Total Networks
Antivirus (AV) software is an important tool in your security toolbox. But AV software alone won’t stop bad actors from infiltrating your systems. It’s one item on a much longer checklist that must continually evolve and expand to keep up with today’s threat landscape.
If you have not revisited your security arsenal in the last year, it’s time to review and update it. Ransomware and other threats are evolving too quickly to rely on the tools that worked five years ago.
What Does Antivirus Software Do?
AV software scans files or directories on your computer for known viruses or malicious patterns of activity. When it finds something it recognizes, it removes the malicious code before it causes damage.
But that’s the catch: this only works when the threat is already known. New, never-before-seen viruses will bypass these scans until the software company identifies the threat and updates their product.
Because AV software developers must what bad actors are doing before they can create countermeasures to defend against it, they are always trying to catch up to react to new malware and the latest threats. That delay gives attackers an opportunity to cause damage before your defenses catch up.
Cybersecurity Requires a Multi-Layered Approach
Cyber attackers know about this response window. This is why a layered security strategy is essential.
Your firm’s security should be reviewed regularly—at minimum, annually. This includes conducting risk assessments and tracking your progress in addressing security gaps since your last meeting. If you aren’t continually evolving and expanding your defenses, you are falling behind and increasing your risk and exposure.
This evolution is especially clear to anyone who’s applied for cyber liability insurance recently. Applications get longer and more detailed every year. Your risk analysis and action plan must evolve and grow, too. Insurers are expecting layered security, not just antivirus software.
What Should a Modern Security Stack Include?
Here are some critical components to evaluate as you build a modern, layered defense:
Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Regular software updates and patch management
Security training for employees and simulated phishing tests
Automatic screen lock after a short duration of inactivity
Endpoint protection software
Microsoft 365 backups
Backup and disaster recovery
Encryption, access controls, and physical security
Email security filtering and DNS/web content filtering
Dark web monitoring
Data breach and cyber-attack response plans
SOC and SIEM services for proactive monitoring
Cyber liability insurance
Wire transfer authorization procedures
A designated security officer
What Is SOC and SIEM—and Why They Matter
When bad actors infiltrate systems, they attempt to cover their tracks by deleting system logs. Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) prevents them from being able to delete this valuable information. By using a SEIM tool, you can configure things so that all security events are immediately sent off-site to the Security Operations Center (SOC) in real time, before a bad actor can purge this information.
A SOC is staffed by human analysts who use advanced software and SIEM tools to review threat data from multiple sources, identify suspicious activity, and respond to potential incidents. This provides far stronger protection than traditional antivirus alone.
SOC teams sift through vast amounts of information, investigate subtle indicators of compromise, and act immediately to neutralize confirmed threats.
If you don’t have a SOC and SIEM service in place to detect and respond to threats 24/7, it’s worth serious consideration. Simply relying on the same antivirus software you’ve used for years is no longer enough. Continuous monitoring and rapid response can significantly improve your protection.