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The growing need for cybersecurity risk management

Every organization with a digital footprint is a target for cyber attacks. No sector is immune. Even the most financially robust companies can suffer a data breach and should be focused on cybersecurity risk management. If you’re not prepared, the damage can have devastating consequences for your business.

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Cybersecurity Risk Management

In today’s threat landscape, improving your cybersecurity management is more challenging—and critical—than ever before. The dangers relating to cybersecurity are constantly evolving. The stakes are high.

Businesses are finally starting to prioritize security and privacy protections. But managing cybersecurity is not a one-step process—it’s an ongoing journey. You need to stay on your toes to get ahead of malicious hackers.

How the IoT poses greater cyber risks

The IoT refers to the interconnectedness of physical devices and appliances, often through the internet. This interconnection can make our lives more convenient, but it also poses greater cyber risks. For example, if a hacker were able to gain access to one IoT device, they could potentially use that device to gain access to other devices on the same network. This could lead to sensitive information being stolen or even physical damage being done. Additionally, the IoT creates a larger surface area for attacks, as there are more potential entry points for hackers. As the IoT continues to grow in popularity, it is important to be aware of the increased cyber risks that come along with it.

How to get ahead of sophisticated cyber criminals

Despite the best efforts of cybersecurity professionals, sophisticated cyber criminals always seem to be one step ahead. New strains of malware are appearing every day, and traditional security measures are no longer enough to protect against the ever-evolving threat landscape. So what can be done to get ahead of these criminals? The first step is to understand their motivations. Cyber criminals are driven by profit, and they will target any organization that provides a lucrative opportunity. Once their targets have been identified, they will use a variety of methods to gain access to sensitive data. This may include social engineering techniques, such as phishing scams, or more direct methods such as hacking into systems. The next step is to implement comprehensive security measures. This includes both technical solutions, such as managed detection and response, advanced vulnerability management and intrusion detection systems, and non-technical solutions such as awareness training for employees. By taking these steps, organizations can make it much harder for cyber criminals to succeed.

The importance of cybersecurity risk management

As our world becomes increasingly connected, cybersecurity risks become more prevalent. Individuals and organizations must be diligent in managing these risks to protect themselves from potential cyberattacks. Risk management is the process of identifying, assessing, and treating risks. It helps organizations to make informed decisions about how to protect themselves from cybersecurity threats. By identifying potential risks and implementing appropriate controls, organizations can reduce the likelihood and impact of cyberattacks. Additionally, risk management helps organizations to prepare for and respond to cybersecurity incidents. By having a plan in place, organizations can minimize the damage caused by an attack and quickly return to normal operations. Ultimately, risk management is essential for cybersecurity. It helps organizations to protect themselves from potential attacks and to minimize the impact of an incident if one does occur.

How to improve employee security awareness

In today’s business world, employee security awareness is more important than ever. With the rise of cybercrime, it’s essential that employees are aware of the risks and know how to protect themselves. There are a few steps that businesses can take to improve employee security awareness. First, provide training on the latest security threats and best practices for avoiding them. This can be done through online courses, in-person workshops, or even short informational videos. Second, make sure that employee access to company data is properly secured. This means implementing strong authentication measures and ensuring that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive information. Finally, encourage employees to report any suspicious activity or attempts to access company data. By taking these steps, businesses can go a long way towards protecting their data and preventing costly cyberattacks.

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Ken Perkins

Biography coming soon.

Megan Miller

Megan Miller’s energy and passion for learning flow into all aspects of her work. As the Growth Manager, North America, she brings a background in sciences which she has transitioned to the tech sector in her role at Difenda.

With a Bachelors of Science in Geology, Megan is a lifelong learner who is voracious about learning anything she can get her hands on about cybersecurity. Her positive energy has built a sales strategy with a focus on expanding in the United States while nurturing the Canadian presence. She is responsible for recruiting and training the sales team. Together with the company’s leadership, she creates the sales process and the company’s product strategy in order to better serve the customer base. This ensures that our customers have a highly trained and highly motivated team to help them every step of the way, Megan has completed Microsoft SC-900 training and working towards mastering Microsoft.

Whether at work or play, Megan is fully committed. She took her love of hockey all the way to the semi-professional level as a competitive hockey player. Megan loves all things sports including water skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and snowboarding. She also enjoys time with family and reading about alternative energy, innovation, and cybersecurity.

