We have all seen the headlines and read horror stories about companies who have been targeted by cyber-criminals. Millions of dollars have been lost in revenue, productivity and, in a lot of cases businesses have had to shut their doors.
With all the attack vectors that cyber criminals use to gain access to your data, it is hard to know where to start in protecting sensitive information. Simply investing in a bunch of security products is useless unless you have the controls and people in place to manage them.
Before embarking on a large endeavor, it is always best to start with a plan. Since you are never truly 100% protected against these threats, developing a security plan helps your organization strategize, budget, and prioritize critical actions.
HPN has helped numerous companies identify what is needed to mitigate risk, one of which is Foundant Technologies.
For more than a decade, Foundant Technologies has specialized exclusively in making philanthropy easier and more impactful through intuitive technology solutions. All their cloud-based solutions focus on streamlining processes for the Grantmaker, Grantseeker, Scholarship Provider, and Community Foundation.
As their business grows, so do their compliance requirements. Director of Information Systems, Cory Brester, knows that with increased compliance comes an even bigger need for increased security services within their organization. That’s why he turned to the team at High Point Networks.
“We partnered with High Point Networks to help us build a long-term Security Plan and identify any risks within our organization,” said Brester.
By conducting this exercise for his organization, Brester was able to prioritize security needs and focus on a smaller number of actionable items with high payoff. The goal is to review six priorities that the CIS Council on Cyber Security, National Governors Association, and Governors Homeland Security Advisors Council refer to as foundational cyber hygiene. These six priorities helped strengthen the company’s overall security posture.
“The process was quite simple. We sat down with the team at High Point Networks for a two-day interview. Once the interview was conducted, we reviewed each item and set goals for completion. Simultaneously, we asked them to conduct an external audit and penetration testing on our SaaS product offerings,” said Brester.
The High Point Networks security engineers also performed an assessment involving cracking their Active Directory passwords.
Brester continued, “It was an ‘eye opener’ to team members when we shared how many were using already compromised credentials from the LinkedIn data breach or how many had easily hacked passwords.”
Having definition really helped Brester and his team raise visibility internally and implement solutions that educate every employee of their role in reducing security risks.
Over the years, he has built a strong relationship with his Account Manager, Mike Felten.
“I cannot be an expert in all areas of IT and still complete tasks needed for the business, which is why we put our trust in the team at High Point Networks. They have worked alongside us supporting our mission and have a similar mission as Foundant. They are there to help the customer and are not in it to sell things. They really focus on understanding their customers and delivering solutions that can scale with future needs.”
- Cory Brester, Director of Information Systems at Foundant Technologies
Protecting your business from today’s security threats is an ongoing process. At High Point Networks, we make securing your vital information a company mindset.
We protect your business by helping you avoid costly breaches and fines, while maintaining privacy and security. High Point Networks services customers coast to coast. No matter where your business is located within the United States, we have you covered. Find HPN office locations and get in touch with us to keep your business secure.