Businesses face an array of cybersecurity threats that can have devastating consequences. Many marketing campaigns in the cybersecurity sector leverage fear to drive home the urgency of these threats. While it is crucial to acknowledge the dangers and remain aware, it is equally important to focus on educating businesses about where to start, the associated costs, and the necessary steps involved in bolstering cybersecurity.
A fundamental component of business security is managing who and what can access your company data and services. This is where Identity and Access Management (IAM) comes into play. Think of IAM as the diligent doorman of your company. Just like a doorman checks IDs to ensure only authorised individuals enter a building, IAM systems verify both the identity of users and the integrity of their devices before granting access to your systems.
IAM involves a variety of processes and tools designed to ensure that the right individuals and devices have the appropriate access to technology resources. This not only includes verifying the identity of users but also managing and monitoring their access over time. By implementing IAM, businesses can protect sensitive data, enhance compliance, and improve overall security posture.
For those who use Microsoft 365, you can perform a check to see who is logging in to your company by following the steps in this link – you may be surprised to find some not so friendly attempts to get into your system!
Here are some critical questions to consider when evaluating your access management protocols:
• Do we have all users in our business centralised?
Centralising user management can streamline access control and improve security by providing a single point of oversight.
• Do we know all our users?
Maintaining an up-to-date and comprehensive list of users is essential for effective access management.
• Are all our devices centralised?
Just like users, devices should also be monitored and managed from a central point to ensure they meet security standards.
• Are leaver accounts still active or disabled?
Ensuring that former employees no longer have access to your systems is crucial to prevent unauthorised access.
• How many accounts/users have administrator rights?
Limiting administrative privileges reduces the risk of accidental or intentional misuse of sensitive information.
• Have you shared files with external people who may still have access?
Regularly review shared files and revoke access when it is no longer needed to minimise potential security breaches.
• Do we have security measures in place to track activity and accessing of files?
Implementing tracking measures helps to monitor and record who accesses what information, providing an additional layer of security and accountability. Implementing IAM may seem daunting, but the benefits far outweigh the initial effort and costs. Not only does it safeguard your company’s sensitive data, but it also enhances operational efficiency and regulatory compliance. Investing in a robust IAM solution is investing in the future security and success of your business. With Identity and Access Management in your control, you can build a solid foundation for your company’s cybersecurity strategy. It is not just about guarding against threats but also about creating a secure, well-managed environment where your business can thrive without fear.
An Introduction to our Cyber Experts at HTG
Howell Technology Group (often abbreviated to HTG) is a Microsoft advanced specialist in Identity and Access Management, Threat Protection, Cloud Security and Information and Protection Governance – focusing on ensuring secure productivity. By being an advanced specialist, we have demonstrated to Microsoft that we have the skills and pedigree of delivering secure workloads in Microsoft 365 for ourselves and our customers. Such efforts have been recognised by Microsoft evidenced by our latest commendation and listing as a global finalist in the Microsoft 2024 Partner of the Year Awards for Secure Productivity.
Our Mission Statement is that we are passionate about providing people-first solutions using innovative and emerging technologies. Our aim is to create high performing, secure digital workspaces for every user, no matter their location or device.
With our approach, we unlock the true value of IT for our customers. This enables them to achieve their business goals. This means that users can be secure, regardless of device or location. We do this, in part, by implementing our secure M365 tenant configuration – whether you are a one-off customer moving to the modern workplace or one of our secure managed service customers (HTG Overwatch), we ensure your M365 tenant is safe. Our configuration pack aligns to the CIS Benchmark IG1. The CIS (Centre for Internet Security) Benchmark IG1 is a set of best practices and guidelines designed to help organisations secure their systems and data against cyber threats. It provides a framework for implementing essential security controls that can significantly reduce the risk of cyber incidents.
Our Microsoft security services and solutions cover a range of items so we are confident we’ll be able to find you a solution that’s right for you. For a no-obligation chat, feel free to reach out to me via LinkedIn, email [email protected] or you can get my contact details from NEBRC directly.