Natasha Phanor

As the Microsoft Partner Manager at Difenda, Natasha Phanor is responsible for driving growth within our Microsoft Partnership. With six years in the industry, she offers a fresh, energetic approach, and the ability to focus on our customer’s needs throughout the entire process. Natasha has the innate ability to foresee customer needs and solve problems before they arise, which creates a smooth road for each customer she encounters.

As the recipient of the Outstanding Services Partner of the Year Award in 2018, it is clear that Natasha responds quickly to customer needs, creates a platform for understanding a customer’s business requirements, and walks them through the process to ensure their complete satisfaction.

In her spare time, Natasha is as energetic and passionate as she is on the job. A self-proclaimed foodie-extraordinaire, she enjoys dinner parties, traveling, downhill skiing, hiking, biking, and reading. Natasha has a Bachelor of Fine Arts, specializing in Dance, from Ryerson University.

Lisa Templeton

Lisa Templeton is the perfect combination of human empathy and technological prowess. In her role as People Services Manager, she takes care of our team members to support them in their daily work, as well as on their personal life paths. Happy employees make for happy customers, and Lisa excels in giving our employees the tools they need for success in order to become the best possible versions of themselves. Along with employee formation, she shines in the service delivery support domain to continuously improve the process. Her 24 years of experience in IT Operations and Service Management help her create quality and efficiency at Difenda.

Having attended the Information Systems Management certificate program at Ryerson University, and with various other certifications to her credit, Lisa is perceptive and innovative when it comes to information technology, but also sensitive to the needs of her human constituents. Responsible for achieving the first privately owned company HDI Support Center certification in Canada, she has also designed and implemented Service Management excellence programs and 24×7 IT Operations departments for multiple IT organizations, and has created corporate rewards and recognition programs to keep her employees engaged and motivated.

On the personal side, Lisa passionately supports the cause of breast cancer research, having lost her mother to the disease. She reads voraciously in her spare time, and enjoys the art of home renovation. The summer months also bring time on her boat and exploring new hiking trails.

Miranda McCurdy

Miranda McCurdy uses her myriad super powers in all aspects of her job and personal life. As the Marketing Director at Difenda, Miranda McCurdy brings over a decade of experience to the table, which includes expertise in all facets of operations, brand management, and content marketing, as well as a multitude of successful strategies for the ever-expanding digital world. She is an expert at simplifying the message the company is trying to send, filling in gaps in the information, and strengthening the content in order to create compelling narratives that strengthen the brand and developing programs that bring teams together.

With several Addy Awards issued by the American Advertising Federation Cleveland to her credit, and her never say die attitude, Miranda understands both the broader picture and the minute details that are needed to successfully market a product. With her abilities to harness both the talent needed to spread the message, as well as to create the message itself, she is an integral cog in the company’s ability to communicate with customers and other stakeholders.

When she is not building a brand, she shares her ability to fill the gaps in her community by volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, the Special Olympics, and the Charleston Food Bank. In her spare time, Miranda spends time with her family, enjoys fitness and health, paddle boarding, reading, and arts and crafts.

Juliana Zaremba

Connections are the name of the game for Juliana Zaremba. As Strategic Partnerships Director, she is responsible for Difenda’s channel partnerships and the development and ownership of the channel partner program. She is also responsible for the global Microsoft Partnership, including the creation of strategic plans with MSFT contacts that will facilitate the continued growth of the business and establish certification and training protocols in all security technologies. Her role is multifaceted, as she acquires partners, manages relationships with them, and develops strategies that will provide cutting edge security solutions to our customer base. Another integral aspect of her job is to facilitate growth.

With a Bachelor’s in Math from the University of Waterloo and 14 years of experience from her previous roles at Herjavec Group and CDW, her cutting edge focus and ability to develop long-lasting relationships and strategies provides world class security solutions to our customer base.

Juliana thrives on connections outside of work as well. She is a philanthropist and contributor with Women4Change based in Hamilton. This group of local women is passionate about supporting local causes, and she focuses her efforts around Women in STEM. She is also a member of Club Italia in Niagara Falls and supports their youth events throughout the year.

When not managing the Microsoft Global partnership, Juliana enjoys reading, often reading several books at once. Juliana enjoys exploring the Niagara Escarpment with her family, as well as sharing meals and experiences with her extended family. Juliana’s competitive nature has her always trying new things, like Whoop band challenges and Peloton.

Jeffry Jacob

Biography Coming Soon