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hybrid IT environment

Establishing Seamless Server Security for a Hybrid IT Environment

The hybrid IT environment heavily used today brought with it a more seamless and practical way of operating and growing our businesses. But even with all the pros there are some cons to the system, mainly security-wise. The thing is, the servers that protect vital information, intellectual property, and card transactions are often the primary aim of cybersecurity attacks.

Even though we know this, lots of organizations still have subpar server security. That is partly because of CEOs and other top management personnel. They easily get overwhelmed with the lingo and the seemingly endless task list for establishing seamless server security in a hybrid IT environment.

But not only is it worth it (both in terms of time and money) to secure your sensitive data and replace outdated security tools – it’s also required. That is because there are a lot of legal requirements and regulations to be met, and users have also significantly leveled up their expectations.

And to accomplish all of that, you need a modern hybrid IT environment that highlights productivity, as well as security. Let’s do a quick rundown of server security for such IT environments and give a few useful tips along the way.

What is a Hybrid IT Environment?

Working in a hybrid IT environment means working in a space with both on-premise and cloud-based IT infrastructure. That infrastructure, of course, maintains and manages the organization’s IT needs.

This model allows organizations to combine traditional on-site data center IT infrastructure with private and public cloud environments.

It can be a challenge to handle such a hybrid data center. After all, that data center now sprawls from legacy on-premise solutions to the aforementioned private and public clouds. Whether the in-house IT team handles the management and security of that sprawling system or a managed service provider (MSP) does that – depends on the enterprise in question.

But what we do certainly know is that hybrid IT is perfect for today’s digital business climate. The world is moving at a fast pace, so being innovative and flexible when it comes to cybersecurity is a given.

Server Security Challenges in 2022

A lot of companies are experiencing the shift of moving to a hybrid IT environment. At the same time that their servers are located in an on-premise environment, they are moving a vast part of their data and operations on new sorts of servers:

  • Cloud workloads
  • Containers
  • Microservices
  • Virtual machines
  • Storage devices, and so on,
hybrid IT environment server security

That puts them in a situation of having multiple cloud platforms. And, normally that usually leads to more people having access to servers. And there lies part of the problems. Instead of a few server admins in-house, you may have outsourced developers working for you, too. So, along with your trusty outsourced developers, you must have secure remote access to servers in the cloud.

You have to keep in mind that cloud server security is a different beast from legacy data center security. Distributed IT server environments are harder to handle and protect from attacks. Numerous applications mean numerous risk profiles. And different cloud servers mean different policies instead of a unified framework.

So you need to help your server administrators do their job better, because they’re humans, and mistakes happen when they need to safeguard a distributed server environment.

Employing Privileged Access Management (PAM) for Server Security

The most important thing to do when transforming to a hybrid IT environment is to secure privileged access accounts since they are often the core of the servers’ function. Because cybercriminals go exactly for those sorts of accounts as access points to your sensitive data. It’s thus no wonder that well-established companies with hybrid environments are employing Zero Trust policies, meaning, they severely limit privileged access across their enterprise.

If you are a large enterprise, a hacker getting access to privileged access accounts means compromised IP assets, stolen identities, shareholder value, millions in regulatory fines, ransom payments that push you into bankruptcy, etc.

Not only do you need to safeguard against high-profile ransomware crimes, but also the regulatory institutions are increasingly demanding businesses to better handle privileged access management (PAM). And at the same time, you get cyber-insurance organizations breathing down your neck, asking for (useful) things like:

  • Better access control
  • Multi-factor authentication
  • Preconditions for granting policies, etc

A good way of establishing a PAM system is to instill the principle of least privilege. Certain users will get access, but only to the lowest level. That way, if your employee gets compromised, the cyber-attacker can’t do much with said employee’s account. Rather, if the employee needs broader access, they need to ask for it, and they will be granted greater access through proper control for a limited timespan, and they will be monitored afterward.

You can even design the PAM system to operate automatically – once the employee’s job on the server is done, the PAM system takes away their access privileges. It’s no wonder IT pros are raving about PAM systems and their security, scalability, and flexibility.

Final Word

In today’s world of hybrid work, remote access, and increasing phishing and hacking attacks, there are robust solutions to keep your valuable data safe. There is no risk-free way of scaling your business and running daily operations. But instilling a culture of wide-spanning server security through controlled access management is the first step to feeling more at peace with where your business is heading.

