The Internet of Things (IoT) is expanding rapidly, with some analysts predicting the number of connected devices will reach nearly 50 billion in the next couple of years. Such massive connectivity is expected to drive new efficiencies in countless industries, including healthcare, manufacturing, energy and utilities, and more.

Internet risk isn’t limited to malicious websites. Hackers are placing dangerous links and content on popular, legitimate websites. Every time you visit a website, an average of 25 background sites are contacted to serve ads, collect data, and launch videos and other content.

Although signature-based antivirus solutions remain essential elements of network security, they are no longer adequate as standalone measures. As malware attacks become progressively more sophisticated, organizations of all sizes require additional lines of defense.

Most small to midsize businesses (SMBs) are aware of the dangers of cyberattacks, and many are purchasing security tools in an effort to beef up their defenses. But is that enough?

Suppose you decide to invest in a state-of-the-art firewall, encryption software and other security tools.

In The Invisible Man, author H.G. Wells’ main character is stealthy, persistent, formidable and enthusiastically destructive. Those same characteristics describe the emerging class of malware known as firmware exploits.

Firmware attacks target the hard-coded programming written into nonvolatile memory in order to control the function of various hardware devices.

On the night of August 24, 410, an army of Visigoth warriors slipped into Rome through the Salarian Gate and proceeded to burn and plunder the great walled city for three days. It was the first time in nearly 800 years that Rome had fallen to a foreign enemy, and historians often cite the event as marking the end of the Western Roman Empire.

A recent report from Kaspersky paints a grim picture of the state of cybercrime. Two global ransomware attacks, WannaCry and Petya, were carried out in the first half of 2017. Overall, the number of ransomware attacks increased 11.4 percent in the past 12 months.

The proper disposal of e-waste is a critical component of any data security strategy. In the past, organizations simply had their server hard drives erased. But think about other places where data is stored in your organization – desktop computers, mobile devices, printers, copiers and various Internet-connected company assets.

Protecting your IT environment against cyberattack requires a blend of security tools and constant vigilance. It’s important to note, however, that the best security tools on the market cannot stop every security threat. Every employee in your organization needs to understand the critical role they play in preventing cyberattacks and protecting sensitive data.