You may feel secure if your team stays on a local virtual private network (VPN) while connecting to the web at your office, but what happens when someone is on the road connecting to your Slack or Office 365 platform? Do they have that same safety net? And are you positive they’re not bypassing it with their mobile devices even while in the office?
According to a study by Gartner, 82% of corporate laptop users admitted to sometimes connecting directly to the internet instead of through the company’s VPN. It’s estimated that in 2018, 25% of corporate data traffic will flow directly from mobile devices, by passing perimeter security put in place at offices.
This means that if you don’t have a solution that can capture all that “renegade” traffic and keep it safe, you’re exposed to hackers, viruses, and security breaches.
You may think it sounds impossible to keep your staff’s web connections safe anywhere they are and no matter what type of device they’re using. Or even in unsecure places like a hotel or airport Wi-Fi. But there is a new super security tool you can use, and Connect2Geek.com is here to tell you all about it.
Cisco Umbrella is just that, a magical umbrella that reaches your entire organization no matter where they are to keep them safe from cyber threats. It’s the first Secure Internet Gateway (SIG) that exists… in the cloud.
Cisco Umbrella SIG Overview
Everything seems to be going “to the cloud” these days. Our photos are automatically backed up in a cloud environment, QuickBooks has accounting in the cloud, and we’ve become used to online, cloud-based backup services. So it only makes sense that Cisco went there too with their internet security.
The Cisco Umbrella basically allows your users to connect through its watchful security whether at the office, outside the building, or when using a mobile device.
Here’s an overview of the key features:
- DNS & IP layer protection to stop threats
- Intelligent proxying of web traffic to block malicious sites
- Blocks infections from a user device from infiltrating the whole network
- Visibility for all web traffic on and off your network
- Smart identification to catch emergent threats before they reach you
- No hardware to install
- Easy-to-use browser-based interface
Automated Security for Every User, Anywhere
Have you been in a meeting only to hear that someone’s computer has been acting up and they think it might be a virus? When you ask when it happened, it was “sometime last week.” During that week of an unreported issue, your whole network could be infected with malware or ransomware.
Our team at Connect2Geek.com sees this happen all to often when automated systems that look for and report potential threats aren’t in place. This is another benefit of Cisco Umbrella. It can report traffic and threats for any computer, laptop, tablet, or smart phone so you can take action. The software can also automatically make sure a threat downloaded on someone’s tablet, doesn’t get to your network. It’s like an automated quarantine system.
Still think your VPN might be enough? Here’s a look at user reported activities at work and the frequency at which they say they bypass company safety protocols when doing them:
- Browsing the internet – 82%
- Access to online banking – 61%
- Booking travel – 50%
- Visiting social media sites – 51%
- Watching online videos – 52%
- Online shopping – 55%
- Streaming music – 22%
That’s a lot of online activity that leaves your office network exposed to cyber threats, viruses, and more.
Connect2Geek.com helps businesses easily implement the Cisco Umbrella and teach their team how to use it on any device, to ensure that any connection goes through a secure cloud-based internet gateway.
At least 15% of command and control callbacks bypass web ports.
What does that mean to you? It means if you transmit any type of data online, some of that data may be unprotected if the current security you have in place isn’t protecting all the ports that are being used as gateways. These unprotected ports are what cybercriminals look for when they infiltrate a system.
Cisco Umbrella secures all ports, cutting off back doors that hackers can use to infiltrate your network. And no matter where you take your computer or device, it’s protected due to their cloud-based structure.
Easy Implementation
Afraid of implementing another complicated system that you’re not sure your staff will use? You won’t have that issue with Cisco Umbrella. There is no hardware to install and software is updated automatically. It’s browser-based and easy for any team member to use whether they’re on a mobile phone or desktop computer. And of course, Connect2Geek.com can save you time by setting everything up and showing you how to use it.
Ensure your business is protected no matter what! Give Connect2Geek.com a call today to learn more about Cisco Umbrella and how you can give it a try.