Network and Server Protection

The Importance of Network and Server Protection for Today’s Cybersecurity Environment

These days almost every business has some scope of digital presence. And cybercriminals aren’t sitting by idly as capital and data get increasingly more stored in a digital environment. That is why you should make sure that your network and servers operate just fine.
By “just fine” we mean “continuously and efficiently, thanks to a team of IT professionals who perform regular checkups to ensure everything is protected and up to date.”
If you’re wondering what are the best practices for an efficient network and servers that can withstand cybersecurity attacks, look no further. We got the scoop below, along with a thorough examination of why network and server protection is a must-have for any business.

What is the Difference Between Network and Server Protection?

If you’re leaving the bulk of IT-related work to your IT staff, then you may not be that well-versed in informational technology (IT) vocabulary. For those who just grazed the surface of the industry, terms like “network”, “security”, “cloud” and software might just be synonyms. Of course, that’s not the case.

So before we delve into the best practices for protecting your business from cybercriminals, let’s get the basics clear.

Network security serves the purpose of protecting your network and data from breaches and other threats. It’s a bit of a broad term, but mostly it refers to:

  • Hardware and software solutions
  • Rules, regulations, and processes related to network use
  • Network accessibility
  • … and other factors that deal with threat protection on the network level.
Lock, Data security and computer server network safety with a protection symbol of a lock with a keyhole

Network security is instilled through antivirus software and VPN encryption, establishing access control, performing network analytics, installing firewalls, and more.

On the other hand, servers refer to something physical and much less abstract. They are powerful computers that provide services to users on a particular network and other computers.

Server security is a hot topic these days since servers often hold sensitive data, so they make for an alluring target. Server security tackles the task of preventing intrusions, hacking, and similar criminal activities. Tools and techniques are used to protect data and resources.

Security measures on servers vary and are often incorporated in layers. They cover the following topics:

  • The base operating system (OS) – Refers to the protection of crucial components and services
  • The hosted applications – Managing the information and services hosted on the server
  • Network security – Entails safeguarding against internet exploits, viruses, and attacks.

It’s imperative you take cybersecurity seriously, as cyber-criminals can penetrate 93% of company networks.

Always Update Your Software and Systems

Staying in the loop regarding all tickets and updates regarding software and operating system security is critical in network and server protection. Because server systems and software tech are so complex, some security flaws can go undetected.

Luckily for you, vendors and cybersafety specialists are continually trying to improve the security of their software and operating systems (OSs). When they uncover a security flaw, they usually act immediately to have the flaw addressed.

They will then release a much safer and updated version of the OS or software. To ensure your server’s safety, you should apply the update as soon as the vendor has tested and published it to the market.

Even while most suppliers respond quickly to security weak spots, there is always a lag between when the weak spot is found, when it is fixed, and when you install the new version.

This gap can provide hackers an advantage because they can simply infiltrate your servers before the upgrade is applied. To maintain this slit as narrow as possible, you should always be on your toes regarding any new developments unfolding on your servers.

Use Private Networks

The text inscription VPN is written on a semitransparent field surrounded by a set of abstract figures

The Internet Protocol address space is the foundation of private networks. A Virtual Private Network (VPN) is private since no Internet Protocol packets are sent through a public network.

A VPN allows you to connect different computer devices located in different places. It enables you to perform safe activities on your servers.

You can exchange data with other servers on the same account without external compromises. And we all know that data is the new currency, and an enticing target for criminals.

All in all, we warmly recommend you set up a Virtual Private Network to protect your network and server.

Final Word

By this point in the article, you should feel more confident about the security of your server and adopt the server security methods described above. In 2022, with cybersecurity growing as a threat, there is no excuse for leaving your IT infrastructure unprotected.
As a recommended practice, you should put these security measures in place when you first set up your network server. It also helps if you use more than one of these strategies. Generally, the more security measures you have in place, the better your network and server protection will be.

Content Filtering

Content Filtering [Definition + Benefits]

This is a quick guide to content filtering.

In this new guide, we’re going to answer questions such as:

  • What is content filtering
  • How it works
  • Why is it important for your company
  • And more

So if you’re looking to integrate a content filtering solution or improve the filtering on your firewall, then this article will help you.

