A shocking 2023 study conducted by Cisco, a prominent digital communications and technology company, found that only 15% of American companies surveyed have enough cybersecurity resilience to defend themselves from attacks. Cybercrime reports rose 22% between 2022 and 2023 according to the FBI, and with 85% of companies vulnerable to attacks due to poor or inadequate risk management, organizations must urgently work to implement comprehensive cybersecurity solutions.
Leading cybersecurity companies work with organizations of all sizes to design and implement cyber defense strategies. Security assessments, threat detection, endpoint detection and response (EDR), intrusion detection, cybersecurity training, and other managed cybersecurity services are designed to facilitate business continuity by keeping data and networks safe.
Biggest Threats Against Business and IT Infrastructure
In response to ongoing cyber threats against government agencies and private organizations, the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) launched a new initiative in 2021 called the Joint Cyber Defence Collaborative (JCDC). It aims to synchronize cybersecurity planning, defense, and response by unifying forward-thinking security leaders who can develop and execute cybersecurity solutions across the board.
During the Gartner Security and Risk Management Summit that took place in Sydney, Australia in March of 2024, the research firm mirrored CISA’s concerns by highlighting some of the biggest threats against business and IT infrastructure.
Generative AI
Generative AI (GenAI) promises to improve cybersecurity strategies by detecting threats in real time, automating patches and incident responses, bridging skills gaps, and even supplementing short-staffed IT and security teams. On the other hand, cybercriminals can ask AI to draft incredibly personalized phishing messages, write an entire social engineering script, or even fake voices to impersonate business owners, investors, vendors, and employees.
Third-Party Concerns
Third-party organizations, including cloud-based service providers, vendors, and even recordkeeping services, are not immune from cyberattacks, but few organizations have effective cybersecurity strategies in place. CISA urges all organizations to develop thorough, mutually-beneficial plans that include tasks such as assessing risk based on relationships with third parties, conducting practice exercises, and coming up with succinct strategies allowing for immediate offboarding in the event of a third-party breach.
Human Risks
More than 99% of cyberattacks require some element of human interaction,and according to the World Economic Forum, 95% of all cybersecurity issues in 2022 could be traced back to human error. Rather than simply making employees and staff aware of cybercrime, organizations are increasingly implementing programs that encourage behavioral change. Teaching employees to confidently make cybersecurity-related decisions as they arise reduces anxiety, minimizes the threat of cybercrime, and leads to more efficient operations.
Lack of Identity and Access Management
Everyone in an organization should be able to access tools, data, and networks with minimal interference. Identity and access management (IAM) gives organizations the ability to determine who can access specific data or assets, which keeps malicious actors like cybercriminals out. Combining cyber defense tools such as IAM with zero-trust policies can drastically improve cybersecurity risk management.
Top Cybersecurity Solutions to Protect NYC Businesses
Organizations require a wide range of tools and assets to reach or even exceed their cybersecurity goals. Small- and medium-sized businesses may feel disadvantaged without in-house IT departments on the payroll, but managed cybersecurity services are a powerful and effective alternative. Leading cybersecurity companies offer a bevy of cybersecurity solutions and strategies designed to safeguard data and networks.
Next-Generation Firewalls
Most organizations consider firewalls their top cybersecurity priorities due to their ability to improve network management and visibility. Next-generation (or next-gen) firewalls offer incredible benefits, especially when it comes to advanced threat detection. These firewalls can identify malware – even if that malware was previously unknown – and block its access to networks. In some cases, next-gen firewalls can replace many existing security products or add extra protection via redundancy
Email Security
Organizations share sensitive data via email, so protecting that information is paramount to an effective cybersecurity strategy. Unsurprisingly, email has been the leading threat vector for cyberattacks for more than a decade, further demonstrating the need for ample security. Protecting company email servers, accounts, and networks can have a positive impact on business continuity, protect the company’s reputation, and block the introduction of malware, ransomware, viruses, Trojans, and social engineering attempts.
Anti-Malware Solutions
Anti-malware products are designed to detect and remove or quarantine malicious software before it does harm. Criminals use malware for many purposes, including identity theft, intellectual property theft, financial theft, and operational disruptions. Some malware is designed to quickly spread throughout an entire network, rendering devices useless.
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) is important for all organizations’ network security, but it is essential for companies with employees working offsite, such as in hybrid or remote positions. It monitors every end-user device connected to the network to hunt, detect, and block potential threats, including malware, ransomware, and more.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Identity and access management (IAM) is a framework of policies, procedures, and tools that allows for the meticulous control of access to resources, assets, and data based on users’ credentials and identities. It involves storing and tracking identities and their inherent permissions; authenticating people, their devices, or software; authorizing user access to various levels of data; simplifying access control; and monitoring all access to networks, data, and other resources.
Cloud Backup
When it comes to cybersecurity resilience, cloud backup is a priority. It protects organizations’ data, allows authorized employees to access data from remote locations, and offers the redundancy that organizations need to avoid disruption in the event of a data disaster. Cloud security is preferable to in-house data storage because it is affordable, requires very little maintenance, and scales instantly with a growing organization’s needs.
Boost Your Cybersecurity Resilience with Comprehensive Awareness Training
Employees must be aware of their organizations’ cybersecurity solutions in order to properly implement them. Comprehensive cybersecurity awareness training shows employees how to identify and handle threats, fundamentally changes human behavior, protects vital information, assesses their knowledge and comprehension, and offers hands-on experience that builds cybersecurity resilience.
Furthermore, such training programs are highly effective.The 2022 Global Cybersecurity Awareness Training Study looks at the impact that such training can have on organizations of all sizes and their employees. It found that, following training, employees’ awareness of cybersecurity risks increased by an average of 19%. Some 99% of companies surveyed in the study reported increased corporate security after engaging with a comprehensive training program.
Hire One of NYC’s Leading Cybersecurity Companies to Design and Build Your Cyber Defense
While there are certainly several products and tools that every organization should implement for network and data safety, cybersecurity solutions are not one-size-fits-all. Tech Alliance, a NYC-based provider of managed cybersecurity solutions, can help you safeguard your business through world-class prevention and monitoring at a fraction of the cost of an in-house security team. Contact us today to ask questions or request a quote.
Todd Stevens is a recognized Network Architect and founder of Tech Alliance. Todd holds degrees in Computer and Information Sciences, as well as many recognized technology industry certifications. Over the course of his career Todd has led numerous high-profile technology teams in the NYC area. Including: Rudin Management, Taj Hotels, Grove Press, NBC Universal, The Art Students League of NY, The Osborne Association and The Rockefeller organization.