Page 35 - Cyber Defense eMagazine for July 2020

System Updates / Antivirus

Security updates to operating systems and applications have never been more important than during the
COVID-19 crisis. System administrators have the responsibility of ensuring that the mobile workforce
information technology is up to date and has the latest security updates.

When an employee's laptop connects to a corporate network, it will typically check in with a centralized
administration portal, such as Microsoft System Center (SCCM). Toolsets like this manage the update
schedule of thousands of laptops, computers, and mobile devices over a VPN or standard Internet
connection.

Administrators can force updates out on demand to keep antivirus, antimalware, and system updates at
the latest level. This creates the best line of defense against malware and ransomware attacks.

Software Protections

The software on the portable equipment must comply with the organizational standards to ensure it is
supportable. As mentioned earlier, up-to-date antivirus detection software is installed to protect local
systems. No unauthorized software should be loaded on to company assets, no matter how trivial.
Software should not be tampered with to circumvent security measures put in place, such as disabling
antivirus system scans.

Any tampering of the software should be considered a disciplinary offense, and the antivirus suite should
be configured to audit user behavior. When used to access the Internet, the user’s device should utilize
a proxy server where the activity is logged and monitored.

About the Author

Marty Puranik co-founded Atlantic.Net from his dorm room at the
University of Florida in 1994. As CEO and President of Atlantic.Net,
one of the first Internet Service Providers in America, Marty grew the
company from a small ISP to a large regional player in the region, while

observing America's regulatory environment limit competition and
increase prices on consumers. To keep pace with a changing industry, over the years he has led
Atlantic.Net through the acquisition of 16 Internet companies, tripling the company's revenues and
establishing customer relationships in more than 100 countries. Providing cutting-edge cloud hosting
before the mainstream did, Atlantic.Net has expanded to seven data centers in three countries.

Cyber Defense eMagazine –July 2020 Edition 35
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