Proactive Cybersecurity: Managed Security Services to Find and Protect Your Business

Proactive Cybersecurity: Managed Security Services to Find and Protect Your Business

The U.S. government alone proposed a $12.72 billion budget for cybersecurity in 2024 likely in response to the $320 billion that cybercrime cost the country in 2023. As the costs and spending continue to rise, governments and businesses alike are looking for newer, more effective ways to keep cybercrime at bay. The answers lie in proactive cybersecurity.

Tech Alliance, a New York City provider of managed IT and security services, knows the importance of proactive cybersecurity for keeping organizations’ data and networks safe. As hackers and cybercriminals continue to develop newer and more sophisticated ways to gain access, our network security services are specifically designed to keep them out.

What Is Proactive Cybersecurity?

Proactive cybersecurity is a form of risk management that anticipates and provides solutions for challenges, needs, changes, and problems that may occur in the future. In short, it is a series of protocols, software, and monitoring put in place to prevent a cyberattack. Many companies and organizations lack adequate preparation, and the reactive strategies in place simply cannot mitigate the damage. Rather than responding to an attack after it has already happened, proactive cybersecurity aims to prevent that attack in the first place.

2 Cybersecurity Strategies: Proactive vs. Reactive Cybersecurity

The most well-prepared companies use a combination of two cybersecurity strategies: proactive and reactive cybersecurity. Though they are both very different, they work together to accomplish the same goal – protecting organizations’ networks from cyber attacks and threats.

Proactive Cybersecurity Tactics

A proactive cybersecurity strategy combines several tactics that reduce the risk of cyberattacks. These tactics often include the following:

  • Zero-Trust Framework: A zero-trust framework is one in which every network request is treated as a potential threat. It requires user authentication procedures that do not restrict resource access, such as a primary login to a network that allows employees to access resources they need.
  • Scheduled Software Updates: Keeping software up to date is one of the most essential parts of a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Scheduling these updates to apply as quickly as possible once they are released is critical to keeping networks safe.
  • Antivirus Programs: Antivirus scanners are not all the same, so it is important to choose one that covers all the bases. Viruses, malware, phishing scams, ransomware, and more are all very real threats that comprehensive antivirus programs can mitigate before they have a chance to wreak havoc.
  • Network Monitoring: Network monitoring detects potential threats and attacks in real time, which allows for faster deployment of mitigation strategies and often prevents attacks before they begin. Many companies choose to outsource their network monitoring to a third-party managed IT security services provider to save money and resources.
  • Employee Training: According to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report 2023, an organization’s employees remain the largest threat to cybersecurity. The best way to change this is to ensure that employees are regularly updated and trained on appropriate cybersecurity measures – and this includes everyone, starting at the executive level.

Reactive Cybersecurity Tactics

Conversely, reactive cybersecurity tactics focus more on responding to threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities once they are detected. Some of the most common tactics include the following:

  • Anti-Spam and Anti-Malware Tools: Anti-spam and anti-malware tools are deployed when a virus or malware is believed to have infected a network. These tools are designed to find, quarantine, and eliminate the potentially harmful payload.
  • Firewall Log Inspections: Inspecting firewall logs can help determine the traffic that may have inflicted an attack or payload, making it easier to trace and resolve.
  • Forensic Analyses: A forensic analysis of security events can provide a detailed picture into exactly what happened. It may provide helpful information for reversing an attack, and it also assists in preventing future attacks of the same type.
  • Reviewing File Integrity Logs for Unusual Activity: File integrity logs offer helpful information that depicts the integrity of assets like file systems, databases, devices, operating systems, and more. Looking for unusual activity can help block further damage or access.
  • Patching and Updating Networks: Finally, locating network equipment that is not up to date, then patching and updating that equipment, is critical to network security.

Common Assumptions about Managing Cybersecurity Proactively

Sadly, many organizations make incorrect assumptions about proactive cybersecurity measures that prevent them from deploying the protection they need. Some mistakenly believe that cybersecurity and risk management aren’t necessary during the concept testing, but if the concept has made it through to the testing phase, it warrants resource investment – including proactive cybersecurity.

Others believe that spending on cybersecurity and risk management does not guarantee 100% protection, so it is not worth the extra cost. While there is never any guarantee that all cyberattacks will be prevented, proactive cybersecurity measures can prevent the vast majority, ultimately saving organizations thousands or even millions of dollars.

The Future of Proactive Cybersecurity Measures

Today’s proactive cybersecurity is quite effective, but only just. Cybercriminals diligently work to stay ahead of the software, equipment, and protocols in use so that they can gain access to networks. In the future, predictive analytics will play a critical role in cybersecurity, and when combined with real-time data analysis, machine learning, and automated threat detection and response, organizations can expect fewer and less costly cyberattacks.

Hiring a Managed IT Security Services Provider

A managed IT security services provider like Tech Alliance gives your organization access to cutting-edge proactive cybersecurity strategies designed to keep your network safe. From security assessments and threat detection to endpoint detection and response, we use an in-person, on-call approach to cybersecurity and managed IT.

Contact us today to learn more about how we can provide proactive cybersecurity services that meet and even exceed your organization’s needs.

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