What Is A Security Breach?

And how to mitigate cyber-risks.

Cartoon hands shaking showing team of experts in cyber security and penetration testing

What is a security breach?

A security breach is the unauthorised access of systems, servers or devices. Hackers may be able to infiltrate your network, bypass your security systems and steal or compromise critical data.The term ‘security breach’ is used mainly in the context of businesses or government organisations who have been hijacked. There are many reasons that this may happen. For instance, to steal confidential information such as financial details, emails or passwords. For public sector or government bodies, hackers may also have a political agenda.

The Dark Web Specialist Darkbeam believes that more than 98% of business have already been hacked-they just aren’t aware of it yet. With the threat landscape changing every day it makes it difficult to remain ahead of the game.

Ready to achieve your security goals? We’re at your service.

Whether you are a CISO, an IT Director or a business owner, Equilibrium has the expertise to help you shape and deliver your security strategy.

How to mitigate risks associated with security breaches

No one is completely un-hackable. Which is why it is important to be proactive and have a layered security defence. The more barriers you can create, the less likely it is that the hackers will get in! Having a truly defensible position and proving you have everything in place will make a difference when it comes to protecting your data.

Some of these layers may include: 

  1. Data encryption
  2. Next Generation Firewalls
  3. Penetration Testing
  4. Anti virus software
  5. Employee training
  6. Next Generation Firewalls,
  7. Two factor authentication
  8. Email security
  9. Password managers

However, as every business is different it is important to work alongside security specialists like ourselves to construct a bespoke security strategy which suits you.

How to prevent cyber-attacks?

Employee training is one of the most important ways to help prevent security breaches. Even if you have the best security defences in place, if your staff click on a malicious link in a phishing email your network could still be infected by malware.  

Train staff to follow  security best practices, be aware of the importance of keeping data safe so that costly mistakes can be avoided. Awareness of sensitive information and  data security should be ingrained into company’s policies and culture.

The defence against these security breaches has to be an ongoing effort to remain protected. It is important to have a tried tested incident response plan, risk-based patch management and network segmentation on top of regular software security. —  This will dramatically increase a business’s resilience against malicious attacks.

How can we help?

Here at Equilibrium we are a Cyber Essentials Certification body, CREST certified penetration testers and Cisco Partners with an Advanced Security Accreditation. As credible and highly qualified security experts, we are very well placed to offer Cyber Security advice on how to reduce the risk of cyber-attacks.

Frequently Asked Questions

We could tell you that we are highly qualified experts, with over 20 years’ experience in the Cyber Security industry. Or that we have a proven track record of implementing effective Cyber Security strategies for NHS trusts, financial organisations, high-street retailers and SME’s.

But we want to show how we stand out from the crowd.

You’re probably more interested in how we can supercharge your security strategy and launch you above and beyond your Cyber Security goals.

Our team are the driving force of your security initiatives. By partnering with us, we don’t just protect your data. We stand with you in the fight against cyber-crime. Our experts are on-hand to help you stay ahead of the curve and build a Cyber Security culture which is part of your company’s fabric.

Should you choose a general IT provider to handle your security, or partner with a dedicated Cyber Security specialist? Whilst a general IT provider may well be the cheaper option, would you trust a dentist to conduct heart surgery, if they were offering the service for half the price?

When it comes to the security of your business, second-rate protection is simply not an option. By partnering with experienced security experts, you can rest assured that your security is in safe, experienced, and dependable hands, and have far less sleepless nights!

We’re not a jack of all trades like a general IT provider. We’re experts in our field and specialise specifically in Cyber Security. The core foundations of Equilibrium were built by technical experts with a background in network security. Which means we don’t simply resell a security product and let the fancy tech do the talking. We know our stuff and have the skillset and experience to prove it.

For us, communication is key to building strong security partnerships. We are told this is a fundamental part of why our customers choose us over our competitors. We pride ourselves on being good listeners, never leaving you in the dark and always taking time to understand the inner workings of your business.

Relax we’ve got this. As an extension of your team, we’re there to offer our extensive industry knowledge, provide innovative solutions and be the driving force of your security strategy.

We’re not a supplier who needs handholding. We’re the helping hand. We understand the importance of having a security partner you can trust to get the job done, on-time and in-budget.

We have an eye for the finer details. For us, it is all about dotting the i’s and crossing the t’s when it comes to the security of your brand.

By combining our technical expertise with our dedication to helping you achieve your Cyber Security goals, we help to leverage your security capability to new heights.