Jacksonville Cyber Security

WHAT ARE FIREWALLS?

Workforce IT is here to support your Jacksonville cyber security needs. You’ve probably heard of the phrase “firewall.” So what exactly are they? A firewall refers to security measures that monitor and regulate the flow of incoming and outgoing network traffic. It’s like a digital police checkpoint that can make sure the wrong data doesn’t get out, and checks each piece of incoming data that tries to get into your computer or network.

Just like a real police checkpoint, a firewall can look for specific suspects based on pre-established settings, and can block entry into your computer’s entry ways, called ports.
Without adequate firewall protection, cyber criminals can easily find weaknesses in them and gain access to your computer or network. Cyber attacks continue to rise and evolve with every passing year, costing US businesses billions in damages, and in many cases, cause so much financial or reputation damage that small businesses have to close their shops.

CYBER THREATS

Unfortunately, many types of cyber threats can get around a firewall. The more sophisticated the cyber attack, the more likely it will be a successful one. And now more than ever, cyber criminals are targeting small business across the world, including right here in Jacksonville, Fla. Unlike large corporations, small businesses are less likely to have the necessary firewalls to protect their networks, making them easy targets for hackers.

•  Authorized attack

Firewalls are your first line of defense and are designed to keep out anything that’s not authorized. But one way hackers get around this is by piggybacking on authorized connections, like a virtual private network (VPN). They can also do what is known as a man-in-the-middle attack (MITM), and take over authorized communication streams and input their own commands.

• System and application vulnerabilities

If your operating system or applications are not fully updated, hackers can bypass your firewall by exploiting their flaws. Even with a secure firewall, if a hacker convinces a user to visit an infected page, they can get around the firewall. That’s why it’s vital to always make sure your operating systems and applications have downloaded the latest patches and that you are using the most recent versions.

• Social engineering

Social engineering attacks go after individuals, and not the security systems. This is commonly done through phishing emails that trick businesses into giving out login credentials and other sensitive information. Or they can even convince employees to give out information over the phone or text message.

• SQL injections

Structured Query Language is used to query, operate and administer database systems. Hackers can use SQL injection attacks to bypass firewalls and gain entry into database systems used to command intranet services like email. These types of attacks can be devastating for any Jacksonville business. In fact, the Open Web Application Security Project (OWASP) lists SQL injections as the number one threat to web applications.

Jacksonville Cyber Security

Be careful of cyber threats that can bypass basic firewalls. It’s important to remember that a firewall is just the first line of defense. You also need additional security from the best IT services. From law firm IT support to office IT support, Workforce IT of Jacksonville will provide the full-service expertise your business needs to protect itself from cyber criminals. 904.638.8406.