IT and Cybersecurity Essentials for Safeguarding Your Organization's Assets

In today’s world, organizations of all kinds rely on technology to drive productivity and connectivity. And, as technology evolves, so do the methods cybercriminals use to exploit it. From sophisticated ransomware attacks that cost major companies millions to scams targeting individuals, the risks are increasing. A quick glance at news headlines reveals both incredible advances in AI and the growing number of cyber threats. For any business, staying protected is more critical than ever.

Global cybercrime costs are rising rapidly, with estimates reaching $10.5 trillion by 2025. These financial hits stem from issues like damaged or stolen data, productivity losses, business disruptions, fraud, and the costly aftermath of recovery. The good news? Investing in the right cybersecurity solutions can empower your organization to defend against and recover from cybercrime and other IT-related incidents prevalent in our evolving digital landscape.

Read on for specific solution recommendations for securing your organization’s assets.

Purchasing Cybersecurity Tools and Solutions

The rate of cyber incidents is growing at an alarming pace, and global spending on cybersecurity solutions is following suit. Organizations are allocating more resources than ever to protect their devices, consumers, and operations and are projected to invest $1.75 trillion in cybersecurity from 2021 to 2025. To safeguard your own organization, you must understand the solutions necessary to prevent, identify, and recover from threats to physical facilities, devices, virtual systems, and employees.

Physical Facilities

Whether you’re managing a higher education institution equipped with security cameras or overseeing a business with on-premises servers, your daily operations depend on reliable physical infrastructure.

To prevent physical threats, assess the most likely risks to your facility and ensure you have solutions in place to minimize them. To identify physical threats, implement measures to detect active or potential emergencies. And to recover from physical threats, have a plan to quickly restore normal operations when an incident occurs.

Key solution & best practice recommendations:

• Electronic locks to automatically lock doors when necessary
• Badge or biometric access systems to keep unauthorized individuals out of secure areas
• CCTV cameras for real-time activity monitoring and recording
• Motion sensors to detect movement in sensitive or restricted areas
• Smoke detectors and fire alarms to detect and alert occupants of fires
• Emergency lighting to provide illumination during power outages
• Generators to supply backup power and keep essential systems operational
• Uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems to ensure power for critical devices

Devices

Organizations rely on a range of devices to operate smoothly. These devices are often used by stakeholders like students, employees, and customers, and it's critical to secure them. A single device infected with malware or ransomware can compromise your entire network.

To prevent viruses and other threats, familiarize yourself with the devices accessing your network and ensure they are properly managed and secured. To identify attacks, implement threat detection measures and monitor devices regularly. And to recover, quarantine any infected devices to protect your network.

Key solution & best practice recommendations: 

• Mobile device management (MDM) solutions to manage and secure devices
• Updated antivirus and anti-malware solutions to provide real-time protection
• Virtual private network (VPN) services to secure remote network connections
• Endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to respond to suspicious activity
• Comprehensive logging and monitoring to detect unauthorized activity
• Virtual local area networks (VLANs) that can limit a device’s impact on the network
• Incident response plan documentation to guide and manage the recovery process
• Forensic analysis to identify compromised data and gather evidence for further action

Virtual Systems

By 2025, the amount of data stored in the cloud is projected to reach 100 zettabytes. As more organizations move their data to the cloud, it’s crucial to consider the risks. While the cloud boosts IT productivity, agility, and scalability, an increase of data stored in the cloud also attracts more cybercriminals.

To prevent attackers from accessing virtual assets, implement zero trust principles along with other security measures. To identify system irregularities, use detection tools with analysis and response capabilities. And to recover from security incidents, ensure you regularly back up system data and have updated incident response documentation in place.

Key solution & best practice recommendations:

• Role-based access controls (RBAC) to establish user roles with specific permissions
• Multi-factor authentication (MFA) requirements for accessing systems
• Encryption protocols like HTTPS and VPNs for transmitting data, especially sensitive data
• Network monitoring tools that scan traffic patterns, bandwidth usage, and anomalies
• Intrusion detection systems (IDS) that monitor network traffic and alert to suspicious activity
• Logs from firewalls, servers, and applications that can be analyzed for threats
• Penetration testing to identify system weaknesses via simulated attacks
• Backup solutions that ensure frequent and secure data backups

People

Many cyberattacks on facilities, devices, and systems target internal users and can be traced back to phishing and social engineering. As generative AI and deepfake technology evolve, attackers are using them to craft more convincing phishing attempts.

To prevent people-related attacks, understand how they manifest—through deceptive emails, fake websites, or intimidating calls. To identify these threats, educate your employees, customers, students, and government officials alike to scrutinize communications. And to recover from successful attacks, analyze the incident to uncover gaps that can be addressed with training and other initiatives.

Key solution & best practice recommendations: 

• Awareness of the latest phishing techniques and common red flags in phishing emails
• Training to educate employees on phishing tactics and signs of social engineering
• Phishing simulations to test employee responses and reinforce training
• Email filtering systems to detect and block suspicious emails
• Reporting tools employees can use to flag suspicious emails and calls

Group Purchasing as Your Key to Success 

Once your organization has assessed its cybersecurity posture and identified gaps in asset protection, the next challenge is securing the right solutions to address those vulnerabilities. However, the process of purchasing strategic IT solutions can be lengthy, often taking anywhere from 12-24 months. By partnering with a group purchasing organization (GPO), you can expedite this process, reducing it by up to two-thirds!

The cost and compliance of goods are additional hurdles for many organizations. While global cybersecurity spending continues to rise, public institutions must navigate state and federal procurement regulations, while private institutions face internal budget constraints and executive mandates. A GPO can help overcome these challenges, streamlining the procurement process to ensure compliance and giving you access to trusted suppliers who offer the right solutions for your needs.

Purchase IT Goods and Services With OMNIA Partners

If you’re looking for a GPO that can not only meet but exceed your cybersecurity needs, OMNIA Partners is committed to being your partner from start to finish. With a free OMNIA Partners membership, you gain access to our extensive contract portfolio, which includes world-class managed service providers (MSPs) and value-added resellers (VARs) to support your IT needs on a national scale.

Our IT-related portfolio offerings include the following:

Don’t wait for a cybersecurity disaster to strike before implementing the necessary solutions to prevent, identify, and recover from attacks. Become a member of OMNIA Partners today to save time and money while achieving your cybersecurity goals and getting ahead of cyberattackers!

Want more insight?

For specific guidance on preventing, identifying, and recovering from cyber-related threats, and even more solutions that will help you protect your physical facilities, devices, virtual systems, and people from attacks, download our full whitepaper for free!