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Toronto, Canada
Internet security firm mi2g Ltd. estimates that digital attacks from
hackers and viruses have resulted in over $100 billion in damages to
websites worldwide in 2003. A record level of attacks—20,000, in the
month of January alone—helped make Internet security one of the
leading issues in the online world in 2003. It is predicted that
these numbers will continue to increase with the total economic
damage from all types of digital attacks worldwide passing the $250
billion mark in 2004. This poses a serious threat to online
businesses, but it’s a threat that can be combated through proper
education on the subject. This is the message being relayed
internationally by WSI, the world’s largest network of Internet
Consultants.
Once a business has made the decision to go online there are a
number of important considerations beyond the development of the
site itself. Concepts such as security—an ongoing and evolving
process—is rarely given the attention it deserves. Through the
consulting services offered by WSI, a business can acquire the
critical knowledge it needs to protect itself from becoming an
Internet security statistic. “Education is the key to a business
protecting itself online,” explains WSI Internet Consultant Rene
Garcia. “Everyday companies unknowingly make mistakes that leave
their systems vulnerable to digital attacks. With the proper
knowledge and software in place these mistakes can be avoided,
saving money and increasing productivity and efficiency in the
process.”
Typically, the news media focuses on attacks to large corporations
and government agencies, leaving small- to medium-sized businesses
with the impression that Internet security isn’t an issue that
concerns them. Unfortunately this isn’t the case. Any business, no
matter what its size or function faces potential threats from
hackers each day for numerous reasons. By teaching companies how to
defend their systems, WSI Internet Consultants strive to keep their
clients informed and safe. As WSI clients know, one of the largest
daily threats is the increased reliance on email—one of the most
versatile and important tools to any online business. However, email
as a communication medium is insecure and opens the door to
potential attacks such as virus distribution and unsolicited
advertisements or “spam”.
The popularity and widespread adoption of email is no accident; it
is often more efficient than other means of communication and allows
customers to quickly contact a business from anywhere in the world
at any time of day. But as inboxes fill up with orders, inquiries,
and correspondence, they also fill up with spam. In November 2003,
measurements by Brightmail's Probe Network showed that 56% of all
email was spam related. This has caused many industry insiders to
predict that by mid-2004 spam will surpass the 60% mark.
And with ever-increasing spam comes larger threats to security. Spam
in itself is an annoying nuisance that many businesses find drains
productivity, distracts employees, and can be offensive. It also has
a negative effect on server and storage space and can slow down
connection time. In addition to this effect on valuable network
resources, spam can also contain malicious code, and in some cases
has been connected to credit card fraud and software piracy. With
thousands of email messages being received and sent by individual
companies each day, many businesses are making themselves an easy
target to hackers, viruses, and spam. By utilizing WSI’s industry
leading technology such as intrusion detection applications,
authentication devices, and firewalls, a business can position
itself to avoid the costly consequences associated with digital
attacks.
Few can forget how fast the Sobig.F virus spread through the online
world this past August, crippling entire network systems with the
sheer volume of email traffic it produced. In just a few short
weeks, this email-based threat caused $29.7 billion worth of damage
to companies worldwide that were caught unprepared for such an
attack.
Businesses can avoid costly security threats by practicing safe
online behavior and employing server-based traffic filtering
technologies, such as those offered by WSI’s hosting environment. As
each business is different, WSI Internet Consultants can assess
which methods will suit a particular company best and then deploy
those solutions to protect their clients. As WSI Internet Consultant
Garcia says, “Knowledge is power and with the right information in
hand, most Internet security threats can easily be avoided.”
About WSI
WSI, headquartered in Toronto, Canada, is ranked the #1 Internet
Services Business in the world and the 4th fastest-growing
International Franchise. With systems that have been developed,
utilized and proven by over 700 Internet Consultants in 87 countries
worldwide, WSI delivers thousands of e-Business solutions to small
and medium sized businesses annually. Visit
www.wsicorporate.com for more information. |
