Dangers in the Firewall! Holes in your IT Security

Firewalls are one of the important ways to protect IT security. Open ports and other security weaknesses may leave you vulnerable to a malware attack. In this article, you will learn more about the holes in your IT security.

Having a firewall in place is one of the most simple ways to add protection to any network. A good firewall helps stop potentially harmful programs from entering into your network and causing trouble. They add security to protect your data when set up correctly, but many people leave weaknesses in their firewalls that can cause massive data breaches. 

Firewalls are not Perfect

Firewalls monitor the information being sent in between a private network and the public internet. It mostly watches to see where information is coming from and where it’s going. If it sees a type of file or IP address known to be harmful or that it does not like, it filters it from entering the network.

Firewalls are also very useful for connecting remote workers to their office network. This is convenient for workers but can lead to dangers in your IT security. Firewalls use things called ports to help decide what to let in and what to block. It may decide to let in emails but block files that are known to contain malware.

Closing Ports

There are over 1000 types of well-known ports in common firewalls. Some are there to allow things like emails, certain web information, and other normal processes to pass through. Other ports are lesser known by non-tech people but can be common locations for hackers to send through malicious programs.

Closing ports is essential for your IT security. This is especially true as more and more people are working remotely. Remote access means that anyone in the world who has access to the internet can try to get into your business’s network. If you leave a weakness in your system, then you are just asking for people everywhere to try a break-in.

Leaving an open port in your firewall is like having a hole in the wall of your house. You may not know it exists, and there is no problem. But then maybe one day an animal discovers the hole and breaks into your house. The animal might start running wild and destroying whatever things that matter to you. That’s like how malware uses the holes in your IT security system.

Why This Matters?

If a hacker is able to get into your system, then you are leaving yourself open for destruction. It only takes one access point for someone to be able to quietly break into your system and start looking around for opportunities. Eventually, they will release some kind of malware or ransomware, and then it will be too late to do anything.

The New York Times reported that the average payout for ransomed data at the end of 2019 was around $80,000. That is more than many businesses can afford to pay and still be able to continue operations. A small oversight could end up with you losing your business if you aren’t careful.

Luckily, closing these ports is one of the easiest ways to improve IT security. It can be virtually free if you know what you’re doing, or you can work with your IT team or a trusted MSP to help you find your weaknesses.

ITS is a leader in helping businesses keep their cybersecurity protected. Our free consultation could help you find the areas that you are most vulnerable and get them fixed hassle-free.

Give us a call to learn more about how we can help with the data management needs for your business in Los Angeles, Phoenix, Las Vegas, or Chicago.