Are you tired of constantly battling against cyber threats targeting your business? Well, we’ve got the perfect solution for you. As Maryland continues to see a significant increase in ransomware attacks, data breaches, and cyber fraud, more local businesses are at serious risk. In fact, this is true for most of the country, with The State of Ransomware report finding that payments from ransomware attacks nearly doubled in 2023, reaching $1.1 billion. So, what can you do to ensure your Baltimore business doesn’t fall victim?
Let’s explore the key risk areas for Baltimore businesses before walking through how comprehensive IT support can strengthen your cybersecurity posture like never before.
Why Baltimore Businesses Are at Risk
In May of 2024, Maryland residents who get health services from Ascension were put at high risk of their personal data having been exposed, with a total of 5.6 million people across the country being impacted. As this example highlights, the increase in large-scale cyber threats means it’s critical to ensure maximum safety and prevent your business from making cybersecurity mistakes, such as:
- Weak password policies: Reusing passwords or failing to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Lack of employee training: Falling victim to phishing scams due to unawareness.
- Outdated software: Leaving vulnerabilities unpatched, making systems easy targets for cybercriminals.
- No disaster recovery plan: Losing essential data due to insufficient backup strategies.
The best solution is taking a proactive approach to cybersecurity. With a reliable IT support team, your Baltimore business can strengthen defenses and prevent cyberattacks before they cause company-wide devastation.
Strengthening Cybersecurity with IT Support
The daily evolution of cyber threats means businesses need more than just an antivirus program. Comprehensive IT support in Baltimore provides multiple layers of protection to safeguard your network, devices, and data.
1. Network Monitoring and Threat Detection
Beginning with 24/7 monitoring, undertaking an incredibly significant role in securing your business, this ensures that any cyberattacks occurring out of office hours are dealt with immediately. IT support providers constantly track suspicious activity, ensuring that any threats are detected and mitigated before they can escalate.
2. Endpoint Protection and Managed Firewalls
With numerous entry points for cyber threats, like workstations, mobile devices, and servers, you must implement strong protocols to maintain security. With endpoint protection solutions, every device can be secured, along with the implementation of managed firewalls blocking malicious traffic and preventing unauthorized access.
3. Comprehensive Security Management
Outdated software is highly valuable to hackers, enabling them to gain access to systems and launch attacks. However, proactive IT support guarantees security patches and updates are promptly installed to reduce vulnerabilities in systems. Moreover, regular vulnerability scans identify potential weaknesses in your IT infrastructure so you can fix them before they cause any problems.
4. Employee Training: An Invaluable Defense
On top of cybersecurity risks, human error continues to prevail. Untrained employees can be tricked by cybercriminals into providing sensitive information by clicking on malicious links through phishing emails, social engineering, and malware. Pairing alongside our proactive recommendations, an affiliated IT company, VBS IT, explores common cybersecurity challenges in a recent article of theirs. Focusing on the key steps to preparing your team, they support the critical need for comprehensive employee education.
IT support can help employees stay cyber-safe by educating them on how to identify phishing scams, spot suspicious activity, and practice safe online behavior. Extending this, simulated phishing tests test your employees’ responses and provide constructive feedback. Through these exercises, Baltimore businesses can drastically reduce the risk of cyberattacks that rely on human error.
5. Data Backup and Disaster Recovery
No system is 100% immune to cyber threats, even with strong cybersecurity protocols, which is exactly why IT support encourages having a robust backup and disaster recovery plan. Let’s explore why secure, automated backups matter:
- Data Loss Prevention: Never worry about ransomware attacks encrypting your files again. With automated backups, businesses can quickly restore lost data without paying a ransom.
- Ensuring Business Continuity: IT support ensures regular backups to secure cloud storage, reducing downtime in the event of a disaster.
- Avoiding Major Financial Losses: A well-implemented backup and disaster recovery plan saves businesses from revenue loss due to operational disruptions.
6. Compliance and Regulatory Support
It’s mandatory for businesses operating in regulated industries to meet strict compliance and cybersecurity standards. This ensures they can avoid non-compliance penalties and secure a strong reputation that builds trust with clients. Different industries require adherence to specific security regulations such as HIPAA for healthcare, PIC-DSS for finance, and NIST 800-171 for government contractors.
Your Trusted Technology Partner in Baltimore
At TTP, we are proud to provide Baltimore businesses with comprehensive IT support that enables them to remain protected, compliant, and resilient against all types of cyber threats. Our cybersecurity services include:
- Network Security: Protecting your infrastructure with firewalls, intrusion detection, and access controls.
- Endpoint Protection: Securing every device against malware, ransomware, and cyberattacks.
- Disaster Recovery & Backup Solutions: Ensuring secure data backups and fast recovery in case of a breach.
- Compliance & Risk Assessments: Helping businesses meet regulatory requirements and industry security standards.
Cyber threats are growing, but proactive IT support in Baltimore can help businesses stay ahead of attackers. Contact us today to schedule your free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment and take the first step in securing your Baltimore business.
