IT security is a cost with no tangible benefit! Or is it?

IT security is a cost with no tangible benefit! Or is it?

Life’s busy; we are all rushing around sliding in another task to an already burgeoning work schedule. So when time is short, we tend not to have the capacity to exert energy on the mundane, such as IT security.

Here are a few of the more common messages that we get presented with on our computers in the work place and at home:

‘A new update for your anti-virus is available’.

‘Your last back up was over two weeks ago’

After ignoring all these messages because there is a cat to feed or possibly a small human, before you sit down to watch the next episode of ‘Breaking Bad’, you might get the following from your computer:

‘Do you care about security, or am I wasting my CPU’?

We may not be far away from self-generated, computer impertinence, if the likes of Cortana and Siri get their way. On a more serious note however, because we’re here to ruminate on security, specifically in the work-place, we live in a world where security is necessary to protect us from viruses all the way through to large scale hacks, through to information becoming corrupted.

Whatever the reason for the security problem, whether an inside-job or because there are nasty people out there; our most precious IT assets need protection. Akin to having a bouncer on the door of a night-club, we need to keep the troublemakers away. If we can extend that analogy further, those bouncers are hired because they are specialists. You wouldn’t put your elderly granny on the door of the Ministry of Sound, unless of course she was a black belt at karate and needed to supplement her pension.

The service provider fundamentally needs to display a track record of protecting IT assets, using technology and trusted personnel. Moreover, the security service should be underpinned by a provider displaying, and then demonstrating a record of great customer service.

Currently there are many technologies to assist in IT security, whether that’s safeguarding mobile phones, servers, personal computers (tablets, laptops, etc) or any other asset with a networked connection that could be accessed by unauthorised parties. Going beyond the firewall, those solutions include device and threat management technologies.

So in the end, the trusted service provider with the right tools, can manage your security so you can get on with putting the ‘Breaking Bad’ boxset on your Christmas wish list!

You may be interested in our upcoming webinar on 19th November all about managing and securing mobile data. Find out more >