Zero Day
Written by Kellie Swensen
Zero day, why is this something a business should worry about? Well, first of all, zero day shows previous unknown vulnerabilities in software, hardware, and in the operating system program code. Any vulnerability leaves the business information accessible not only to hackers but the public as well. Zero day leaves the developer zero days (typically less than 12 hours) of notification of the vulnerability before it is used as the opening for a security breach. Every business is susceptible to a zero day attack. Most businesses are vulnerable because their systems are only used to protect against the known threats. A business must keep it self-protected for the zero day attacks as research has shown the number of attacks per year has increased as the improvement in technology has. In 2012 there were 14 zero days; to 23 in 2013; to 54 in 2015. It has shown over a 100 percent year over year increase. Since zero day attacks are unpredictable and there are no protocols set up for, so business should prepare for the unexpected.
To protect what one has built, businesses need to avoid any and all potential threats. No one is truly prepared for a zero day attack. One can have multiple systems to keep track of, and what is going on in their systems. Any viruses and security breaches make it more difficult to keep what is necessary for the business running as it should. If a business doesn’t have a strong foundation, whether it be a virus or a system breach can cause issues beyond what we have prepared for. Viruses that enter into the system tends to not only slow the systems down but it takes time for the IT techs to find and fix the virus. Also, they have to make sure that every other system has been checked and made secure. That is the more simple issue but what if the security has been breached? Information on any business level is crucial whether it be confidential/classified it is necessary to keep one’s business running. Without the trust of one’s clients, the clients can start choosing to go to your competitor, this can cost business thousands, hundreds of thousands, or even millions of dollars in profits or recurring revenue. If this happens not only can your business lose money but if not rectified a business can soon cease to exist altogether. Now, of course, a zero day doesn’t end at the end of a shift, it is crucial to have a system that keeps working after you are done with your work day as well as software to keep new threats at bay.
Business can make it more complicated for zero day to infect their systems. Besides having an anti-virus program which everyone with a computer should have, one should layer it with more protection. GFI LanGuard helps to protect software for various different business. GFI LanGuard is a network security scanner and patch management software. GFI LanGuard protects you software against attacks and various exploits by running scans against the network to determine if the systems are up to date patch wise. It can also detect network vulnerabilities before they are exploited, therefore, it makes it more complicated for a zero day attack. GFI LanGuard works not only through your shift but even after everyone has gone. Utilizing agents GFI LanGuard scans machines on a set schedule determined by setup. Having the software work 24/7 helps keep the business protected by keeping the systems up to date, informing the business of vulnerabilities and potential vulnerabilities in the network before they can be exploited. GFI Languard can be set up to scan computer systems that have multiple operating systems, network devices, and mobile devices on a set schedule, even every day if needed or wanted. By setting up GFI LanGuard properly it allows business to find the flaws or possible flaws in the network in order to look into them before hackers or other malicious software have the chance to use nonupdated software, hardware or otherwise to bring a business harm.