The advantages that the internet and the online marketplace can offer to businesses, quickly led to an enormous surge in companies creating their own digital entities. Between reaching a wider audience of potential consumers and expediting the purchase of products or services, companies have put a lot of stake in the benefits of having a website and creating an online presence.
Unfortunately, because many organizations jumped on the internet bandwagon so quickly, not enough time was spent on studying and implementing network security management. The same accessibility that allows companies to reach consumers, simultaneously leaves them more open to digital vulnerabilities.
There may be large companies who believe that due to their prominence, their infrastructure is protected from malicious attacks, even without the need for IT consulting. However, even national security has proved to be at risk of these threats. Over the past six years, the Federal government suffered an almost 680% increase in cyber security breaches.
Unfortunately, even with reliable network security management and advanced computer services protecting from external threats, there is still plenty of room for error. It is estimated that an estimated 75 to 80% of malicious attacks come from within an organization, rather than from an external threat. As a counter measure, it has become necessary for companies to use ethical hacking services such as security auditing and penetration testing to evaluate computer support and information technology infrastructure thoroughly.
Because so much personal and financial information and data is stored throughout the internet, security regulations have been implemented to prevent security breaches. Compliance mandates, such as the the Payment Card Industry (PCI), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA), require businesses to protect, track, and control access to sensitive information to protect consumer’s from theft and identity fraud.
Because the internet is still a relatively young marketplace that is rapidly growing and evolving, it is difficult to attempt to control all facets it entails. Network security management is just one step towards a safe online marketplace.
