Acclaim has worked with leading Cybersecurity vendors for over 25 years to ensure our client have the best security protection available. Cybersecurity is an evolving and ever-changing requirement for all business and threats exist at every level of the IT chain.
From your company website, eCommerce solution, internet gateway, firewalls, modems, servers, individual workstations, connected devices and remote or work from home connections – security threats are an ever-present reality of today’s connected businesses and a variety of products are used as stand-alone solutions or in combinations as complementary elements of the complex cybersecurity puzzle.
1. Active system and threat management
When keeping your systems secure, its just not possible to rely on a passive “set and forget” approach to putting cybersecurity measures in place.
Hackers and cybercriminals often rely on known exploits – vulnerabilities that may have been identified and resolved already by the software (or hardware) provider. These fixes are then made available as updates to the software, patches or “hot fixes”, or as recommended changes to system settings.
Although a lot of applications auto-update to mitigate this issue, it’s not enough to rely on this feature.
Not all vulnerable software will auto-update, some are regional issues that require manual selection, some updates may fail and others may have further consequences that need consideration. There is also the human factor, whereby users may disable or postpone updates that then present a critical security risk to your business.
Monitoring and securing all vulnerable areas should be done regularly and systematically to ensure the best possible protection.
Similarly backups are often not considered until they are needed, but they are often just automated without a second thought, or worse, a task relying on swapping outdated and untested tapes or removable media.
Backups are often your last line of defence against corruption or ransomware and as such they should be monitored and test restored regularly.
A structured plan, incorporating all of the elements listed here and below should be tailored to mitigate any cyber threat before it can harm your business.
2. Anti Virus and Anti Malware
With seemingly new ways of hacking, stealing, ransoming or just destroying your precious data appearing every day, Eset has been at the forefront of combating these threats, and has remained Acclaims most recommended anti-virus/anti-malware solution for over 10 years.
ESET Endpoint Security for Windows
Leverages a multilayered approach that utilizes multiple technologies in dynamic equilibrium to constantly balance performance, detection and false positives enabling organizations to:
- Protect against ransomware
- Block targeted attacks
- Prevent data breaches
- Stop file-less attacks
- Detect advanced persistent threats
- URL filtering
3. Acclaim Backup
Yes, data volumes are growing, but online backup doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult.
Simplify your approach with Acclaims Cloud Backup solution. Scale with the growth of your data and make sure your business data is protected.
Scheduled to suit your requirements, with on-premise and local-to-cloud options available, Acclaim Backup is the total backup and recovery solution.
- Physical and virtual server backup
- Backup documents
- Backup for Microsoft 365
- Faster backups and restores
- Bare metal recovery
- Recovery testing
- Security-focused storage
4. Office365 Data Protection
Compromised emails and attachments have long been the hackers preferred method of gaining entry to your systems and data, but further to this, hackers and cybercriminals will also target administrative accounts in their attacks in order to gain access to elevated privileges. The centralised administration model in Microsoft 365 allows all administrators to have global credentials, which grant access to every user’s account and content. If hackers manage to take over a global admin account, they can change critical settings, steal valuable data and leave backdoors to enter again.
There are several areas where inadequate setup, administration and monitoring of your Office365 environment can lead to compromised security and we recommend discussing the available options and putting a monitored security plan in place. A considered approach should include the following steps;
5. Hardware security – Firewalls and Routers
Acclaim works with leading brands such as Sophos, Draytek, Solarwinds and Fortinet to ensure that you have the best network hardware security available.
A firewall (either a separate appliance, or as part of a security grade router) is an essential part of your organisations security system. Without it, your network is open to threats. A firewall keeps destructive and disruptive forces out, and controls the incoming and outgoing network traffic based on security parameters that can be controlled and refined to suit your environment.
An effective firewall will control both inbound and outbound internet traffic. This means you can choose to block access to specific websites within your network as well as blocking malicious content from outside your network. For example, you can protect employees from accessing potentially harmful or unsafe websites that could lead to your network being infected with malware. You can also choose to block inappropriate or non-work-related websites, therefore enhancing the overall productivity of your employees.
An effective firewall will protect your business from:
Cyber criminals can easily probe every computer connected to the internet and attempt to penetrate their systems. Without a firewall, they can gain access to your important files, depositing them, removing them or using them maliciously.
A properly configured, maintained, and monitored firewall will protect your data, network, and devices. Importantly, you need to ensure that your firewall has the power to manage normal and encrypted internet traffic without slowing down your devices or compromising security.
KNOWING THEIR NUMBERS BECOMES PLAIN SAILING AT DOYLE SAILS
Since 2013, Doyle Sails has worked with Acclaim to implement MYOB EXO into their New Zealand company. Helping their Group Financial Controller learn the ropes and gain confidence in the platform has led them to adopt EXO
MYOB provides greater efficiency to aid dramatic rise of unique brewery
In 2014, Tuatara Brewery was at a tipping point in its growth trajectory. Their management team grew to include marketing, sales, packaging, brewing and distribution specialists. A new Operations Manager, Hamish Allen joined and wanted to bring in changes to aid the organisations performance.
More visibility has resulted in increased confidence.
Signature Marketing supply Service Stations throughout New Zealand and Australia, with sunglasses, headwear and a range of quality mobile phone accessories. Getting a handle on stock control, and having an overview of their numbers was an important part of their choice to move to MYOB EXO.
Automatic Systems Revolutionised
HOED Research NZ has a unique business model with many moving parts. While they originally just wanted some help integrating the accounting side of MYOB EXO into their business, they were quickly sold on the benefits of automating their systems and processes. Two years down the track, they have been able to trim their team, and have greater clarity across their business.
