By Frank Olea
On January 15, 2013, world news agencies reported that malware infected two key U.S. power facilities through USB drives. As the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said, "Cyber-attacks against the energy industry grew at an 'alarming rate' in 2012, jumping 40 percent from previous years."
More than information security, cyber security is a business issue
In 2012, more than 1.5 million computer viruses, worms and trojans were found active, compared to only 20,000 threats in 2002. Statistics show that cyber breaches on small, medium and large businesses are increasing. Yet the majority of companies have not employed adequate resources that have evolved with the alarming increase of cyber threats. In 2009 the White House issued a press release that stated, "America's economic prosperity in the 21st century will depend on cyber-security."
Taking initiative: control the flow of data into your facility
Any visitor should scan all portable storage devices prior to entering the facility to ensure malicious content is not present. The cost of an attack can be catastrophic; resulting in the loss of employee time, data (including client records), market share, customers and consumer confidence. Recent security breaches have infected a multitude of industries resulting in an average loss of $24,475 per day.
How do you protect your organization against these attacks?
Olea Kiosks has teamed up with our software partners to offer the Metropolis MD Cyber Security Kiosk system. Whether malware is delivered by an employee, vendor or service personnel via portable media devices such as USB drives, CDs, DVDs or PDAs — the threat is real and unsuspecting. A free standing self-service terminal such as the Metropolis should be placed in lobbies and key employee entrances, and made available at all hours.
A powerful software solution such as this can scan media using up to 16 or more fully-licensed antivirus engines simultaneously. This improves the likelihood of detecting threats that are missed by one engine by detection from one or more of the others. With an array of additional features designed to help control the flow of data coming into (or out of) your organization, threat detection solution technology is a must for any secure environment concerned with targeted malware attacks that have the capacity to cripple systems, leak critical data…or worse.
The corporate benefit
Any organization will benefit from products that detect malicious codes on devices. Financial institutions that exchange proprietary data, energy and utility facilities that provide essential power, and corporate campuses and government buildings of all kinds. Cyber security is a necessity for all.
Frank Olea is the CEO of Olea Kiosks, with more than 15 years in the kiosk industry.
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