Defend Your Business From Security Threats

By Efram Stringfellow

Knowledge is power - especially for small and mid-size businesses (SMBs) - and that means keeping business information safe from security threats is vital.
To help towards this end, twice annually, Microsoft issues its Security Intelligence Report (SIR), an in-depth perspective on software vulnerabilities compiled using data from hundreds of millions of computers worldwide.
This comprehensive resource educates business and IT leaders about emerging threats and trends, as well as how to protect against these potential dangers.
The latest Security Intelligence Report (SIRv7) reveals that the most significant trend is an increase in worm infections. Worms are spread via unsecured removable storage drives, like Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drives (also known as "thumb drives") which are widely-used by SMBs. This means that an employee with an infected home computer can save information to a USB, upload the data to the office network and the entire business could be at risk.
Rogue security software is another significant danger for businesses. Rogue security software preys on our need to protect our computers from online threats by masquerading as a legitimate security program, pretending to offer protection from malware, spyware and other threats - but instead is designed to access your financial or personal information.
Although Microsoft noted a decrease in rogue security software from 16.8 million computers in the second half of 2008 to 13.4 million in first half of 2009, it is still a serious risk, compromising business information and robbing your business of productivity.
While large businesses usually have a sizable IT department and a number of security consultants, SMBs often have fewer resources. That means you need to keep your employees informed and educated in order to maintain a secure business network. It's crucial to provide them with proper Internet protocol and enforce detailed security guidelines to ensure that all of the computers in your business are equipped with the appropriate security software and updates.
For SMBs that have a highly mobile workforce, technologies like Network Access Protection and DirectAccess, which enforce security procedures such as requiring security patches be installed on a regular basis, can help prevent employees from unwittingly infecting your network.
Updating your existing operating system also can enhance security. If an employee's laptop is lost, valuable and sensitive business information can be lost or stolen, putting your entire business at risk; but an operating system like Windows 7 has built-in features that help protect businesses from threats.
For example, to prevent data loss, employees can set automatic backups for their files at scheduled times, which makes data recovery quick and easy. To help safeguard your business information against theft, BitLocker and BitLocker-To-Go automatically encrypt data on your hard drive and removable storage devices, ensuring that critical business files stay safe. Furthermore, Windows 7 has improved User Account Control (UAC) settings, making it easier for businesses to customize their security levels and notifications.
Keeping your business secure can be simple and affordable with the right tools and technologies. Microsoft's Security Intelligence Report is designed to help educate business owners about the current threat landscape, as well as how to protect themselves with the latest software and educational resources.

Efrem Stringfellow is the general manager of Microsoft Corp.'s corporate accounts for the East Region, working with businesses throughout Maryland. For more information, find the Security Intelligence Report at www.microsoft.com/sir.