Network security has become an increasingly serious issue for businesses of all sizes. By 2025, the annual cost of cybercrime is predicted to rise to over $10 trillion globally — and small businesses and large ones alike feel the sting of those threats. If your business is not prepared to address those challenges, you may find yourself dealing with severe, long-lasting consequences. This is where the importance of periodic security monitoring and auditing comes in.

Every day, new hacking techniques and vulnerabilities emerge. Hackers are learning increasingly savvy, complicated techniques that allow them to access protected content. Social engineering has risen substantially over the past several years, with hackers able to access increasingly more information about private individuals alike. Because of that information, they are better positioned to access information and accounts. Not only that, hackers now have access to more technology and tools than ever before. These can improve their ability to break into formerly secure websites, networks, or clouds.

Periodic security monitoring and auditing are essential to stay ahead of threats. If hackers can slip undetected into a system, they can often do substantial damage in a relatively short amount of time. When you monitor your systems, you can stop those threats in their tracks.

Early detection can go a long way in preventing significant damage when a cybercriminal makes their way into your system. The longer hackers have access to your system, the more information they can locate, and the more damage they can do.

Identifying Vulnerabilities

Periodic security monitoring and auditing can help you identify vulnerabilities before they become a serious problem for your system. For example, you may discover that a vulnerability has been identified on a system you regularly use for your business. Closing that potential access point quickly can help prevent damage to your systems and business. Likewise, you may discover that a new type of malware is particularly problematic for the software you use — and identifying that challenge early can prove essential in preventing an attack.

Catching Threats

Periodic security monitoring and auditing can also help you identify a possible attacker and respond before they do more damage to your system. A hacker who has just gained access may not be able to see nearly as much as a hacker who has worked their way deep into the system. Catching them in those early stages can make a big difference in your ability to protect your business.

Each industry has its unique standards and requirements for data security. HIPAA, for example, has strict standards that help protect confidential patient information. Any business that collects electronic payments, on the other hand, must meet PCI standards. Those standards are not set in stone; rather, they change as new threats develop and regulatory bodies understand hackers' actions. Periodic security monitoring and auditing help businesses ensure compliance and avoid penalties, including costly fines.

When customers choose to use your business, they are trusting you with their sensitive information. This can include personal financial information, such as credit card numbers. In other cases, hackers can acquire contact information or even enough private information to steal a customer's identity. Failure to protect that data creates a breach of trust between you and your customers. Those breaches can have a significant impact on your reputation.

Customers who have had their information stolen may be less willing to trust your business with their sensitive data in the future. They may turn to your competitors instead. Furthermore, when new customers find out that you have suffered a significant data breach, they may be less likely to turn to your brand for their needs.

Often, threats hide within the structure of your network or your website. You may assume that your website is as secure as possible. Periodic security monitoring and auditing, on the other hand, may reveal unexpected vulnerabilities. This can include improperly set security settings or configurations, a partner provider with insecure systems, or a user who doesn't follow security protocols or hasn't received sufficient data security training.

A comprehensive assessment can go a long way toward ensuring website or network security by identifying those vulnerabilities and allowing you to close them. Hackers often seek to exploit those problems as soon as they can find them — and with new threats arising daily, if you aren't conducting periodic security monitoring and auditing, you could be leaving glaring holes in your website's structure.

Knowing that your website is secure can provide immense peace of mind. You won't have to worry about the possible damage caused by a cyberattack, which averages over $1 million. You will also not have to lie awake at night, concerned about vulnerabilities you may not yet have identified. Furthermore, risk mitigation tactics can save your business thousands or even millions of dollars by catching potential threats before they become a more serious issue.

Quttera can go a long way toward keeping your website secure and malware-free. We offer periodic security monitoring and auditing services that include:

• Website Malware Protection. This can help catch potential threats and prevent them from making it into your system.
• Website Malware Monitoring. This keeps track of the data moving through your system and catches potential threats before they become a serious problem.
• DDoS Protection. This prevents denial-of-service attacks that could take your website down and prevent customers from accessing it — often during the periods when they need that access most.
• Website Malware Removal. This can take down threats and get your website back to functioning smoothly.

With our array of services, you can feel confident that your website has the protection it needs to withstand those potential storms. The peace of mind we provide is exceptional. Reach out to us today to learn more about periodic security monitoring and auditing, and how we can help protect your website, reputation, and business.