August 16, 2024 | Blog

As everyone moves to the digital realm, businesses and organizations secure their way to top their IT Management. For a couple of years, however, as technology grew faster, so did the cyber threats and crimes. The conversation now moves toward the value of data privacy and security, and many people with ill intent are interested in exploiting your business data and information for their gain. Aside from the outside cyber threats your company is facing, insider threats are also common threats that are taken for granted; hence, a red flag is overseen with the effect of exploiting your IT security.

So, how do you check if your IT security is at risk? Today, IT Group, Inc. (ITG) shares signs and symptoms that your company is vulnerable and has poor IT security and management. Find out how you can take better action to boost your IT security.

Here are the 5 Signs and Symptoms to Check on Your IT Security and Management

1. 1. Solid IT Policy

   2. Personal vs Professional: SocMed Usage

   3. Asset Management

   4. Password Management

   5. Risk Mitigation and Disaster Backup Plan

   6. When is The Best Time to Invest and Upgrade?

Solid IT Policy

The fundamentals of any IT security are always how they set the highest standard that gives firm policy. ITG, with its tech partner known for IT service management, ManageEngine, laid out some of the best practices of solid IT policy. Reflect on whether you have a dependable policy or a weak hold on your IT management and security. According to ManageEngine, it is best to check if you have a policy that compasses all levels of employees, from stakeholders to decision-makers. It means the rule can’t be bent over, regardless of positon, and certain standard operating procedures are followed. “The purpose of this policy is to protect the organization from actions that may compromise its security or services. It also details how the policy will be executed and any legal consequences that violators may face,” ManageEngine said. 

Also read: ​​GUIDE: 5 Easy Steps to Create a Strong Password

As far as IT policies are concerned, this one should be at the top of your list,” they said. IT Policy should tackle three important things: the do’s, the don’ts, and equivalent sanctions per violation. Do’s of what is allowed and not allowed with using your IT software, including data, information, software, hardware, etc. Don’ts, meanwhile, refer to actions that can be taken as offenses and violations. For example, sharing passwords with co-workers or using company laptops for personal use.  Last, the level of violation and its sanctions, which include a written warning, 2nd offense, or worst, termination depending on their violation. If you don’t have clear rules and regulations about your policy, your company is at risk of taking advantage of insiders and lack of legal protection in the future.

Personal vs Professional: SocMed Usage

Between personal and professional digital profiles, oftentimes there are grey areas that are hard to figure out, especially when it comes to social media usage. For IT security management, the weaker the layout of the SocMed usage policy, the more vulnerable your company could be. For example, using a company SocMed account receiving phishing chats or Inmails with links that have viruses end up getting hacked. Of course, not all departments, like integrated marketing and creative teams, are prohibited from using SocMed for business.  But this is where you draw a line, who will have access, and what websites are allowed to use solely for business purposes, especially social media. 

Also read: ManageEngine’s Best Practices for Cybersecurity

“Social media apps are constantly evolving with new features, but the fundamental practice remains the same. Employees should understand the difference between their personal and professional identities and ensure that any content they put out does not reveal confidential information or disrespect another person’s boundaries,” ManageEngine said. “With an increase of social media use within the workforce, it is vital to lay out clear dos and don’ts with respect to social media. This policy ensures that any form of communication with an external party or individual through social media is conducted while keeping in line with the ethics, confidentiality, and values of a company.’

Asset Management

Another way to check for poor IT management and systems is to recalibrate how you handle IT assets in your organization. What people don’t know is that aside from software security, hardware is, in fact, a deal breaker for data privacy and information security. Assets like laptops, phones, tablets, or any gadgets need to be encrypted, scanned, and properly programmed for full security. 

Also read: Backup Plan: Why Doing Backup is Important in Your Business

How about bringing your own device or (BOYD)? ManageEngine has some important notes about it. “Like the acceptable use policy, the gadget policy applies to employees, contractors, consultants, and contract workers employed by a company and its subsidiaries. If your organization works with vendors, they should be included in the policy,” they said. “This policy includes procedures and protocols for effective organizational asset management, specifically electronic devices. It covers the end-to-end cycle of assets from acquisition, deployment, usage, maintenance, withdrawal, to disposal. It also covers usage in the instance of the BYOD model. These policies are designed to protect individuals and the organization against financial losses associated with damage, loss, or theft of devices.”

Password Management

The fourth on the list is the common yet most important thing to check: password management. If you’re an enterprise-level company, having a quick and easy yet secure password management is crucial to secure your company’s data and information within employees or clients. Some of the biggest struggles are to have an adaptive, comprehensive, yet convenient, reliable password management system. With ITG and ManageEngine, password security for IT Purposes can be achieved. “A set of rules defined to increase cybersecurity, encourage users to create strong passwords, and help an organization manage the use of passwords within the network,” they said. 

Also read: World Data Privacy Day and the Importance of Securing Your Data (Part III)

“ManageEngine Password Manager Pro is a secure, on–premises password manager that helps users safely vault and manage credentials, secrets, and other digital identities. Thousands of businesses worldwide–including Fortune 500 companies–put enterprise password management on autopilot with Password Manager Pro’. Some key features of ManageEngine’s Password Manager Pro are secure password vault, robust access control, periodic password rotation,  non-human identity management, and application-to-application password management, to name a few. “These mission-critical identities must be safely protected and managed from a centralized password management solution. Password Manager Pro is one such solution that acts as a comprehensive password manager for enterprise needs,” ManageEngine said.

Risk Mitigation and Disaster Backup Plan 

Last but not least, is your IT security prepared for risk mitigation and a disaster backup plan? If the answer is no, then you are in luck. ITG and ManageEngine offer solutions for your IT Services Management focusing on a recovery plan: Meet RecoveryManager Plus. “ManageEngine RecoveryManager Plus is a web-based enterprise backup solution providing you with the ability to easily backup and restore your Active Directory, Azure Active Directory, Microsoft 365 (Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business), Google Workspace, on-premises Exchange, and Zoho WorkDrive environment,” ManageEngine said.

Without risk mitigation that involves a recovery and backup plan, your IT security is on the brink of actual disaster. Come to think of it, you’re in a natural calamity, and your business is affected, worst, you lost your clients and employees’ data, making your company a target for cyber threats and attacks. Investment in this kind of IT Service Management will save you and your organization from future damages and secure business continuity without worries. ​​

Also read: IT Group, Inc. Celebrates 21st Anniversary in the Tech Industry

​​IT Group, Inc. has been the leading IT Solution Partner in the Philippines and ASEAN Region, with regional offices located in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore, helping 200+ clients across the ASEAN region on their digital transformation journey and has a solid portfolio of 250+ successful projects. We’re an ISO 9001:2015 Certified company, the leading technology partner for system-wide innovative solutions that deliver seamless integrations and processes, from Business Management Solutions, IT Management, Integration & Automation, and Enterprise Data Management to IT Infrastructure.

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