Defending Against Bots

Are you a human? If so, then you’ve undoubtedly filled out your fair share of CAPTCHAs, squinting to determine if the character depicted is a lowercase “l” or an uppercase “I,” or some other vague character. As much as CAPTCHA systems are annoying, they are needed.

In a world where bots continually attempt to mine access to data, learning to block them is critical. Beyond the CAPTCHA, consider these 5 steps to improve defenses against bots:

Establish a list of approved software for every network device. Utilize software management tools to track software, type, version, and patches. This way, if something is installed that doesn’t belong (and could thus subsequently grant access to a bot), your team will know and you’ll be able to eliminate it.

It’s one thing to establish seemingly secure configuration settings on devices to protect them from malicious bots. It’s another to implement control and tracking tools to prevent these configurations from being altered and alerting you if someone tries.

Security isn’t a set it and forget it task. It’s an ongoing commitment. Continuously check vendor updates and run atuomated vulnerability testing to make sure all systems are still secure. If a new vulnerability is spotted, fix it within 48 hours.

It should go without saying, but install, update, and maintain anti-malware protection on all devices connected to your network. Anti-virus software alone isn’t enough to spot sneaky bots.

Assess Your Security
To receive an information security assessment and learn the best solutions to defend against bots, Email PCM or call us at 800-700-1000.

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