Centralized IT security: DataRoad protects all customers with the same, unified solution, monitored with alarm management

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5 min read · DataRoad

Cybersecurity cannot be improvised

Every company that builds its own security from scratch, with a firewall bought one day, an antivirus the next, and no one looking at the alerts, is betting that it will never be the next one. The reality is different: attacks don’t choose by company size; they choose by ease of use. And the ease almost always comes from the same source: different equipment, different configurations, rules that no one has reviewed and no one to watch over her on a permanent basis.

At DataRoad we do the opposite. The computer security of our customers is our priority. centralized, managed and monitored for us, with the same architecture in all the companies. That is what allows us to respond quickly, and that is what underpins our history: In 11 years, DataRoad has never experienced any security incident.

The same solution for all customers: why does this change everything?

We implemented the same security solution in all companies the service we provide. It may seem like a technical detail. In practice, it is the biggest advantage a customer can have when an emergency arises.

• Faster responseThe team knows the color scheme because it's the same everywhere. There's no time wasted trying to figure out what's installed.
• Less mistakes: standardized settings that are reviewed by those who do this every day, instead of solutions tailored to only one person’s understanding.
• Continuous improvement for everyone: every adjustment, every new rule and every learning is immediately applied to all customers.
• Continuity guaranteedAny DataRoad technician can work with any client, without the need for a single person.

This is the model of a seriously managed IT company: cyber security for business designed to be operated, and not just installed.

Centralized firewalls managed by DataRoad

A firewall is the first line of defense for any network, and the one that fails the most when left to its own devices. A firewall without management ages: rules that no one updates, remote access forgotten, firmware outdated.

In DataRoad customers, the firewalls are centralized and managed by us. This means that:

• Security policies are defined, reviewed, and updated by DataRoad;
• the remote access and secure connections are controlled at a single point;
• the changes are made by those who know the customer network and have documented them;
• in the event of an incident, the team already has visibility and access to take action, without waiting for third parties.

Want to understand the difference between a managed firewall and a purchased one? Read Managed vs. purchased firewall, or learn about our service firewalls and computer security.

Safety probes in each client

A firewall protects the border. But a company's security also depends on what happens Inside from the network. That's why we installed Security probes in our customers: elements that accompany what happens on the network and are reported to the DataRoad central system.

The surveys give us real, not supposed, visibility into each customer. When something deviates from the norm, DataRoad knows, and knows before the problem reaches the user. It is this layer that transforms reactive security into proactive security. Guarded security.

Centralized and managed endpoint protection

Attacks rarely start in the firewall: they start in a computer. An attachment opened in haste, a file downloaded, a laptop that leaves the office. That's why protection is important. endpoints, The jobs and the servers must be as serious as the network itself.

At DataRoad, this protection is centralized and managed by us. We do not leave the decision of installing, updating or turning off the antivirus to each user. The same protection solution is on all devices; it is installed and configured by us, monitored in a single console and updated in a controlled manner. If a device stops being protected, or if a threat is detected, our team sees it and takes action.

It's the same logic of firewalls: one solution, one console, one team that responds. At the end of a day, the client has the entire park protected and DataRoad has visibility over all the stations, which makes all the difference in an emergency.

Protected workstations and accounts with 2FA and multi-factor authentication

A password alone no longer protects anyone. Stolen credentials are among the most common entry points in attacks on companies, which is why DataRoad treats them as a Identity as a central part of security.

In our customers, access to critical accounts and systems is protected with Two-factor authentication (2FA) and multi-factor authentication (MFA)Mail and collaboration tools, remote access, administration panels, and the rest of the accounts that support the business. Even if a password is discovered, the attacker is still out there.

In addition to protecting endpoints, we also take care of everything else. workplace as a system to protect:

• Upgraded equipment, With operating systems and applications maintained in a controlled manner, to close known vulnerabilities.
• Endpoint protection installed, configured and monitored centrally.
• Accounts with 2FA/MFA and consistent access policies, equal across the company.
• Access management made by someone who knows the infrastructure, with immediate response when something changes.

If you use Microsoft 365, see how we apply these principles in Microsoft 365 for business.

Monitoring with alarm functionality: the problem is detected before it is felt

It’s useless to have security equipment if no one sees what they detect. At DataRoad, security is linked to monitoring with alarm functionalityWhen an alert is relevant, an alarm is generated and our team takes action.

The result is an operation in which DataRoad does not expect the customer to call to say that something is wrong. It sees, assesses, and acts. For companies that need monitoring outside of normal hours, the plan IT Unlimited Premium 365 Includes coverage for nights, weekends and holidays, with 24/7 monitoring. Also check out our IT monitoring.

In 11 years, DataRoad has never experienced an incident.

DataRoad has been managing the IT infrastructure of companies, hotels, clinics and international organizations for eleven years. Throughout this time, DataRoad has never experienced any security incident.

It's not luck; it's a method: the same solution, centralized and managed firewalls, probes on each client, endpoints protected centrally, 2FA accounts and monitoring with alarm functionality, applied with discipline every day. This is the way we work that we offer to our customers. 232 customers, and that also protects our own operation.

