Cybersecurity can be a confusing concept. Although it’s crucial to understand about Best Cybersecurity Tool, there are so many aspects to consider, from hackers and malware to firewalls and digital signatures. Where do you even begin? If you’re looking for the best way to protect your business against cyber threats, start with this guide on the best cybersecurity tool you’re not using yet. It’ll walk you through everything you need to know about encryption in simple terms that make sense and don’t require any previous technical knowledge to understand.
The Best Cybersecurity Tool You’re Not Using
- IDS (Intrusion Detection System)
- Backup Software
- Network Monitoring Software
- Host-Based Intrusion Prevention System
- Other Tips for Home Users
IDS (Intrusion Detection System)
An IDS works by listening to network traffic and looking for specific patterns that are associated with an attack. A few examples of patterns could be: a very large amount of traffic coming from one specific user or host, or that a user is accessing a file they shouldn’t have access to. The goal of an IDS is to stop attacks in progress, so it isn’t uncommon for them to produce false positives, meaning they think an attack is happening when there really isn’t one.
An IDS should always be used in conjunction with other security tools. When it comes to monitoring for attacks on a network, an IDS is better suited for external networks. Firewalls are more capable of looking at inbound traffic and deciding whether or not to allow access. A good combination of these two systems can help give your company full protection from threats coming in over its network. For a little more information on firewalls and other tools you can use, check out our overview of cybersecurity best practices
Backup Software
In addition to having multiple layers of defense on your hardware and software, it’s important to also back up your data regularly. A business continuity plan should include a clear direction for how data is backed up and what processes are in place to recover from a breach or natural disaster. Fortunately, there are several great (and affordable) options available for businesses that don’t have an IT department.
Instead of trying to manually back up all of your systems each night, consider using an automated cloud backup service—it will make regular backups without you even thinking about it! Choose a service that can securely encrypt your files so that if a hacker does break into your account, they won’t be able to open or access them. It should also include an offsite backup that you can easily access in case of an emergency.
Most services will let you select how often you want to back up and how much data you would like to keep—make sure it’s enough for at least a few months’ worth of work in case disaster strikes. The best solution is one that’s regularly tested with offsite copies as well as automated backups done at different times throughout the day. This means that even if someone was able to gain physical access to your office, they wouldn’t be able to recover all of your data.
Network Monitoring Software
From an IT standpoint, one of our favorite things about network monitoring software is how accessible it is. This means that you don’t have to be a technologist to set up and utilize such software on your network; you only need basic networking knowledge and a little bit of patience. Additionally, many of these programs are free! They offer powerful tools that allow users to configure filters and rules for logs, files, processes, and services; in doing so, they can more easily pinpoint suspicious activity.
The fact that they’re also cloud-based (that is, not based on company servers) makes them much safer than other types of cybersecurity tools—as well as easier to manage remotely. As far as network monitoring tools go, it’s hard to beat Zabbix. This program offers quite a bit of flexibility in terms of installation and configuration—once you get your base set up, you can tailor its operation specifically to your needs.
It’s also great for monitoring large networks: on more than one occasion, we’ve been able to use Zabbix to monitor multiple data centers at once! Another great thing about Zabbix is that its functionality expands beyond just network administration. With it, users can monitor things like CPU usage, memory consumption, and even power consumption if they like; many users find that these capabilities make Zabbix an invaluable tool for helping them keep tabs on their hardware performance.
Host-Based Intrusion Prevention System
To most effectively fend off attacks, enterprises need to employ a host-based intrusion prevention system (HIPS). It’s software that monitors and analyzes incoming traffic on servers and endpoint devices. This allows it to detect known malicious files and block other suspicious activity that could lead to an attack, like malware infections. It also helps secure clients from websites used by hackers, often called watering holes, where attackers try to plant malware through drive-by downloads or serve up fake login pages as part of phishing scams.
HIPS will help identify these sites before any damage is done. When coupled with strong antivirus tools and a robust patching policy, HIPS can go a long way toward reducing your risk exposure. If you’re considering HIPS as part of your strategy, it’s important to pick one that offers several key capabilities. First, it should include behavioral monitoring and detection to ensure incoming traffic is safe. Second, HIPS software should incorporate network protection to safeguard devices from outside intrusions and attacks.
Third, it should be able to fend off zero-day threats—in other words, exploits that are used before a software patch is released. Finally, look for HIPS that includes threat intelligence and analytics to provide more data about potential breaches and better understand how hackers use malicious files. This will help you determine if you need further security measures like DDoS protection or a web application firewall (WAF).
Other Tips for Home Users
It’s easy to dismiss computer security as a concern for home users, but that’s just not true. There are still steps you can take to safeguard your data and your computer system. For starters, don’t connect to public Wi-Fi networks (such as those found in coffee shops) when possible; instead, connect only from home or another secure location. If you do use public Wi-Fi, change your passwords frequently (and don’t store them on your computer).
And even if you never access a public network, be sure to install antivirus software and keep it up-to-date—antivirus software is critical for defending against malware attacks on Windows machines. Install updates whenever they come out and be sure to run scans regularly. For people who want to take it a step further, there are a few other options that may be worth considering.
A firewall is one type of security tool you can use to block unwanted access from others. Another option is an intrusion detection system (IDS), which helps monitor your network for possible malicious activity and sends alerts if anything suspicious pops up. Depending on how much time you have and how advanced your knowledge is, these are tools that should definitely be in your security arsenal.
