Malware is continuing to wreak havoc on devices, notably Android. So what is Microsoft doing to combat such intrusions? Prevention and understanding are key. The definition of malware has extended from the more traditional viruses to the embodiment of varied attack levels including the new, more malicious threats. The Director of the Microsoft Malware Protection Center, Dennis Batchelder, says that crime syndicates, malware supply chain, antimalware vendors, and the antimalware ecosystem are the main participants involved. Microsoft’s Digital Crimes Unit and antimalware security software’s purpose is to proactively intercept new strains of malware. They aim to block malware, stop it in its tracks when first discovered, and seek to prosecute those involved.
From a business owners perspective there are a couple things you can do to protect yourself. A layered approach to cybersecurity is important. Protecting your business from various angles and the level at which you invest into an IT Staff make a big difference in your defense. Security begins from where and how users interact with the data, to how you transmit data past firewalls, and the level of end-to-end encryption that is put in place. Data at rest must be encrypted to protect against high valued attacks on your servers, and you can complement that with the use of intrusion detection measures and data leakage monitors. The decision must be made on what the price of security is for you, depending on the value of which you want protected and what you are willing to spend for it. For big businesses, handling it in-house may seem more appropriate. However, for small businesses a manageable and more cost effective option would reasonably be hiring a managed service provider (MSP) to tend to security needs.