Let’s begin.

What is content filtering?

Content filtering (or information filtering) is the process of screening access or availability to web pages or emails that can threaten user or network security. The goal of this software is to block content that contains this harmful information and let organizations control content access via their firewalls.

What types of solutions exist?

There are two main types of content filtering:

  • Content filtering hardware
  • Content filtering software

Both of these solutions are often built into devices or integrated into their systems to block access to information. At the same time, information filtering is a crucial part of internet firewalls.

There are also content filtering tools that typically companies use to raise their cyber security or enforce corporate policies around IT system management.

For example, organizations use information filtering to limit employee access to social media websites.

Besides this there are also several sub-types of content filters:

Internet filters: the most common form of content filter. Internet filters block access to specific webpages or websites and are managed via firewalls or browser-based filters (extentions).

Search engine filters: these content filters allow users to deny access to inappropriate links from their search results pages.

Search engine filters

DNS: this form of filters blocks domains that operate outside of acceptable DNS settings that an organization outlines in its corporate policy.

Email filters: email content filters screen the body, subject line, headings, and attachments in email messages to block or reject incoming mail with malicious intent (e.g. Phishing scams).

Web content filters: these filters prevent users from accessing web pages by blocking URLs and preventing browsers from loading specific sites, either based on content or site security.

Proxy filtering: proxy filters are gateway security measures between user devices and servers that enable admins to restrict user access to specific websites. Proxy filters are commonly used by public institutions such as governments or schools. 

Why is content filtering important?

Content filtering helps to protect users and their devices, networks, and servers from harmful information by preventing access to it.

This enables all parties to operate on the internet in a safe and secure environment.

Besides this, there are other benefits of content filtering to users and their organizations:

Minimizing malware attacks

Content filters enable your organization to block access to websites known to carry malware. In this way, you protect data by reducing threats. 

You also reduce remediation time and the workload necessary for incident response.

Protecting you from exploit kits

Cyber attacks are a big security risk to your organizations’ data and assets. Exploit kits have codes that allow hackers to attack your web browsers via its extentions and plugins.

Content filters prevent this from happening by identifying exploit kits and blocking access to them before a user can trigger it with a download.

Boosting network bandwidth

User activity that isn’t work-related can affect the bandwidth of your organization. Content filters help you to limit users’ access to specific websites that raise bandwidth usage (e.g. YouTube). In turn, blocking these websites can make internet usage more efficient for all of your employees.

Raising staff productivity

Besides technical benefits, content filters also have a practical application. By limiting access to specific websites, like social media channels, online shopping platforms, and streaming sites, you raise the productivity of your workforce. (Since they’ll spend less time wasting the company’s time).

Web content filtering

Start Using Content Filtering

What type of content filtering are you using at the moment?

Do you want to improve the way your company filters information?

We can help you.

Demakis Technologies is a professional IT service provider. 

We specialize in managed services, helpdesk support, and, yes, network and cyber security.

So we can offer you IT services tailored to your needs. (Including a tailored solution to boost your content filtering policies)

CONTACT US to get in touch with one of our IT professionals and get started today.

malicious activity

Detecting Suspicious and Malicious Activity on Your Network

In this post, we will explain how you can detect suspicious and malicious activities on your network.

We’ll not only address what threatens your network security, but also what tools you can use to detect these threats before they harm your system, data, or other valuable assets.

So if you want to learn how to protect your network and detect suspicious activities that endanger its security, you’ll enjoy this article. 

Let’s begin!

What Constitutes Malicious Activity on Your Network?

Malicious network activity can include different behaviors that involve unusual access patterns, file and database changes, or any other suspicious activity that could indicate a data breach or an attack.

Detecting malicious activity on time helps you identify the source of the breach and its nature so you could fix it as soon as possible.

malicious network activity

How Does Malicious Traffic Threaten Your Network?

When a malicious HTTP request enters your command and control servers, your network devices can become part of the attacker’s botnets.

Cybercriminals who manage to compromise your network security are able to see how many computers your organization has. They can also issue commands and launch more malicious actions to perform ransomware attacks or data theft.

How Can You Detect Suspicious Network Activity?

