surveyed, they believe that discovering and preventing insider attacks is difficult. The executives are correct.

How Can Managed Services Providers (MSPs) Help?

Only large companies can usually afford the great expense of on-site IT security that provides the latest protections against cyberattacks plus constantly monitors activities for the purpose of detecting insider attacks. The beauty of bringing a managed service provider (MSP) onboard to handle data and network security is that even small companies can usually afford their essential services.

A complete solution for insider threats involves continuous monitoring to identify abnormal behavior, immediately investigating suspicious user activity, reducing risk with real-time user blocking, making user data anonymous, plus other measures. These capabilities go beyond the scope of what typical IT departments for small and medium-sized businesses can achieve.

MSPs often have a diverse staff that includes security specialists, and their services provide continuous monitoring to identify and mitigate possible insider threats.

Contact Aperio IT to develop a cybersecurity plan and protect your business from both external and internal threats.

Every business is at risk because of the continuous onslaught of spyware, hackers, and viruses. Data is valuable, and businesses have a duty to protect their customers. Maintaining an IT department with a security expert and keeping up with the latest cyberattacks is usually too big an expense for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Thanks to the cloud and security from managed IT services, SMBs can afford to protect their clients.

How Serious is the Threat of Cybercrime?

As crime sprees go, cybercrime is the type that tends to be worth the risk and goes directly against the former truth of the words “crime doesn’t pay.” Due to the very low number of prosecutions in comparison to the number of cybercrimes, hackers are apparently encouraged to work tirelessly, per the following statistics:

• $500 billion was the global cost of cybercrime in 2016.
• Considering all the businesses that suffer loss due to data breaches, the average cost to a business is $3.8 million.
• Compromised usernames and passwords are associated with 63% of cyberattacks.
• The number of days a hacker resides within a network before being detected is 146.
• Small and medium-sized businesses are targeted by cybercriminals in 60% of all cyberattacks.

Why are Managed IT Services Important to Network Security?

There is a significant difference between the security a small IT department can provide and the level of cybersecurity managed IT services provide. In the simplest of terms, the personnel required to protect data is more than SMBs can typically afford.

Managed IT services provide teams of professionals, including experts in cybercrime, to protect customer details and other business data.

Contact Aperio IT to learn more about protecting your clients from cyber-threats.