It seems that everything relies on computers and the internet now–communication (email, cellphones), entertainment (digital cable, mp3s), transportation (car engine systems, airplane navigation), shopping (online stores, credit cards), medicine (equipment, medical records); the list goes on. For this very reason, many people and businesses alike require the services of a cyber security expert who can help defend your computers, servers, mobile devices, electronic systems, networks, and data from malicious attacks. Contact Port Security Services to learn more about cyber security and how our security experts can assist you.
Why Do I Need a Cyber Security Expert?
Whether you are a business or an individual, you can expect to face various threats against your computers, servers, and more. Among these dangers are viruses erasing your entire system, someone breaking into your system and altering files, someone using your computer to attack others, or someone stealing your credit card information and making unauthorized purchases. Unfortunately, there’s no 100% guarantee that even with the best precautions some of these things won’t happen to you, but there are steps you can take to minimize the chances–one of those being hiring a cyber security expert.
Our Cyber Security Services
Coast Guard regulated facilities are required to conduct assessments of their cyber security risks and vulnerabilities. Though this could be done internally, it is generally best to have an objective, third-party company do the work. Port Security Services is here to help.
Our assessment will identify strengths and weaknesses and make recommendations for improving security. No cyber system could be 100% perfect, so the common sense approach is to address the biggest risks and have a plan on what to do next if/when you get hacked.
Port Security Services will place a cyber vulnerability and penetration test device on your system and monitor it for a few days. An OutFile is created and we visit the terminal to go over their cyber issues and create their cyber assessment.
We translate the cyber assessment into a “Cyber Annex” amendment to the facility’s security plan. The Coast Guard does not need or want the original technical assessment, just a plain language summary and plan.
We will also help you determine the scope of the cyber assessment. Basically, the Coast Guard is mostly concerned with systems with a direct impact on safety/security on the facility, not the corporate business network stuff that might take place hundreds of miles away.
Protecting Yourself Against Cyber Attacks
The first step in protecting yourself is to recognize the risks and become familiar with some of the terminology associated with them. Some of the most common terms associated with cyber attacks are as follows:
Hacker, attacker, or intruder: These terms are applied to the people who seek to exploit weaknesses in software and computer systems for their own gain. Although their intentions are sometimes fairly benign and motivated solely by curiosity, their actions are typically in violation of the intended use of the systems they are exploiting. The results can range from mere mischief (creating a virus with no intentionally negative impact) to malicious activity (stealing or altering information).
Malicious code: Malicious code, sometimes called malware, is a broad category that includes any code that could be used to attack your computer. Viruses and worms are examples of malicious code. Malicious code can have the following characteristics:
- It might require you to actually do something before it infects your computer. This action could be opening an email attachment or going to a particular web page.
- Some forms propagate without user intervention and typically start by exploiting a software vulnerability. Once the victim computer has been infected, the malicious code will attempt to find and infect other computers. This code can also propagate via email, websites, or network-based software.
- Some malicious code claims to be one thing while in fact doing something different behind the scenes. For example, a program that claims it will speed up your computer may actually be sending confidential information to a remote intruder.
Aside from watching out for any signs of scams or other malware, the most important thing you can do is speak with an experienced cyber security expert who has vast experience protecting sensitive information by preventing, detecting, and responding to attacks.
Contact a Cyber Security Expert
The bottom line is that your private information should stay that way, and our experienced cyber security experts have the knowledge and technology needed to help ensure that it does. Contact Port Security Services today to learn more about how we can assist you.