Houston Cybersecurity - a hot topic
Cybersecurity is considered a high priority for many businesses across industry sectors With cybercrime frequently in the news and on the increase, proactive measures to protect a business from malicious threats are critical as the consequences of a security breach can be expensive in terms of money spent to remediate the attack, time lost in repairing the damage, and reputational damage as clients find out their data may have been compromised The question of cost can be viewed from either side of the dilemma: “How much will it cost to protect my business and have robust cybersecurity in place?” and “How much could it cost if I am the victim of a cybersecurity attack?”
The first question can be tackled predictably with a budget set aside to install concentric layers of secure protocols and processes For business owners who do not have the expertise in-house to plan and then implement a strategy, there are Managed Service Providers who offer their services to bring IT up to the level required to be secure and, in many sectors, compliant AVATAR Managed Services is a Houston-based MSP offering a range of IT services including managed cybersecurity, here we take a closer look at some of the particular challenges across varying industry sectors
Cybersecurity for the Manufacturing and Distribution Industry
The manufacturing industry is widespread and often critical to the upstream provision of products and equipment that other business entities or groups then utilize. Reliant on supply chains and often involving a network of many connected devices that could be spread over a wide geographical area, there is little room for downtime and disruption The databases of a manufacturing company are also likely to hold personal information for clients, vendors, business partners, and staff Likely to have been using information technology for many years, there is a chance that moving to newer infrastructure and software has lagged behind in some areas, meaning there could be vulnerabilities yet to be remediated even if there is a plan to improve cybersecurity Ransomware is a common form of cyber threat encountered by the manufacturing industry. For businesses that operate 24/7, it is important to be able to respond any time a possible threat is detected AVATAR Managed Services is available 24x7x365, always on hand to respond immediately, offering clients peace of mind that a professional response is one call away no matter when a cyber threat is suspected. Find out more about AVATAR’s Houston Manufacturing and Distribution IT Services
Cybersecurity for small businesses
Small businesses may not have a large operating budget, especially as they are starting up Knowing that there may be more tasks on the wishlist than can be committed to, small businesses are often the target of phishing attacks and malware. Phishing attacks essentially try to entice an employee to click on a link, download an infected file, or share data which is sensitive. The phishing attempt may look genuine in many ways, this is why they are successful so often Training of staff is important and should never be underestimated Making staff aware that there may be a threat and how to look for signs of a phishing attempt can help fight cybercrime, and it is also equally important that staff feel empowered to speak up if they suspect they may have accidentally exposed the company to a cyber threat by clicking on something which now looks fake or downloaded a potentially dangerous file onto their PC which is connected to others via the company’s network. AVATAR Managed Services tailor their services for each client, helping businesses of every size prioritize their IT roadmap and budget, with cybersecurity high on the list
Find out more about AVATAR’s Houston Managed Cybersecurity Solutions
Cybersecurity for the Healthcare Industry
The Healthcare industry by nature holds sensitive personal data that patients expect to remain private and secure. For this reason, the healthcare industry in particular is vulnerable to cyber threats like ransomware, denial of service attacks, and the introduction of malicious code Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks disrupt normal traffic across networks, flooding infrastructure with so many spurious requests that genuine and legitimate requests are crowded out and not served Ransomware attacks can either threaten to make private information public, or block access to information until a ransom is paid. Ransomware attacks can be triggered from malicious phishing emails, can be introduced through infected portable devices like a USB drive, can be inadvertently downloaded, or can be delivered across an insecure public wi-fi connection. Security policy management and providing the appropriate guidance to employees is one of the pillars of managed cybersecurity AVATAR can support clients with “It’s important that everyone knows the ground rules We can help you set up policies that cover issues such as using personal devices (BYOD), personal use of company assets and networks, content sharing policies, and others ”
AVATAR’s approach to Managed Cybersecurity includes regular assessments, external testing, proactive management of your IT infrastructure, and planning with you and your team to be sure you have processes and procedures in place to avoid disruption.
Contact us today to explore how your business can leverage the AVATAR team. We’re available 24x7x365 and look forward to applying our IT expertise to take your business to the next level.
About AVATAR Managed Services
AVATAR Managed Services, one of the premier IT companies in Houston, TX, provides IT solutions and help create a technical roadmap for clients to embrace the best that IT has to offer their unique business needs, leveraging information technology to protect their brand, be competitive in their marketplace, keep client data secure, communicate efficiently, and have a robust plan to keep running when the unexpected happens. Staying current in a rapidly changing IT landscape is challenging, especially when the core business has nothing to do with IT As a Houston managed computer solutions company, clients are free to focus on their strengths, with AVATAR Managed Services supporting technology needs such as proactive IT management, cybersecurity solutions, IT project management resources, Houston IT consulting, data backup, and disaster recovery strategies, migrating to the cloud, a rapid response Houston IT Helpdesk, a holistic view of Houston IT services, and Houston cybersecurity compliance. AVATAR’s staff are trained to the highest standards, and an ongoing development program ensures that skills are updated In a world increasingly dependent on information technology, the dedicated team at AVATAR remains its greatest asset.
AVATAR is ranked as a top Managed Services Provider by MSPmentor Across Texas, more businesses trust AVATAR for their IT support than any other company. AVATAR is also proud to be on the Pioneer 250 list within the CRN MSP 500 List for 2023 and 2024. Contact Details for Houston managed IT services and Houston cybersecurity: Online: https://avatarmanagedservices.com/ Email: info@avatarmanagedservices.com Telephone: 281-999-1300
Address: 7102
N Sam Houston Pkwy W, Suite 210 Houston, TX 77064
