Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP)
In today's technology-driven business environment the last thing business owners need is to have sensitive or confidential information stolen or destroyed by cyber criminals. The days of using traditional security mechanisms such as Anti-Virus and firewalls by themselves is no longer a reality as they can no longer keep pace with the rapid adaptability of these new threats.
To make matters worse, many companies can't afford the costs associated with purchasing security equipment or the hiring of full-time security experts. As a result they do little, or worse, nothing at all to protect their networks. Network Strategies, Inc can help companies like yours overcome these challenges because we offer cost effective solutions for businesses of all sizes to monitor, detect, and in many cases, prevent these types of security problems.
As a Managed Security Service Provider we can significantly reduce the cost of protecting your data and complying with federal and state laws when compared to the cost of hiring full-time, in-house security staff. Each of our Security Engineers is dedicated to serving a small number of clients. This allows you to receive personalized service from someone who knows your network.
Our goal is simple: Give our customers personal, professional, and cost-effective security services aimed at protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of their network and its data from both inside and outside threats. Therefore, the approach we take to network security is viewed from a holistic perspective giving your network complete protection.
To further show how we can be your company's complete network security provider, we put together a list of the most common issues that companies like yours are facing and then show how we solve each of them - giving you the professional security protection you need, at a cost much less than hiring in-house staff. For complete details on our services and how hiring Network Strategies will help solve these issues, please see our Services page.
The key security issues that affect most companies:
- IT departments lack the time and manpower to stay on top of newly occurring security threats.
- The latest security patches and updates are not installed in a timely manner.
- The IT department lack the proper equipment and monitoring experience.
- The high cost of hiring a network security specialist.
Network Strategies can help solve these problems:
- We provide and maintain the security system for a low monthly cost.
- We work with your IT department to design the most secure infrastructure.
- We profile your normal network traffic and continually monitor it for anomalies.
- We notify your IT department of significant events and provide them with detailed reports.
What is Product Cycle vs. Threat Cycle?
Product Cycle protection takes care of threats by building products that address the latest known attacks. Examples of this type of protection are Anti-Virus Definition Updates, Security Patches, and Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS).
Threat Cycle protection addresses network security in real-time through continuous monitoring for unusual behavior against a baseline of normal activity. Network Strategies combines the traditional Product Cycle protection with that of Threat Cycle to secure your network and valuable data.
A more detailed explanation of product versus threat cycle is available here.
How does one become compromised?
People are at risk if they surf the web, use e-mail or are connected to the Internet in any way.
Modern web browsers such as Microsoft's Internet Explorer and Mozilla's Firefox are capable of running Java and VB scripts as well as Active-X controls. Adobe Systems' Flash and Shockwave players can also pose a threat. This gives the unethical web master the ability to execute malicious code on your PC such as keyloggers and backdoors simply by having you visit their infected WebPages.
Email offers similar possibilities to the hacker. It too can run VB and Java scripts. Microsoft Word documents and Excel spreadsheets can contain malicious code designed to infect your computer and network. The Adobe Systems' Acrobat Reader can also be used as a means of attacking your system.
Both of the above attacks are actually launched from within your network!
In many cases the attack begins from within the compromised network and leads to direct hacking from the outside. Once hackers have been able to collect usernames and passwords through such means as keyloggers they proceed to break-in to your network and either steal of damage your data.
Currently a new better funded attacker is on the Net. They attack via e-mail using social engineering tricks. They can pass right through security systems as anomalies and can even send users to bogus websites that look like legitimate ones.
Wouldn't it be obvious if we were compromised?
In many cases no. The various bots [see botnet] are now infecting the master boot record of the computer which gives it ultimate control over the machine. More often than not, even the best anti-virus software cannot find them.
Network Strategies uses layered security practices to prevent and/or uncover these attacks. Many of these attacks appear as mere computer anomalies to the end user and without high level scanning can go undetected by software.
Network Strategies can help you design a solution that is tailored to fit your business needs and then provide full monitoring services.
