As technology advances, the risks of cyber attacks grow more sophisticated and prevalent. It is increasingly vital for businesses of all sizes to safeguard themselves against these threats. No company is immune to cyber attacks from small businesses to large corporations.
Studies indicate that over 50% of small businesses experience a data breach or cyber attack. Consequently, implementing robust cybersecurity measures is crucial to protecting your company’s sensitive information and maintaining operational integrity. (Source: advisorsmith.com, getastra.com)
Table of contents
- Train your staff
- Keep Your Software And Systems Updated
- Ensure Endpoint Protection
- Install a Firewall
- Deploy AI Means In Your Cybersecurity Strategy
- Encrypt Your Data and Create Backups
- Control Access To Your Systems
- Implement WiFi Security Measures
- Partner With Experienced Cybersecurity Consulting Firms
- Create Secured Employee Accounts
- Always Use Strong Passwords & 2-Factor Authentication
- Assess and Monitor Third Party Vendors
- Invest In Security Solutions & Tools
Train your staff
To effectively combat cyber attacks, it is essential to educate your employees on prevention and keep them informed about the latest cyber attack techniques.
Regular training sessions should be conducted to raise awareness and provide practical guidance on how to identify and respond to potential threats.
According to data from EY, only 36% of CISOs are satisfied with the non-IT workforce’s adoption of cyber best practices, underlining the importance of new training methods adopted by companies.
One key aspect of employee training is teaching them to be cautious when clicking on links in emails. They should be instructed to carefully examine the URL and verify its legitimacy before proceeding.
Additionally, employees should be trained to scrutinize the email addresses of received emails. Cybercriminals often use slightly altered email addresses that closely resemble legitimate ones, so attention to detail is critical in detecting these discrepancies.
Another crucial element of employee training is encouraging the use of common sense when handling sensitive information. If an employee receives an unusual request, especially one that involves sharing confidential data, they should be trained to question its authenticity.
Rather than immediately complying with the request, employees should be encouraged to verify its legitimacy through a separate channel, such as a phone call with the supposed sender.
In addition to training, it is essential to implement technical measures to enhance your organization’s cybersecurity. This may include using strong passwords, enabling two-factor authentication, regularly updating software and systems, and investing in reliable antivirus and firewall protection.
Keep Your Software And Systems Updated
Maintaining updated software and systems is key to strong cybersecurity.
Updating software boosts security, keeps users happy, and ensures software compatibility. It helps prevent data breaches, as new updates not only make your systems more secure but also add features and fix issues.
Cyberattacks frequently occur as a result of vulnerabilities left by out-of-date software or systems. Thus, hackers take advantage of these flaws to enter your network. It’s frequently too late to take preventive action after they’ve entered.
| Importance of Software Updates | Key Practices |
|---|---|
| Protects against cyber-threats | Enable automatic updates |
| Improves user satisfaction | Regularly check for updates |
| Enhances compatibility | Verify official update sources |
| Fixes vulnerabilities | Avoid unverified executable files |
| Reduces risks of data breaches | Watch for language errors |
Install a Patch Management Software
A patch is a piece of code that improves a program already installed into your system, think of it as an update. A patch would be made to address a bug in an installed program on your computer, saving you from having to redo the entire code.
Patches can be installed on any part of your network, including servers, routers, operating systems, and much more. Patch Management is useful since trying to apply patches to all of them on a daily basis can be too much to handle.
As the name implies, Patch Management allows you to manage all these patches and keep your systems up-to-date and secure. In Patch Management, you can look for patches and decide whether or not they’re needed and make sure they’re installed and implemented correctly.
Ensure Endpoint Protection
Endpoint security, or endpoint protection, is the cybersecurity approach to defending endpoints — such as desktops, laptops, and mobile devices — from malicious activity.
Traditional firewalls are becoming outdated as more people work remotely. Now, endpoint protection does more than just stop viruses. It offers malware defense and powerful cyber defense tactics.
With BYOD (bring your own device) and IoT (Internet of Things), more devices are linking to your network. These devices, such as tablets or laptops, are easy targets for hackers.
An endpoint is any device that connects to the corporate network from outside its firewall. Examples of endpoint devices include:
- Laptops
- Tablets
- Mobile devices
- Internet of things (IoT) devices
- Point-of-sale (POS) systems
- Switches
- Digital printers
- Other devices that communicate with the central network
Companies with a lot of employees and different locations greatly benefit from a centralized endpoint control. This special type of system uses machine learning to find new threats and prevent data loss. It also comes with its own firewall.