Malicious traffic detection tools provide constant monitoring of network traffic for signs of suspicious files, links, or actions. 

In order to identify malicious internet activity, the tools check whether the suspicious item is coming from a bad URL or C2 channels.

The tools verify suspicious links against security data collected from millions of devices worldwide and that is how they offer protection against known and unknown threats.

Network Security Tools

There are a variety of tools designed to detect malicious network activity. 

You can use these systems to enforce a variety of security measures to protect your networks from potential threats.

In this part of the article, we’ll explain some of them, and what they can do for your network security.

IDS (Intrusion Detection System)

The Intrusion Detection System is the pioneer in the category of security network management. 

An IDS keeps track of the system’s vulnerabilities and analyzes network activities to spot patterns and signs of known threats.

IDS alerts the IT staff about malicious network traffic, it does not take action to prevent it.

detecting malicious activity

There are two main categories of IDS:

  • NIDS (Network Intrusion Detection System) handles a whole subnet at the network level.
  • HIDS (Host Intrusion Detection System) takes care of a single host system.

IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)

IPS is considered an expanded version of the IDS.

Their functions and capabilities are similar, but there is one important difference – IPS can take action to prevent cyber attacks by blocking suspicious network activity.

IPS can also be referred to as IDPS which stands for Intrusion Detection Prevention System.

DLP (Data Loss Prevention)

Since sensitive data, such as credit card numbers, secret corporate information, or intellectual property information is the most common target of cyberattacks.

DLP specifically handles data protection. It makes sure that confidential information does not get compromised.

DLP is able to enforce data handling policies and to automatically detect information such as credit card numbers based on their format and alert the teams to prevent unauthorized disclosures.

SIEM (Security Incident and Event Management)

SIEM tools help organizations manage all the data and signals, and correlate potential threat information in a single centralized view of the network infrastructure.

Although SIEMs can offer different features, most of them control network activity to spot security incidents in real-time. These systems also notify IT departments so they can take proper action on time.

NBAD (Network Behavior Anomaly Detection)

Simply monitoring and looking for an activity that falls out of the ordinary is another way to spot suspicious network traffic.

NBAD systems first establish what regular and normal behavior on a given network looks like. Then they monitor all traffic and activity in real-time to identify any malicious internet activity.

Since anomaly detection monitors unusual activity instead of waiting for signs of specific threats, it can help identify zero-day attacks which are normally not easy to spot.

network security management

Take Action for Effective Cybersecurity

Each of the malicious traffic detection tools comes with its advantages and disadvantages. 

The effectiveness of network security management depends on how well the tools were implemented, and how ready your team is to take action in case of a security breach.

Proper network security requires experienced cybersecurity professionals that can help you manage the output of security tools and take immediate action to prevent dangerous attacks.

If you’re concerned about your network security, reach out to our cybersecurity experts at Demakis Technologies and get professional help.

Secure critical data and your business activities with a strong defense line

Secure Critical Data and Your Business Activities With a Strong Defense Line

Digital transformation can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to security. And a multifaceted and fragmented technological landscape increases the challenge to secure critical data, intellectual property and brand image – your most valuable assets – safe. 

Secure critical data with a strong defense line

Your environment requires a strong defense line 

Tackle the threats and secure critical data

Everything valuable must be protected while ensuring availability to the organization and third parties as defined by you. Any downtime could have a direct impact on revenue and a negative effect on your brand image. Detection and reaction to threats in real-time is as essential to your organization as your managed security infrastructure. 

Secure data and business activities with a strong defense line

Evaluate your options and your choices 

Your growing cloud applications and critical data must be as secure as your on-premise equipment. The diversity of technologies within your infrastructure, from mobile to broadband, makes it hard to ensure the appropriate levels of security. It’s essential to protect your activities from Internet attacks and your internal network at the perimeter. Being tied to any one particular vendor or technology can be hazardous in the fast-paced environment of security. 

Secure critical data

Never forget the human factor 

Security solutions should be user friendly with no impact on anyone’s productivity. They should be easy to manage for your IT security teams and provide secure access to your corporate resources and cloud applications. Your mobile fleet needs protection from the many emerging forms of attack that only an advanced detection mobile solution can provide.

If you’d like to learn more about cyber-threats and how to protect your business and to secure critical data, contact us here at Demakis Technologies.