Securing communication channels properly – the basics for companies
Securing communication channels properly – the basics for companies

One of the most critical aspects of IT security in companies is communication with each other and with third parties. On the one hand, communication is an essential part of every company, but for this very reason it often serves as a gateway for cyber criminals. Once they are “in the company”, there are many opportunities to harm the company, such as data theft, blackmail, etc. For this reason, it is essential to secure the communication channels used in the company in such a way that communication is still possible, but the risk of being attacked via this channel is reduced to a minimum.
In the following article, we will show you some examples of the ways in which cyber criminals try to penetrate your company and how you can reduce this risk by acting proactively.
Communication channels in companies – what does it all involve?
Communication is also a broad term from an IT perspective, encompassing various forms of communication channels such as email, instant messaging, video conferencing, voice calls and file sharing. Each of these communication channels is vulnerable to cyber threats, which is why it is necessary to take appropriate cyber security measures.
Emails have become an integral part of everyday working life and are used to communicate with colleagues, customers and suppliers. For cybercriminals, however, emails are a prime target for launching phishing and malware attacks. These cyberattacks can lead to the theft of confidential company information, financial losses and damage to the company’s image.
It is therefore essential for companies to implement email security solutions. These include, for example, powerful, self-learning spam and phishing filters, anti-virus and anti-malware solutions and the use of email encryption and digital signatures.
The “onion principle” applies here: the interaction of different layers makes an email system more robust and reduces the risk of malware reaching the user undetected via email.
Instant messaging
Instant messaging via platforms such as WhatsApp, Slack or Microsoft Teams is a fast and convenient way for companies to communicate, but it is also vulnerable to cyber threats. Cybercriminals use instant messaging to infiltrate conversations or assume false identities to ultimately spread malware or launch phishing attacks.
Companies should therefore make sure that the instant messaging platforms they use are really secure. This means they must have end-to-end encryption and other security features, such as closed communication channels.
Video conferencing
With the increase in working from home, video conferencing has become an important tool for collaboration. However, video conferencing platforms are also vulnerable to cyber threats, such as cybercriminals eavesdropping on conversations or launching attacks to disrupt or manipulate communications.
It is therefore important for companies to use secure video conferencing platforms with end-to-end encryption and additional multi-factor authentication. Another key security aspect is ensuring that the video conferencing platform used is up-to-date and that published security updates are installed quickly – preferably automatically. The past two years have shown that many cyberattacks on companies have been made possible by video conferencing platform software that has not been consistently patched.
Data exchange
Employees: employees often exchange files with each other, with customers and suppliers. However, sharing files can also lead to enormous risks and therefore damage for the companies concerned if the data is not adequately protected. For example, cyber criminals intercept files during transmission or gain unauthorized access to files stored on unsecured servers.
It is therefore important to establish file sharing platforms in companies that have encryption and access control functions. Confidential data should also never be exchanged via unencrypted email, which is unfortunately still often the case today. Professional file share & sync platforms offer companies the same convenience, but “securely”.
The human factor
In addition to the technical measures, a very important risk factor that continues to exist should not be ignored – the user(s) themselves. The hectic pace of everyday work often tempts employees to click on links too carelessly, open email attachments or forward emails, causing enormous damage to the company. Technical solutions can help to a certain extent to “catch” some of the mistakes. However, the methods used by cyber criminals are also becoming more and more sophisticated, so we are in an ongoing race.
Accordingly, it is essential for the secure use of communication channels in the company that users are also aware of the cyber risks and can handle modern communication channels with confidence.
This is primarily achieved by providing employees with ongoing and regular training in cyber security best practices. The effectiveness is reviewed in parallel in regular security audits to ensure that both existing technical and human risks are identified at an early stage and can be addressed accordingly.
In short, ensuring secure communication channels is crucial for the overall IT security of companies. Nowadays, companies must take appropriate steps to protect their communication channels in the long term.
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