Importance of Cybersecurity in IT Support
The ACSC received around 94000 cybercrime reports in 2023. This is an increase of more than 23% compared to 2022. It shows how cybersecurity become crucial in IT support.
Cybersecurity in IT Support helps your business in many ways.
- Cybersecurity safeguards your business operations
- It protects sensitive data
- It addresses network vulnerabilities
- Complies with cybersecurity standards.
In this guide, we will discuss the importance of cybersecurity. We will also mention the key components of cybersecurity and the best practices.
Why Cybersecurity Is Essential in IT Support
In 2024, Australia have 96,805 online shopping businesses. This is an increase of 13.2% from 2023. In the 2016-17 period, 59% of Australian businesses had online presence.
The ASD received 36,700 calls about cyberattacks on its Cyber Security Hotline. These reports show that cybersecurity is vital for IT in Australian businesses.
Here’s how cybersecurity is important for your business.
Cybersecurity Safeguards Your Business Operations
Cyberattacks can bring business operations to a halt. This will cause financial losses and reputational damage. Cyber Daily reports that the downtime cost of an IT system operation is an average of $1 million in Australia.
However, managed IT services’ cybersecurity measures play a key role. They protect IT systems from cyberattacks. This lets organisations run without interruptions.
Professional cybersecurity providers implement firewalls and intrusion prevention systems. The measures block unauthorised access. These keep business operations running without any interruptions.
Cybersecurity Protects Sensitive Data
Australian businesses deal with vast amounts of sensitive data. It includes customer records and business info. Strong data protection strategies ensure safety against data theft.
And once a data breach happens, it causes huge financial damage. The average data breach cost in Australia reaches $4.26 million. This is a rise of 27% since 2020. Another report shows that the cybersecurity cost will be $10.5 trillion per year in 2025 worldwide.
IT Support Services Brisbane implements the following cybersecurity measures in the right places.
● Encryption and data integrity
SSL/TLS protocols encrypt data exchanged between a user’s browser and a website. They protect info, like login credentials and payment details.
● Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
This adds an extra layer of security. Users need multiple credentials to access accounts or systems. These can be passwords, biometrics, or one-time codes.
● Cloud Security and Data Backup
Cloud data is secure with data encryption, SSL, and other security measures. At the same time, cybersecurity ensures regular data backup. This data can be restored to quickly respond to malware and ransomware attacks.
They secure data at all stages—whether it’s stored, shared, or processed.
Cybersecurity Address Network Vulnerability
Most businesses in Australia use networks to connect their devices and servers. However, cyber attackers use various network attacks to steal your data. 22% of network attacks were DDoS attacks in Australia in 2017.
However, there are also attacks using packet sniffing, malware, and phishing.
Cybersecurity IT services protect the weak points of the network. They fix them before attackers exploit them. They work as follows.
● Employing Firewalls and Intrusion Prevention
Managed IT support providers use intrusion detection systems (IDS). The system monitors the network for suspicious activity. If found, the system alerts the network administrators to the potential threats.
Firewalls protect internal networks from untrusted external sources. These filter traffic and block malicious activities. Your network and data are then saved from unauthorised access.
● Endpoint Security
Endpoint security measures protect devices from malware and phishing. They also guard against ransomware.
Professional Cybersecurity Complies with Privacy Standard
If you work with client data, it is mandatory for you to safeguard personal data from leaking. If you can’t do so, it will go against the Compliance frameworks of the Australian Privacy Act 1988.
You will be going through several penalties. They include both financial and imprisonment if you misuse, can’t safeguard, or leak personal data.
Cybersecurity helps you assess risks. It protects personal data from attacks. This helps you to avoid legal issues by maintaining privacy compliance.
IT Security Best Practices for Businesses
Here are the best cybersecurity practices for businesses to follow.
Employee Training and Awareness:
- Conduct security awareness training for staff. The training will help them to spot phishing scams and to be safe online.
- Encourage strong passwords and secure logins, like using MFA.
Implementing Secure Development Practices:
- Follow secure software development protocols. This will reduce risks in the design phase.
- Regularly review and update software to address new threats.
Proactive Monitoring and Updates:
- Perform real-time monitoring of the system. This will help you to detect and address threats early.
- Ensure timely updates and patch management of the IT system. This prevents the exploitation of known and unknown vulnerabilities.
Complying with the Legal Requirements:
- Align with standards like Australia’s Privacy Act 1988 to meet regulations.
- Partner with managed IT services to ensure compliance.
Final Thoughts
In this era, cybersecurity isn’t optional. Rather, it is a must for businesses to protect from cyber threats. Cybersecurity protects your business from data loss and network vulnerabilities and minimises operational downtime. It also helps you to adhere to cybersecurity compliance standards.
If you are looking for the best cybersecurity service providers in Brisbane, ITTechBox can be the best IT partner. They have provided cybersecurity services across Brisbane for years. They will ensure your online presence is safe and compliant with privacy standards.