The IT security best practices that DataRoad applies

Security is not just about products: it is a set of practices, applied with discipline, that together close the doors through which problems enter. These are the practices that form part of the way DataRoad works with companies:

• Upgrades and controlled corrections. Operating systems, applications, and network equipment kept up to date, in a planned manner, to close known vulnerabilities before they are exploited.
• Backups with off-site copies and tested restorations. A copy that has not been tested is not a guarantee. Learn more in backup solutions and in disaster recovery and business continuity.
• Network segmentation. Separating users, servers, guests, and equipment limits the damage if something is compromised. See how it works VLANs.
• Accesses with minimal privileges. Each person accesses only what they need, and the administrative accounts are few, controlled, and protected with MFA.
• Secure remote access. Outbound links from outside the office are protected and controlled. Read why a VPN is no longer enough.
• Strict management of entries and exits. Accounts and access created and withdrawn through the process, so that no one gets access they no longer needs.
• Strong and managed passwords. Consistent policies and good credential management practices, instead of repeated and easy-to-guess passwords.
• Well-informed users. Most attacks start with a misleading message. Educating teams about phishing reduces the risk right at the door.
• Clear internal policies. Simple rules known to everyone. See them 7 internal cybersecurity policies.
• Knowing the attack to block it. Understanding how a cyberattack evolves helps to stop it early: read the 4 phases of a cyberattack.

None of these practices are spectacular. It is the sum of all of them, applied every day and in the same way to every client, that gives DataRoad the reputation of being a company where IT security is taken seriously.

The expansion of AI makes security even more important

Artificial intelligence has quickly entered companies: assistants, automatisms, and tools that employees start using on their own initiative. It is a real opportunity, but it changes the risk map, and security becomes a priority. More importantly, not less.

• Data from the company in unmanaged tools. When an employee pastes internal information into an AI tool that the company did not choose or configure, that data leaves the company without anyone seeing it.
• More convincing attacks. AI allows for more believable phishing messages to be created and, in many cases, for fake voices and images to be created, which makes identifying a fraud much more difficult for the person receiving it.
• More connections, more attacking surface. Every new tool linked to the company's data and accounts is a door to protect.

This is where the DataRoad approach comes into play. With managed endpoints, accounts protected with 2FA and MFA, centralized firewalls, and monitoring with alarm notification, With control over AI, the company can adopt it: it knows where its data is, who accesses it, and what is happening on the network. In line with the growing demands for security, such as those from the NIS2, Adopting AI without this foundation is a needless risk.

Who is behind it: the CEO of DataRoad comes from the very industry of computer security

This approach didn’t come from a manual. DataRoad CEO Luís Fernandes works with network solutions and information security. since 1995, At some of the largest IT companies in Portugal, and was responsible for Technical direction of a multinational cybersecurity company.

Throughout this journey, he designed and supported security and backup solutions with Symantec/Veritas, McAfee, GFI Software and WatchGuard, He has worked on Microsoft infrastructure projects, and has also worked for HP Portugal and two IT distributors that represent the world's largest brands. He brought this experience, which he gained from being on the inside of security, from the side of those who build it, to the way DataRoad protects its customers today.

To this is added formal training: the CEO of DataRoad holds various technical certifications from various manufacturers, Among them Microsoft, Panda Security, WatchGuard, Symantec and McAfee, This ensures that the solutions are designed, configured, and maintained in accordance with the best practices of those who created them.

It is an experience that applies on a large scale: the protection of endpoints and the security that DataRoad practices are based on knowledge acquired in companies with more than 3000 endpoints, Where a method failure pays dearly and centralized management ceases to be optional.

In practice, when a company entrusts security to DataRoad, it is receiving the experience of someone who has been familiar with these technologies for three decades, and not just that of a supplier who resells products.

Security is included in the IT Unlimited plans

This protection is not an extra feature or a separate purchase. It is included in the Enterprise IT security is included in the IT Unlimited plans From DataRoad: centralized and managed firewalls, security probes, endpoint protection, 2FA/MFA-enabled accounts, and monitoring with alarm notification are part of the service, with the same solution in all companies and predictable costs.

Choose the plan that best suits your company: IT Unlimited Essential, IT Unlimited Premium (with on-site assistance included) or IT Unlimited Premium 365 (with coverage of evenings, weekends and holidays). Compare them IT Unlimited and ask for a quote.

What this means for your company

• A single responsible partner for safety, instead of several suppliers pushing blame around.
• Protection designed to be watched over, Not just installed.
• Immediate response in case of emergency, Because the solution is known and standardized.
• Estimated cost, integrated into the model IT Unlimited, Without hours counted.
• Preparing for the future: European regulation, such as NIS2, It requires increasingly demonstrable security.

DataRoad works with companies starting from 10 employees, on a contract basis, with remote, on-site and telephone support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does DataRoad use the same security solution on all clients?

Yes. It is a deliberate choice: a standardized architecture, managed centrally, that speeds up the response to any emergency.

Who manages the clients' firewalls?

DataRoad. The firewalls are centralized and managed by our team, which defines and updates the security policies.

What do the security probes do?

They monitor what is happening on each customer's network and report to the DataRoad central system, allowing them to detect anomalous behavior and generate alarms.

Has DataRoad already experienced any security incident?

No. In 11 years of operation, DataRoad has never experienced any incidents.

Is computer security included in the IT Unlimited plans?

Yes. The protection described in this article is part of the IT Unlimited plans from DataRoad (Essential, Premium, and Premium 365), with the same solution for all customers.

Does artificial intelligence increase security risks?

It can increase if adopted without control: internal data in unmanaged tools, phishing and more credible spoofing, and more systems connected to the company’s accounts. With managed endpoints, 2FA/MFA, centralized firewalls, and monitoring, DataRoad helps companies use AI safely.

Is computer protection also managed by DataRoad?

Yes. Endpoint protection is centralized and managed by DataRoad: the same solution across all sites, installed, updated, and monitored by our team from a single console.

Do user accounts have multi-factor authentication?

Yes. We protect access to critical accounts and systems with two-factor authentication (2FA) and multifactor authentication (MFA), so that a discovered password does not get through.

DataRoad Services

• Cybersecurity for companies: Managed and monitored protection.
• Firewalls and IT security: centralized and managed perimeter.
• IT Unlimited: computer support without hours counted.
• Backups and recoverycontinuity for its operation.