How endpoint protection works
The “traditional” or “legacy” approach is often used to describe an on-premises security posture that is reliant on a locally hosted data center from which security is delivered.
The management console uses the data center as its central location to connect with endpoints and deliver security via agents. Since administrators can usually only manage endpoints within their perimeter, the hub and spoke paradigm might result in security silos.
With the pandemic driving remote work, many organizations have moved to laptops and BYOD, revealing the limitations of on-premises setups. As workforces globalize, some endpoint protection vendors have adopted a “hybrid” approach, updating legacy designs for the cloud to gain cloud capabilities.
The third approach is a “cloud-native” solution built in and for the cloud. Administrators can remotely monitor and manage endpoints through a centralized management console that lives in the cloud and connects to devices remotely through an agent on the endpoint.
The agent can work with the management console or independently to provide security for the endpoint should it not have internet connectivity.
Install a Firewall
Setting up a firewall is fundamental for robust network security and effective internet safety measures. Firewalls shield against cyber threats by blocking malicious network traffic.
The main advantage is the control they provide over network actions, especially in multi-computer scenarios. Hardware firewalls excel at safeguarding large networks, whereas software ones refine the control over each application’s network access.
Most firewall products are ready for use when purchased, simplifying setup. Yet, their default settings might not be the most secure. Thus, regular updates and monitoring are crucial to improve internet safety.
Steps to configure a firewall
- Step 1: Secure the firewall
- Step 2: Establish IP address structure and firewall zones
- Step 3: Configure Access Control Lists (ACLs)
- Step 4: Configure other firewall services and logging
- Step 5: Test the firewall configuration
Besides filtering out harmful network traffic, firewalls work best when joined by antivirus programs and safe browsing practices. Next-generation firewalls provide even more tailored protection, adapting to an organization’s unique security requirements.
While essential, firewalls aren’t standalone solutions. They should be integrated into a holistic security plan.
Deploy AI Means In Your Cybersecurity Strategy
AI in cybersecurity refers to the application of artificial intelligence technologies to enhance the protection of digital systems and data from cyber threats. It utilizes machine learning, neural networks, and other AI techniques to detect, prevent, and respond to cyber attacks more efficiently and effectively.
Firstly, AI enhances threat detection by quickly analyzing vast amounts of data to identify anomalies and potential threats that traditional methods might miss. This real-time identification of sophisticated and emerging threats is vital.
Additionally, AI improves response time by automating certain types of cyber incident responses, reducing the time between detection and mitigation, which helps limit the damage caused by cyberattacks.
Moreover, it enables a proactive defense through predictive analytics, allowing organizations to anticipate and prepare for potential threats before they occur.
It handles the complexity of modern cyber threats by integrating and analyzing diverse data sources, providing a comprehensive view of every potential threat, while enabling more effective defense strategies.
By automating routine tasks such as threat hunting, monitoring, and incident response, AI reduces the workload for security teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic activities.
Furthermore, AI solutions are scalable, handling large volumes of data and an increasing number of connected devices, and their adaptive learning capabilities ensure that security measures evolve alongside emerging threats.
Leading Organizations Are Showing The Way
Using statistical modeling, EY identified leading organizations with the most effective cybersecurity, referring to this group as “Secure Creators.” Compared to their lower-performing counterparts, known as “Prone Enterprises,” Secure Creators experience fewer cyber incidents and demonstrate faster detection and response times.
According to the data presented, companies that have invested in their cybersecurity strategies are highly focused on integrating AI and automation into their daily operations.
Encrypt Your Data and Create Backups
In our modern era, safeguarding critical information via data encryption is crucial for every business.
The fact that 93% of networks can be breached underscores the need for stringent security. This is where advanced security measures play a pivotal role. (Source: ptsecurity.com)
By encrypting your data, they stay safe from unauthorized access. Even if backups are targeted, the information remains private. This strategy prevents cybercrimes and locks hackers out from accessing your data without a digital key.
Adoption of encryption technology by organizations is on the rise. It meets the criteria of several legal standards like GDPR, CCPA, and PCI DSS.
Moreover, separating encryption keys from backups adds another layer of security, ensuring data access is strictly for approved individuals.
