Since the COVID-19 pandemic first began impacting businesses worldwide, network security services have been working overtime to combat a variety of increased attacks. Phishing emails in Boston and other parts of the country have significantly become more frequent, taking advantage of companies that were suddenly forced to provide remote work situations to stay in business. While it is essential to take control of the security of your organization’s data and implement backup and recovery programs, the best tool in your arsenal involves employee training and support. In addition to our selection of Boston managed services and monitoring options, Synivate highly recommends educational programs for employees to reduce vulnerabilities whether they work in the office or from a remote location.
A Comprehensive Approach
Taking on network security for your business means more than just getting the latest anti-virus, anti-malware, and other security software applications installed on all your computers. While this basic approach is essential, it is merely a foundation on which the rest of your organization’s security should be built. A wide range of programs and options can be used to detect and block viruses, malware, ransomware, and many other types of dangerous cyberattacks. However, employee education is critical. Boston managed services can provide you with 24/7 monitoring and management, either to augment your existing Information Technology (IT) department or provide these services for you in an outsourced arrangement. Employee training and support can be provided as part of our overall network security services program to help your company prevent vulnerabilities associated with viruses, malware, and phishing emails in Boston and the surrounding area.
Employees play such a key role in the prevention of cyberattacks because many of the worst attacks come directly from someone clicking on a suspicious link in an email or by visiting infected websites. Unfortunately, other vulnerabilities can include simple human error and malicious attack from the inside by a disgruntled employee. In addition to security software, monitoring and management, employee education and training, and other measures, we highly recommend a reliable data backup and recovery program designed to get your business back on track after any type of attack. The goal should be threefold, to prevent attacks through software and education; ensure that any attacks or attempts at attacks are detected quickly through professional monitoring; and provide a means for a quick recovery with a reliable data backup system. Depending on the nature of your business, we can create a custom approach to network security services for your Boston-based organization.
The Impact of Phishing Emails in Boston
Studies reveal that the growth of phishing and spear-phishing attacks has increased steadily throughout 2020 in Boston, across the country, and around the world. The impact of phishing emails in Boston has affected businesses deemed “essential” and remain open, as well as those who rely on a remote workforce to get the job done. Part of the increase does have to do with employees who are suddenly working from home remotely, as there has been an increase in phishing clicks, visits to compromised websites using work computers or computers connected to the company network, and other types of compromised data. As businesses scramble to find new methods of communicating, collaborating, and working in a home environment, the guidelines for network security services and the demand for employee training and support have also increased. Fake apps, malicious websites, and phishing campaigns, cleverly disguised to appear as corporate emails from supervisors, clients, customers, and vendors, have made their way around the internet.
One study has revealed that in the first three months of 2020, employees working remotely from home received a 667 percent increase in spear-phishing attacks compared to the same period of 2019. Suspicious messages, targeted phishing attacks, and links to malicious websites are just some of the methods used with these types of cyberattacks. The data obtained through these studies and the continued state of pandemic lockdowns and closures, which require remote work solutions for many businesses to survive, show a growing need for awareness and training for employees. This must be taken seriously, as the numbers show that remote workers are more likely to click on nefarious links than they would have while working in an office setting. Perhaps it’s the distractions of home or a lack of focus due to other concerns, but if your business relies on remote employees or if you have seen an increase in phishing emails in Boston in recent months, it’s time to do something about it.
Contact our team at Synivate to receive a FREE IT Assessment and discuss your needs for network security services. We can discuss our options for Greater Boston managed services, offer insight into our programs for employee training and support, and provide you with preventive and recovery support for viruses, malware, ransomware, phishing, and other types of cyberattacks. You can call us directly at 617-848-1248 or use our online contact form to reach out to one of our technicians.