Remember the Fine Print

We recently talked about the steps involved in making a decision about purchasing an anti-virus program (Finding the Right Security) Throughout that post, you were discouraged from making the price of the program the primary driver of reaching a conclusion. That practice is true in nearly all situations whether it be in relation to hiring, entertainment, or any other endeavor. The main driver is what is offered and the value it has for the end user. Also involved is actually receiving what is put forth as the entire end product.

What's Included

Sometimes you see a really bargain price for what seems to be the entire package. (Whoa! We can't pass on this.) It's nabbed and taken "home." Then the unpackaging happens. What's discovered is the purchase was actually the barest elements. It's on the order of buying a car. There's the shell of the car but those little things such as seats, steering wheel, radio, heater, windows, and so on are the "extras". So the $100 car has a few extra items that are needed in order for it to serve its purpose. Likewise, those few extras have an additional cost. (Remember the ditty about Cheap Flights?)

If the product or service is only described as the bare bones, be certain to look into what it takes to get the entire suite of services that are needed. Of course, maybe those extras aren't immediately needed and are "nice to have"s today. Find out how much it's going to cost to add them at a later time. It may be there's another package, or even aother product elsewhere, that will be better suited to your needs.

What About the Extras

When you're bargaining for the product, are both of you speaking the same language? You use one term and have certain things in mind. Whereas, the other party has a totally different concept of what that term means. For example, one website was seeking copy editors who were to check the editor's (who was really the author of the article) content before it was published. What was meant by the term "copy editor" - one who corrects the content - was actually the duties of a proofreader - a person who merely marks spelling errors (using standard American grammar), typos, and missing punctuation. Correcting those issues was another matter that was the responsibility of the author/editor. Make certain there's a clear understanding of what you want and need compared with what is being offered.

Asking questions about what's to be expected on delivery is reasonable. Find out whether there are affiliated services that may be required. Learn what the cost of those affiliated services is or whether those expenses can be included in the single quote.

Then There's Renewal

Perhaps what is today's service is not a one-time deal but needs to be renewed in order to maintain it. The contract needs to be renewed on a regular basis. The price paid today may be the introductory price that is actually the bargain. The regular price may be 30 percent higher (or more). Ascertain what the regular price is before commiting to the purchase.

Some businesses offer a notification of when it's time to renew the service agreement. Some do not; they simply put the account on automatic renewal and collect their fee at the then prevailing rate (which may have undergone price index adjustment). Determine what the renewal terms are and whether you're comfortable with them.

The Research Is Worth Your Time

These may seem like niggling details. They are not. What you want is a valid bargained-for exchange. These are important aspects in regard to knowing what to expect when the box is opened and the product is put into use.

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Finding the Right Security

The adage is "You get what you pay for." That is definitely a truism is many situations. However, sometimes what's paid doesn't match the quality of what's received. There needs to be analysis and comparison before a decision is made. This is even more true as we move into increased use of the Internet and cyber strategies. Hacking of company files in order to access records is not something novel. The most recent incidents involved hospital records as well as retaliation for an entertainment company's planned release of a new movie.

Also important is what the budget is with regard to the type and amount of security that is used. Budget for a Fortune 1000 corporation is going to be vastly different from that for a medium-sized company. And a SOHO or start-up is going to need something but faces the challenge of affordability.

Types of Threats

Before we get into affordability, budget, and the size of the enterprise, we need to start with the first step. There needs to be an analysis of what is considered a threat (and therefore a vulnerability). Perhaps it isn't a threat at all because there are already prophylactics in place that have good integrity. Then again, maybe there aren't. Besides that, who knows what's lurking out there in the great cyber-unknown. Some authorities say there are five types of vulnerabilities while others say there are as many as eight. It's important to pay attention to when these opinions were made. Over time, new issues arise and require different strategies to address them. Regardless of how many types of weak spots there are, it's important to develop good security protocols and adhere to them. The Cadillac of protection will be useless if best practices for use are not followed.

Evaluation

Now that the types of threats are known, now that the frequency of exposure is appreciated, it's time to consider what attributes your existing protection offers and whether it needs to be enhanced in some way. Things to consider are:

• How reliable manufacturer is when it comes to providing support.
  
• How often the software is updated.
  
• What the reports and reviews have to say about the product.
  
• How effective it's proven to be.
  
• The size of your enterprise (number of employees, their locations, whether there are satellites in foreign countries).
  
• Whether or not a back-up system is used.
  
• There's this interesting thing called insurance against loss.
  
• Of course, what's the budget.
  

Comparison

Now that all these matters are in the checklist and they've been honestly considered, it's time to compare the attributes of what's on the market. Is a Cadillac really needed or will a Chevy be satisfactory?

Execution

The analysis is completed. Comparisons are done. More informed than before. It's time to make a choice of purchase a new program or upgrade. Whatever the case at this point, whether paid or free, you should be fully aware of what's at stake and what you've bargained for.

Be Safe

This is no longer the early days of the Internet. There are perils in cyberspace that threaten our security at home, in schools, and in business. The more we rely on electronic devices to do things for us, the more important security is to our welfare. Should we consider some form of protection for the new frontier - artificial intelligence and self-driving vehicles? We can talk about that on another day. Just make certain you're safe wherever you are and while doing what you need to do.

Errata (March 23, 2018): One resource provided talked about "Top 5 Best Free Anti Virus Software." After further investigation, it was discovered that none of the programs are free. One offers a free, limited period trial. Another offers free mobile device protection as part of its product. Finally, another program includes free cloud storage. All five products come with a fee and varying terms that accompany payment terms.

Resources:

• Hacking of Health Care Records Skyrockets, Tom Costello, NBC News (Feb.13.2016)
  
• Hospital network hacked, 4.5 million records stolen, Jose Pagliery, CNN Tech (August 18, 2014)
  
• After computer hack, L.A. hospital pays $17,000 in bitcoin ransom to get back medical records, Justin Wm. Moyer, The Washington Post (February 18, 2016)
  
• Texas Hospital hacked, affects nearly 30,000 patient records, Jessica Davis, Healthcare IT News (November 04, 2016)
  
• UCLA Health hacked, 4.5 million victims, Jose Pagliery, CNN Tech (July 17, 2015)
  
• Sony Hack Reveals Health Details on Employees, Children, Shannon Pettypiece, Bloomberg Technology (‎December‎ ‎11‎, ‎2014)
  
• Sony Pictures attacked again, 4.5 million records exposed, Chester Wisniewski, Naked Security (02 Jun 2011)
  

  Vulnerabilities
  

• Most Common Types of Network Security Breaches, M.S. Smith•edited by Jean Scheid, Bright Hub (updated: 3/28/2010)
  
• Security Breach Examples and Practices to Avoid Them, University of California Santa Cruz, Information Technology Services (revised November 2015)
  
• Common Types of Cybersecurity Attacks: A look inside the attacker's toolkit, Rapid 7
  
• The Top 5 Data Breach Vulnerabilities, Eric Basu, Forbes (Nov 5, 2015)
  
• Types of Cyber Security Breaches – What are the Most Common?, City Business Solutions (September 23, 2016)
  

  Top Anti-Virus Programs
  

• The Top 5 Antivirus Software of 2018, The Top 5 Antivirus
  
• The Best Antivirus Software of 2018, Natural Intelligence Ltd.
  
• Top 5 Best Free Anti Virus Software, Best Anti-Virus Providers
  
• Best Antivirus for Mac - March 2018, The Top 10 Sites, Inc.
  

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