Information security and cybersecurity are important elements of advanced, specialized studies in the online Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Information Technology (IT) Management program from Florida Institute of Technology. Why? Simply put, cybersecurity is no longer an option. All organizations, from mom-and-pop shops to Fortune 500 companies, must take appropriate steps to protect themselves from anything that might compromise operations — whether that be an employee accident or malicious activity from an unknown hacker.
There are two sides to cybersecurity: protecting data and protecting networks. Each side has its particular requirements and challenges. This article explores both data and system security and describes best practices for your organization.
What Is Data Security?
Data security relates to your organization’s efforts to ensure the information you possess isn’t accidentally deleted or modified — or deliberately accessed, manipulated, stolen, sold or otherwise misused. There are many regulations regarding data security and breach reporting; you can find the information on the Federal Trade Commission’s data security resources and guidance site.
Just as you have an inventory of your physical assets, you need a similar inventory of the information you maintain. Start by cataloging everywhere your organization stores digital information. Some items will be obvious, like laptop computers and servers, but others not so much, like your digital photocopier and printer.
Once you know where the information resides, take stock of how data enters and leaves your organization. Where does consumer information come from? Health records? Financial histories? Credit card numbers? These entry and exit points can prove to be major vulnerabilities, and professionals (or security software) must monitor them. If you must send data to a vendor or supplier, make sure it is encrypted and that the other party has proper data security precautions in place.
A comprehensive inventory will help you determine what data you need to keep and what you should destroy. If there’s no legal or business reason to hold on to information, have it erased securely. If you don’t possess unnecessary information, no one can steal it.
The next step in data security is to make sure your physical assets are safe. This requires locking down laptops and limiting access to servers and other equipment. Laptops should be encrypted and password-protected. Your employees should take appropriate security precautions and know not to let strangers into workplaces. Require employees to change passwords at regular intervals but not so frequently that they’ll need to write them down. Remember that onlookers can also compromise that information, so consider investing in privacy screens for laptop computers if your employees work remotely in public places such as airplanes, coffee shops or co-working spaces.
What Is System Security?
System security goes hand-in-hand with data security. System security describes the controls and safeguards an organization uses to ensure its networks and resources are safe from downtime, interference or malicious intrusion. If data security protects the information in the books in the library, then system security protects the library itself.
Here are some common techniques for cyberattacks and what your organization can do to mitigate the risk:
- Backdoor attack: Many computer networks might not be as secure as they seem. Programmers sometimes leave in code that allows them to access the network easily, usually for debugging purposes. Hackers might exploit these weak points. Be sure to review the code for any customized software used at your organization and that software-as-a-service and platform-as-a-service suppliers are not vulnerable to these attacks.
- Denial of service (DoS) attack: Instead of breaking into your computer network, malicious parties might try to overwhelm it by bombarding it with requests for service, slowing access and network-reliant operations to a crawl. Combatting a regular denial of service attack may simply involve blocking the attacker’s IP address. A more sophisticated type of attack — a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack — is harder to stop, as it involves many IP addresses. Several vendors sell solutions that reduce the effects of DDoS attacks.
- Direct memory access attack: When people have access to your physical assets, it’s relatively easy to access your most sensitive information. Cybercriminals can simply steal laptops, hard drives and flash drives or break into an office to take or copy the devices that contain the information they want. An attacker may bypass login protections by accessing data directly, in the form of memory. The best defense against this type of attack is heightened security, worker training and information encryption.
- Ransomware attack: In a malware attack, a malicious party gains access to your computer network and encrypts your data. To get the encryption key, you must pay a ransom. Typically, the ransom escalates in price over time and must be paid in Bitcoin. Malware usually makes its way onto your network through a virus or worm, so educate your employees about the danger of clicking on suspicious leaks or attachments.
Launch a Career in Business, Information Technology and Security With a Specialized MBA
If learning how to protect your business’ data and systems in the modern era of cyber attacks is an appealing prospect, earning an MBA in IT Management online from Florida Tech could be an excellent choice. Moreover, this advanced degree integrates the study of business management and IT, preparing you for high-level leadership roles. A career at the top of this field can be fascinating, cutting-edge and lucrative, making it well worth looking into.
Learn more about Florida Tech’s online MBA in IT Management program.
