Microsoft Exchange breach underscores need for SMB multi-layered security

The recent hack of Microsoft Exchange was a wake-up call for many small and medium businesses (SMBs) about their network vulnerability.

As reported by TechGenix, Microsoft hasn’t said how many corporate and government Exchange customers have been exploited, but security expert Brian Krebs said the number is “at least 30,000” in the U.S. alone. The Wall Street Journal, meanwhile, says the number may be more than 250,000 worldwide. Krebs noted that a “significant number” of the victims were small businesses and local governments.

Exchange Server 2010, 2013, 2016, and 2019 were affected by the hack of on-premises Exchange email and calendar software. The implications of the hack are enormous. It could allow cybercriminals to remotely take full control of your on-premises Exchange Server and all the sensitive data it contains.

The hack will probably stand out as one of the top cybersecurity events of the year, because Exchange is widely used around the world. It could lead companies to rethink their security approach to prevent future hacks, CNBC reports.

Protecting yourself

Preparing SMBs to repel such attacks underlines two new solution sets for security and collaboration delivered through GFI Unlimited.

Unlimited|Network Security brings together key capabilities to help SMBs meet the new challenges of cyber-security in an easy-to-deploy and cost-effective way. As part of GFI Unlimited, Unlimited|Network Security gives SMBs the multilayered security needed to prevent, detect and address threats to their networks. For a simple one-price subscription, organizations can secure their networks, email traffic, and endpoints.

Unlimited|Secure Email offers core email and collaboration tools with security in a value-priced package. SMBs choosing Unlimited|Secure Email will have email and collaboration tools, multi-engine email anti-virus, and secure archiving. It will be especially attractive for companies with many employees who need secure email and standard collaboration tools but don’t regularly use spreadsheets and slide-building applications.

“It’s difficult to find comprehensive solutions that meet an SMB budget,” says Dan Beer, CEO of GFI Software. “These new solution sets, drawing on the breadth of capabilities in GFI Unlimited, address real-world business concerns in a cost-effective way.”

These first GFI Unlimited solution sets benefit customers and partners who may have been creating a costly patchwork of vendors and products to address their business pains. With simple pricing, and a wide range of capabilities, Unlimited|Network Security and Unlimited|Secure Email deliver more focused value than multiple individual vendors.

Unlimited|Network Security and Unlimited|Secure Email are available from the GFI partner network worldwide.