LAYER 3 SECURITY
Protecting your digital life involves more than installing one security product. Layer 3 combines device, Internet, DNS, network, maintenance and recovery layers to help homes and businesses reduce risk where it actually exists.
RISK → RIGHT LAYER → REDUCED EXPOSURE → RECOVERY
Protect the endpoint
Reduce exposure to harmful destinations
Add protection and visibility around network activity
Have a plan when prevention is not enough
DIFFERENT RISKS NEED DIFFERENT PROTECTION
Security problems can begin on a device, through outdated software, a malicious destination, a network, stolen credentials or a convincing message. The right combination depends on the customer’s actual requirement.
Decisions, credentials and suspicious requests still matter.
Helps protect supported endpoints against supported malicious software and files.
Helps address some known software weaknesses.
Helps reduce access to known harmful destinations where supported.
Adds another supported layer around network traffic and activity.
The connection that carries activity to and from the environment.
A separate recovery layer for selected data when prevention is not enough.
Explore Backup & RecoveryANTIVIRUS IS IMPORTANT
Antivirus or endpoint protection is an important security layer. It helps protect supported devices against supported malicious software and files, but it does not automatically protect every account, connection, website, password, backup or user decision.
Protects the supported endpoint.
Help close some known software vulnerabilities.
Helps block known harmful destinations where supported.
Adds another layer around supported network traffic and activity.
Provides a recovery path for selected data.
Still needs to assess suspicious links, password requests and scams.
Antivirus is not useless because it is not everything. It is one important part of a broader security picture.
PROTECT THE RIGHT LAYER
These are pathways to the relevant layer, not a requirement to buy every service.
DNS Security can help prevent devices from reaching known malicious, unwanted or restricted destinations according to the configured service. It may suit homes, businesses, family filtering and reducing exposure to known malicious domains.
Explore DNS SecurityNetwork Security works at another layer, helping protect or provide visibility around traffic and activity across supported Layer 3 network environments.
Explore Network SecurityDevice Protection adds endpoint security to supported computers and devices, helping identify or reduce risk from supported malicious software and harmful files.
Explore Device ProtectionKeeping supported software more current can address known security weaknesses and improve device supportability.
Explore Windows & Software UpdatesBackup does not prevent a security incident. It creates a recovery layer for selected data where valid recoverable backups exist.
Explore Backup & RecoveryWHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY WORRIED ABOUT?
These are guidance pathways, not definitive diagnoses.
Device Protection and supported updates may be relevant.
Get GuidanceDNS Security, Device Protection and careful user decisions address different parts of this concern.
Get GuidanceSupported DNS filtering and appropriate family controls may be relevant.
Get GuidanceAssessment and support may be more useful than blindly adding another product.
Get GuidanceEndpoint protection may not be the primary answer; trusted account and password recovery steps may be required.
Get GuidanceProtection may involve devices, updates, backup and appropriate DNS or network layers.
Get GuidanceBackup & Recovery may provide the relevant recovery layer.
Get GuidanceWHERE THE RISK EXISTS MATTERS
Malicious software, harmful files and device applications — Device Protection.
Outdated operating systems or applications — Windows & Software Updates.
Known harmful destinations — DNS Security.
Supported network-level security or activity — Network Security.
Information being lost or damaged — Backup & Recovery.
THE USER IS PART OF THE SECURITY MODEL
Many incidents begin with suspicious links, fake login pages, unexpected attachments, password reuse, impersonation or unexpected remote-access requests. Security systems may reduce risk, but people still need to treat unusual requests carefully.
Pause before entering credentials
Check where a link leads
Verify unusual payment requests another way
Never grant unexpected remote access
Use appropriate password and security controls
REDUCE RISK — DON’T PRETEND RISK DISAPPEARS
Even strong security cannot guarantee any of the outcomes below.
No malware
No scams
No account compromise
No vulnerabilities
No data loss
No mistakes
The practical goal is to reduce exposure, improve protection, maintain supported systems, identify problems where supported, and recover when appropriate.
DIAGNOSE BEFORE BUYING
Storage, old hardware, software, updates, background processes or malware may contribute. Diagnose first.
Device Protection will not improve Wi-Fi signal.
Security products do not create Internet capacity.
Remote Support may be more relevant than another security product.
Security software cannot repair a physical component.
The right security product only helps when it addresses the actual risk.
SECURITY AT HOME
Home security may involve family computers, home offices, schoolwork devices, browsing, malicious sites, important personal files and backups.
Family filtering may be appropriate where supported, alongside device security, safe browsing habits and age-appropriate controls.
SECURITY FOR BUSINESS
Staff computers, remote users, branches, business data, Internet access, DNS, the network environment, updates and backup may all need consideration. The appropriate design depends on the real environment and risk.
SECURITY IS ALSO ABOUT WHAT CHILDREN CAN REACH
Family safety may involve filtered DNS, inappropriate-content filtering, device security, safe browsing and age-appropriate technology controls. No specific parental-control product or unverified filtering capability is being claimed here.
DON’T PANIC — START WITH THE FACTS
Stop and assess what happened
Note messages and alerts
Do not keep entering credentials on suspicious pages
Change relevant credentials through trusted channels where appropriate
Preserve screenshots or useful information
Seek support if the issue is unclear
THE RIGHT LEVEL OF PROTECTION
Appropriate endpoint protection, updates and basic security practices may cover much of the requirement, depending on the customer.
Device protection, supported DNS filtering and appropriate family controls may become more relevant.
Appropriate backup and support considerations may be added.
Multiple devices, users, DNS or network exposure, backup and maintenance may justify a structured approach.
Security design should be based on the actual environment and risk.
Layer 3 should recommend the layers that address the actual requirement rather than adding products simply because they exist.
SECURITY QUESTIONS PEOPLE ACTUALLY ASK
Antivirus is important but does not cover every device, account, network, website or backup risk.
Not necessarily. Phishing, fake sites, password reuse and compromised accounts involve additional risks.
A firewall protects part of an environment but does not replace endpoint security, updates, DNS security, backup or user awareness.
Not necessarily. Several device, software and hardware causes are possible.
No. They address different layers.
Security reduces risk; backup provides a recovery layer for selected data.
No system should be assumed to stop every scam or deceptive message.
No. The combination depends on devices, users, data, environment and risk.
Stop entering information, preserve useful details and use the Support Centre if the next step is unclear.
SECURITY FOR SOUTH AFRICAN HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Value matters. Customers should understand the trade-offs: a more expensive solution should solve a genuine requirement, while a lower-cost option should not be presented as something it cannot realistically provide.
SECURITY CONNECTS TO THE REST OF LAYER 3
SECURITY QUESTIONS
It provides supported layers around devices, software maintenance, DNS destinations, networks and recovery according to the requirement.
No single product covers every risk.
It can help reduce access to known harmful, unwanted or restricted destinations according to the configured service.
It adds supported network-layer protection or visibility without replacing device, user or recovery controls.
They address different layers; the actual requirement varies.
Backup & Recovery is a separate recovery layer.
Supported Digital Care and security services can help protect and maintain eligible home computers.
Layer 3 offers supported device, DNS, network, maintenance and recovery layers without implying unverified enterprise capabilities.
No. Security reduces risk but cannot eliminate it.
Start with the facts and use the Layer 3 Support Centre if the next step is unclear.
START WITH WHAT YOU WANT TO PROTECT
Tell Layer 3 what devices, people, data or Internet use you’re concerned about. We’ll help identify which layers may be appropriate rather than assuming every customer needs the same solution.
