Remote work and cloud technology have improved productivity in the workplace but have also created more opportunities for cyber attackers.

Since the beginning of 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) reported a 300% increase in cybercrimes.  Web threats are rising as 1 in 13 web requests now lead to malware.

Protecting your organization from cyber threats starts with having a layered approach to your organization’s cyber defenses.

What are the layers of cybersecurity?

As the risk of cyber-attack grows (and as the threats grow more sophisticated), it’s best to have multiple security solutions. With a layered cybersecurity model, your organization is protected by other tools if one of your defenses fails. By minimizing attack vectors and securing against more attack types, organizations can better deter malicious entities and protect the business and its data.

Here’s what the layers of defense look like for small and mid-sized businesses:

• Endpoint protection, like antivirus, to protect computers from malware
• Email security to guard against email-borne attacks
• Security updates (also known as patches) to reduce the risk of known vulnerabilities
• Domain Name System (DNS) security to block threats before they reach your network or computers
• Firewalls to act as barriers between trusted and untrusted networks
• Employee education to teach your employees how to avoid cyber threats
• Reliable backups to help you recover from a cyber attack

 

When you have the right human resources, technology, and processes in place, you gain a greater ability to combat cyber threats.

What is DNS security?

There is a security measure often overlooked but can be easily addressed in your cyber defense strategy.

More than a third of breaches were found to be preventable through DNS-level security.

Having the ability to secure your DNS traffic can greatly impact your mitigation of cyber risks.

What is DNS and why is it a risk?

DNS is the first step in making a connection to the internet. While you use easy-to-remember web addresses like www.worksmart.com to go to a web page, your device needs a computer-friendly IP address to load the website. To connect to the right place on the internet, your device gets IP addresses from a DNS server. Unfortunately, attackers also use this technology to cause harm with malware, ransomware, and phishing scams.

DNS security tools defends against these threats by monitoring for malicious activity and compromised systems on the internet, or in the DNS layer. It can:

• Block access to malicious websites or cloud apps;
• Prevent malware downloads from hacked websites; and
• Protect against user mistakes when entering sites into browsers.
• Stop ransomware from communicating with attackers, blocking their ability to encrypt your data

DNS security tools are a simple solution to keep your organization safe.

An effective cybersecurity strategy relies on a layered approach. Securing your internet traffic is an important layer in improving your organization’s protection against malware and other forms of advanced attacks..

We know cybersecurity is a priority for all businesses, no matter their size. That’s why we offer an affordable cloud-based DNS security solution as a simple, proactive step to reduce your cyber risks. If you’re looking to ensure you’re well protected against cyberthreats, give us a call. We’re here to help!