5 must-have software services for ensuring enterprise security

Enterprise security refers to the measures companies and other organizations take to ensure that their data, IT structure, assets and other valuables are safe from any form of cyberattacks. And enterprise security is not something companies can attain by purchasing a single product and trusting everything in it.

When considering enterprise security it is a must that each area requires individual attention. Putting a strong password and trusting that it would secure everything is just a myth now.

The threat landscape will only continue to grow, so having a sound enterprise security structure should be of prime importance if you are looking to solidify your business. And we are here to help you get an idea as to what exactly is enterprise security and what all are the primary resources you must have to get started on your journey toward complete enterprise security.

Why is enterprise security so important?

With each and every technological advancement, the world is moving towards a place where the line between the virtual and physical worlds is getting thinner and thinner. Whether this is a good thing, or a bad thing is up to us to decide. But one thing we can assure you of is that this shift makes things less messy and more accessible for everyone. For example, storing data is much simpler with cloud storage and also it is easily accessible compared to older storage methods, like paper, floppy disks, CDs, and USBs. But like Uncle Ben once said, with great power comes great responsibility.

The internet is expected to experience a surge in digital data circulation as an increasing number of companies transition to fully online, paperless, and remote work modes. And so, having a sound security system should be of prime importance. Taking care of just endpoints won’t cut it anymore, you need solutions to secure enterprise data as a whole unit.

The effects of a data breach or a cyberattack can’t be stressed enough. Even though bigger companies might make it seem like cyber incidents are something they can bounce back from easily, smaller to medium companies can’t handle a cyber hit. And the way the world is moving, data will become more powerful than any other resource in the world in no time. Thus, having a proper enterprise security structure is absolutely necessary.

How to create a strong enterprise security structure

Ensuring a super strong security structure is not very easy, no matter what you are securing. And when it comes to securing something as volatile and powerful as data, extra care has to be taken. So, for a company, a lot is riding on having a strong enterprise security structure. For that:

1. First, you have to make sure that everyone in the company knows how important it is to have a safe enterprise.
2. Even though more and more companies are moving away from the traditional hierarchal system in terms of management, it is best to implement a proper access control strategy.
3. Take care of network security more seriously.
4. Data backup and data protection should be on point.
5. Ensure that your company sticks to compliance standards in its region of operations.
6. Constantly monitor all endpoints in the company.

5 software tools to strengthen enterprise security

Okay, let’s get into the details now. You saw what you should do to start your journey toward complete enterprise security. But all those steps are easier said than done. Ensuring a completely safe and secure enterprise requires a lot of tools and software services. So, let’s run down the top 5 software services you need to help you with ensuring enterprise security.

Antivirus

There might not be many people who don’t know what antivirus is. Anyways, I will give you a brief idea of what antivirus is and what it does. So, antivirus software are usually installed on devices to keep an eye out for any kind of unwanted activity on the device. If there is some malware or any other malicious entity on the device, the antivirus detects it and takes measures to eliminate it.

So, threat detection and elimination are the antivirus’ main job. And it works just fine with known malware, trojan and other kinds of viruses. This approach is a bit outdated for the current threat landscape. Since new threats are popping up daily, there is a need for a better system. That is where next-generation or next-gen antivirus (NGAV) comes in.

NGAV is basically a better version of older traditional antiviruses. They provide security against already existing threats as well as newer ones. What NGAV does is, it analyses how your device basically works and senses threats whenever there is abnormal behavior. This is a significant upgrade from traditional antivirus and also NGAV provides support against zero-day exploits.

Endpoint security vs network security: Why one is not enough

Kaspersky is an amazing antivirus software option for anyone who is looking to secure their enterprises. With its state-of-the-art threat detection, companies can simply set Kaspersky up and deploy antivirus across all endpoints in a company in minutes.

Intrusion Prevention System (IPS)

Now that we have taken care of endpoints, we have to ensure that the network is secure, and that no unwanted entity enters the network Intrusion Prevention System (IPS) is the perfect tool for that. IPS is a type of network security tool that can help companies and enterprises make sure that no threats enter the company network. Even if one is found, IPS takes the best course of action to act against it instantly.

IPS is normally paired with a firewall and placed to monitor anything and everything that enters or leaves the network. So, IPS is always on the lookout for something malicious. As I said, even if a threat enters the system, IPS takes action against it. It reports the IT admins straight away, then blocks or restricts traffic for the source site and resets the entire connection. Fortinet is one of the best IPS solutions out there with additional features like firewalls and zero-trust systems.

What is network security and why is it important?

Identity and access management

Rather than talking about identity management and access management separately, I think it is better to talk about them together. So, identity and access management refer to the ability of enterprises to manage identities or users and assign access and roles to them. Users will only be able to access what they are supposed to access with this tool.

Knowing why you need an IAM tool is also kind of important. Since more companies are moving towards a more remote and global approach, employees, as well as customers, are scattered across the world. And since data is accessible over the air, it is necessary to know who can access what. So, regulating access to company resources should be of primary concern. And for that IAM is absolutely necessary. To know more about IAM, click here.

Okta is a leading cloud based IAM software that can help enterprises with both identity and access management equally. With features like SSO (Single Sign-On), multi-factor authentication (MFA) and API access management, Okta simplifies IAM for IT teams.

Password manager

Password managers do exactly what the name says, manage passwords. Still don’t get it? Okay, it is a software solution that helps companies generate, remotely share and remember passwords. With a password manager, complex and hard-to-guess passwords can be generated randomly, and the tool remembers that for you. Employees remember only one password, the one for the password manager itself.

When looking for a password manager, make sure that they encrypt all data stored in them, a password sharing option is there, MFA is there and an option to autofill and autosave password is there. Well, if you don’t wanna go around looking for a password manager, we have a suggestion for you, Keeper. Along with all the above-mentioned features, Keeper offers additional features like password auditing, analytics and active directory/LDAP provisioning.

Unified Endpoint Management

A Unified Endpoint Management or UEM solution is a tool that lets IT teams manage, control and monitor all the endpoints in a company. Yes, all of that is possible with one single tool. You can configure settings on the device, change permissions, enforce strong passwords and so much more with UEMs.

Well, you might be wondering why a management tool is listed here, a place where there are only security tools. As we said, UEM can enforce setting changes on devices, which means you can enforce how strong the device password is, which network the device should connect to, configure security certificates, monitor apps and software installed on the device and remotely lock or wipe devices clean. If that wasn’t enough, some of the top UEMs let IT teams monitor almost every that happens on the device, like login activity, app installation and uninstallation, user data, and so on. UEM encapsulates a lot of things together, like app management, network management, security management, and endpoint monitoring.

So, if you are looking for a UEM look no further, because Hexnode might be the perfect solution for you. Hexnode is an award-winning UEM solution that offers almost everything there is to device management. Hexnode offers app management, security management, network management, content management, kiosk management, real-time endpoint monitoring and reporting. Hexnode’s monitoring detects undesired apps, unusual events like battery drop, and unexpected network changes. This is extremely necessary to take preventive actions in case of any device health-related incidents.

Wrapping up

Now that you have read this much, you know what enterprise security is and how hard it is to secure enterprises. The solutions mentioned above can help you get started with a proper enterprise security system, but it won’t be a complete enterprise security solution. Anyways, you have to start somewhere, right? If that is where you are, then go ahead and get your journey towards complete enterprise security started right.