Lastly, backing up data regularly, be it daily or weekly, significantly lowers the impact of cyber attacks.
Well-managed encryption, along with frequent backups, diminishes the chances of losing crucial information. It improves overall privacy, security, and maintains operational continuity, making your business more resilient.
Control Access To Your Systems
Forecasts predict an increase in breaches to nearly 15.4 million by 2025. This projection highlights the urgency for robust access control. (Source: secureframe.com)
Initially, restrict system access to essential personnel. This approach mitigates the impact of human error, seen in 95% of breaches, and diminishes risks tied to unhappy employees. Deploying keycards, biometrics, and other advanced solutions is key for a comprehensive access control strategy.
Furthermore, it’s critical to tightly manage administrative access. This involves promptly revoking passwords and ensuring the recovery of company assets when employees leave.
Studies indicate that over 80% of data breaches result from weak passwords. (Source: lastpass.com)
To address this, create strong, individualized passwords for each employee and enforce multi-factor authentication.Among internal breaches, 91% trace back to phishing emails. These deceptive messages are challenging to spot and frequently seem credible.
As a result, education on recognizing and reporting phishing attempts is crucial, as it reduces the likelihood of successful breaches, enhancing the security of staff accounts.
Implement WiFi Security Measures
Securing your business network is vital, requiring robust WiFi security.
The journey of wireless security started with WEP in 1997, advancing to WPA in 2003 and then WPA2 in 2004, the most common today.
To shield against cyber threats, combine encryption like WPA2 or WPA3 with firewalls and VPNs. Opt for VPNs with AES-256 encryption and trusted open-source standards. This strengthens both security and privacy.
Business networks must segregate guest and employee access because creating separate networks lessens the danger of unauthorized entry and the likelihood of data breaches.
Monitor and Analyze Network Traffic and User Activity
To augment WiFi security, it’s vital to monitor network traffic and analyze user actions. Regular scrutiny of traffic helps spot anomalies like odd data flows that signify a brewing attack.
Also, watching user actions can uncover unauthorized entries or odd behaviors, prompting early countermeasures.Use wireless security tools that offer in-depth audits through performance analysis, penetration tests, and packet inspection.
These steps ensure timely vulnerability fixes, significantly minimizing cyber assault risks.
Partner With Experienced Cybersecurity Consulting Firms
Small businesses often find themselves ill-equipped to deal with cybersecurity risks effectively.
By teaming up with seasoned cybersecurity consulting firms, they gain access to advanced IT solutions and expert knowledge. This is vital for deploying strong cyber defense measures and cyber attack prevention tactics.
Cyber breaches can inflict significant monetary and image harm. Thus, adopting stringent cybersecurity practices is imperative for all enterprises.
Cybersecurity experts are instrumental in securing sensitive data and ensuring uninterrupted business operations.
The role of cybersecurity consultants spans various activities. These include risk evaluations, drafting security policies, responding to incidents, and ensuring adherence to legal norms.
They are equipped with an array of technical, analytic, and communicative talents as well as pertinent certifications and field experience.
On a daily basis, these professionals engage in a spectrum of duties. This may involve carrying out security checks, formulating defense strategies, overseeing security platforms, educating personnel, complying with regulations, and handling crises.
Create Secured Employee Accounts
Securing employee accounts is vital for a strong cybersecurity setup.
According to data from EY Cyprus, one of the major internal challenges to the organization’s cybersecurity strategy is the existence of numerous potential attack surfaces, including the risk posed by potentially insecure employee accounts.
How to Secure Your Employees’ Accounts
The main step is to enforce stringent password rules. This ensures that breach chances drop significantly.
It’s crucial that each employee crafts unique, hard-to-guess passwords for their accounts.
Adhering to these guidelines ensures employee accounts stay protected, lowering the risk of cyber assaults. Each action, whether from tightening password practices to ongoing staff instruction, is crucial in building an effective cybersecurity stance.
Always Use Strong Passwords & 2-Factor Authentication
When it comes to fighting cyber crime, using robust passwords is a must.
A strong password should exceed 8 characters and include numbers, special symbols, and uppercase letters.
Yet, studies have found that passwords up to 15 characters can still fall short, stressing the need for intricate combinations.
Adding two-factor authentication (2FA) further boosts your digital defense. This method, requiring more than just a password for access, significantly lowers the chances of unwelcome breaches.
