Here are 7 ways to improve your network security.  

First – Mandate Use of Multifactor Authentication (MFA)
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is an authentication method that requires the user to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to a resource such as an application, online account, or a VPN. MFA is a core component of a strong identity and access management (IAM) policy. Rather than just asking for a username and password, MFA requires one or more additional verification factors, which decreases the likelihood of a successful cyber attack.

Second – Implement EndPoint Detection and Response (EDR)
Bitdefender EDR is a cloud-based solution built upon the Bitdefender GravityZone XDR platform. Each EDR agent deployed on your organization’s endpoints has an event recorder that continuously monitors the endpoint and securely sends insights and suspicious event details to the centralized GravityZone Control Center.

Third – Setup Continuous Vulnerability Scanning
Intruder is an online vulnerability scanner that finds cyber security weaknesses in digital infrastructure. Intruder’s external network vulnerability scanner checks systems for vulnerabilities which include web-layer security problems (such as SQL injection and cross-site scripting), infrastructure weaknesses (such as remote code execution flaws), and other security misconfigurations (such as weak encryption configurations, and systems which are unnecessarily exposed).

Fourth – Implement Cybersecurity Training for Employees right away
Annual, interactive video-based training course. Simulated Phishing (Automated & Ongoing). Email Analysis Tool to counter phishing emails. Dark Web Email Scans (business and personal accounts). Employee Vulnerability Assessment Policies and Procedures management platform.

Fifth – Cloud Backup
N-able™ Backup is a cloud-first backup solution with flexible recovery options, no hardware hassles, and cloud storage and archiving. In additional to backing up systems and network data, the system also provides backup for individual Microsoft 365 account and shared data.

Sixth – Implement a Password Manager
Password Generator – Generates strong, unique passwords and automatically fills them into apps and websites for your employees. Private Vaults for Each User – Everyone gets a private vault to store and manage their passwords, files and private data across every type of device. Shared Folders, Subfolders and Passwords – Securely create, share and manage both individual records and encrypted folders across teams or individual users.

Seventh – Zero Trust Application
ThreatLocker is a cybersecurity solution that offers a Zero Trust and unified approach to protecting users, devices, and networks against exploitation by blocking unknown application vulnerabilities.

These seven steps to improve your network security coupled with IT Services can help protect your business from cyber attack.  What are IT services?  IT services refers to the application of business and technical expertise to enable organizations in the creation, management, and optimization of or access to information and business processes.  

12 Common IT Services

1. Help Desk Support
   1. A basic service provided by most IT service providers is help desk support. Essentially, this gives you access to IT professionals that can help you solve problems and fix errors as they come up. Support is typically provided over the phone and by remotely controlling your computer, but it can be done in person if needed.
2. Network Monitoring and Alerting
   1. This service allows you to monitor your network for any of numerous problems that may crop up. You can get alerts that will trigger when something exceeds designated performance thresholds. For example, you may set a monitor to alert you when disk space on your server reaches 90% full. When your server reaches that threshold, the alert is triggered, and a ticket is generated so that IT can investigate.
3. Backup and Disaster Recovery
   1. This service gives a business a system that allows for business continuity in the event of a failure. This can be hardware failure, ransomware attack, or anything else that would make the business inoperable.
4. Office 365/SaaS Application Management
   1. Many businesses have made the move to the cloud for email and other business applications but are now realizing that this move doesn’t eliminate the administration of SASS applications like Office 365. There is still a significant amount of work that goes into ensuring that these tools are secure and administered appropriately. New account creation, user offboarding, permissions management, license management, and various other tasks can be part of successfully administered SASS applications.
5. Hardware Support
   1. No matter the nature of your business, broken hardware is bound to happen. When it does, you need a service provider that knows how to evaluate it, fix it, or put in a warranty request. 
6. Network Security
   1. The best network security services are typically layered. They will have several layers of perimeter protection, a strong firewall, layers of endpoint protection, security maintenance, security policy, and end user security training. These are some of the elements of a complete security solution.
7. Vendor Management
   1. Another IT service that most businesses need, but don’t often think about is vendor management. In any IT organization there are items that touch the network and require an IT expert to coordinate their efforts with a vendor to troubleshoot.
8. Cloud Computing Solutions
   1. You need a partner that can help you find the right cloud solutions, migrate you to them, and then support and maintain them. Most IT services in the cloud revolve around these three items.
9. Account Management
   1. An IT service that is frequently overlooked is account management. Account managers handle everything related to IT that is not a support request. It can include specking out and purchasing new hardware, planning projects, preparing IT reporting, strategic planning, and ensuring excellence in service delivery.
10. Virtual CIO Digital Advisor Services
    1. Most companies need some overall direction and strategy when it comes to their IT. Higher level consultation on needs and an intricate understanding of the business is needed to be able to give the best advice. That plus leadership is what a CIO would typically provide. Most businesses, even small ones, could benefit significantly from that type of direction and strategy.
11. IT Reporting
    1. This consists of compiling data from your IT into reports that can inform how you give service, plan, and solve problems.
12. IT Automation
    1. IT automation is an IT service that has a lot of different applications. You can automate IT functions for many items such as patches and updates, backups, new user creation, software installation, virus destruction, monitoring and alerting, and much more.