It’s particularly effective against tactics such as phishing, making it a crucial step in ensuring account security.
Other Tips regarding passwords:
- Unique Passwords: Refrain from using the same password for different accounts to lessen the impact of a security breach.
- Password Managers: Investing in a password manager can streamline the process of creating and storing complex and varied passwords.
- Password Updates: Changing your passwords regularly, ideally every few months, is imperative to continued security.
These steps not only secure personal accounts but also strengthen an organization’s digital defense as a whole. It’s equally vital to keep all software updated to patch up any vulnerabilities that hackers could exploit.
Assess and Monitor Third Party Vendors
A comprehensive third-party risk assessment is key to safeguarding critical company information.
This is done by making vendor monitoring a part of your cybersecurity plan.
The goal is to identify any cyber issues with third parties that could harm your business, while accessing data from public and private sources to watch for dubious vendor activities.
To effectively handle third-party risks, evaluating media and news is crucial.
This means scanning through various sources for exposed credentials and bad press. Moreover, checking a vendor’s historical data breaches over the past years helps in understanding likely threats.
Monitoring vendors enhances cyber attack prevention by helping organizations understand and quantify risks better.
A vendor management policy should include as a minimum the below to enforce vendor monitoring and help your business mitigate risks by properly vetting a third-party prior to their onboarding.
| Purpose and Scope | Define the purpose of the policy and its applicability within the organization. Specify the types of third parties that fall under the policy’s scope. |
| Roles and Responsibilities | Outline the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders involved in the third-party risk management process, including risk owners, procurement teams, legal, compliance, and senior management. |
| Risk Identification | Establish criteria for identifying potential risks associated with third-party relationships. This could include financial stability, cybersecurity practices, compliance with laws and regulations, reputation, and operational resilience. |
| Risk Assessment and Classification | Provide a framework for assessing the identified risks, including qualitative and quantitative measures. Classify third parties based on the level of risk they pose to the organization. |
| Due Diligence | Detail the due diligence process that must be conducted before engaging with a third party. This may include background checks, financial audits, security assessments, and reviews of policies and procedures. |
| Risk Mitigation and Control | Describe the strategies and controls that will be implemented to mitigate identified risks. This could involve contract clauses, insurance requirements, security controls, and ongoing monitoring. |
| Contract Management | Include guidelines for contract negotiations that address risk-related terms and conditions, such as right to audit, data protection, and breach notification. |
| Ongoing Monitoring and Reporting | Define the procedures for continuous monitoring of third-party performance and risk exposure. Establish reporting mechanisms for risk-related incidents and changes in the third-party’s risk profile. |
| Incident Management and Contingency Planning | Provide a plan for responding to incidents involving third parties, including breach response and contingency plans for critical third-party failures. |
| Regulatory Compliance | Ensure the policy is aligned with relevant laws, regulations, and industry standards that govern third-party relationships. |
| Training and Awareness | Mandate training programs for employees involved in third-party risk management to ensure they understand the policy and their responsibilities. |
| Policy Review and Update | Specify the frequency and conditions under which the policy will be reviewed and updated to reflect changes in the organization’s risk appetite, the regulatory environment, and the business landscape. |
| Documentation and Record Keeping | Outline the requirements for documenting the risk assessment process, due diligence findings, and risk management actions. |
| Communication | Establish how the policy will be communicated to third parties and within the organization. |
| Escalation Procedures | Define the process for escalating high-risk findings to appropriate decision-makers within the organization. |
Invest In Security Solutions & Tools
As cyber threats continue evolving, businesses must invest in cutting-edge cybersecurity.
These advancements, like ReaQta’s EDR, utilize AI and behavioral analysis. They quickly identify and prevent threats, cutting down on potential cyber-attacks. This proactive strategy saves businesses both time and resources.
Finding and fixing vulnerabilities within your security systems is equally critical.
Adhering to data protection laws is mandatory for many sectors. Failing to comply with these rules can result in substantial fines and penalties.
By embracing comprehensive security software like IDPS, businesses ensure regulatory adherence. Such tools not only protect them but also enhance customer trust. This trust is crucial for maintaining a loyal customer base.
If you wish to get in touch with a Cybersecurity advisor, please follow this link to the EY website. Do not treat this article as a piece of tailored advice. Each case varies. This article is only for educational purposes.
