How Comprehensive Cybersecurity Can Save Your Business
Cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, as cyber criminals become more sophisticated in their attacks and take advanced measures in their attempts to gain access to your sensitive information.
Without proper security measures in place, your organization is vulnerable to risks such as data breaches, disruption of normal business operations, theft of sensitive intellectual property, legal liabilities, and more. To prevent some of the risks that could significantly impact your business’s operations, reputation, and bottom line, it is essential to follow a comprehensive cybersecurity framework.
However, you may be unsure if your business currently is doing enough to mitigate potential threats, and that’s why we’ve laid out some of the key elements of a robust cybersecurity framework. However, keep in mind that this list is just a high-level look at what good security looks like. While all these policies and solutions are necessary, you can always do more to ensure your data and assets are kept protected and secure.
The Cybersecurity Threat Landscape
Before you can begin protecting your business, however, you must first understand the threats you might face. To help, the SUCCESS team of security experts has outlined the most common security threats that you should watch out for:
- Malware: Software that is designed to gain access to or damage files on your computer.
- Ransomware: A type of malware that prevents or limits users from accessing their system, either by locking the system’s screen or by locking the users’ files unless a ransom is paid.
- Phishing: A social engineering tactic that typically leverages spoofed emails and websites as lures to prompt people to voluntarily hand over sensitive information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. They can also originate from real accounts that have been compromised. Additionally, attackers could also attempt to gain access to sensitive data through other types of phishing, such as smishing, vishing, or quishing.
Read also: Cybersecurity Awareness: What’s the difference between phishing, smishing, and vishing?
Implementing a Comprehensive Cybersecurity Framework
Once you understand the threats your business might face, the key to protecting your business from new, emerging threats is to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity framework, comprised of the policies, tools, and security measures recommended by experts in the industry. To help you better understand these policies, tools, and security measures, we’ve defined several components of a robust cybersecurity framework, as well as the key steps that, when followed, keep your organization better protected from malicious threats. Check them out below:
Components of a Good Security Framework
- Risk Assessment and Management
- Strong Access Controls and Authentication
- Regular Security Awareness Training
- Data Encryption
- Backup Disaster & Recovery
- Regular Software and System Updates
- Incident Response Plan
1. Risk Assessment and Management
Risk assessment is the process of identifying and evaluating risks that could potentially affect the security of an organization’s assets. It involves steps such as:
- Identifying Vulnerabilities: Start by conducting a thorough risk assessment to identify potential vulnerabilities within your systems, networks, and processes. This includes evaluating both external threats and internal risks.
- Prioritizing Risks: Once vulnerabilities are identified, prioritize them based on the potential impact on your business. Focus on the most critical areas first.
To evaluate your organization’s current security posture, SUCCESS utilizes CIS Assessments, which aligns with prioritized, actionable steps for better security that are outlined by CIS Controls. By performing a CIS Assessment, our team is able to identify gaps in your security infrastructure and make the necessary improvements to adhere with industry best practices.
2. Strong Access Controls and Authentication
Access controls are security measures that regulate who can view, use, or modify specific resources. Strong access controls include:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Implement MFA to add an extra layer of security beyond just passwords. This ensures that even if a password is compromised, unauthorized access is still difficult.
- Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Restrict access to sensitive data and systems based on an employee’s role within the organization. Only those who need access to certain information should have it.
3. Regular Security Awareness Training
Security awareness trainings emphasize the importance of secure technology usage to your team and help them to know what to look for when it comes to potential threats. Security awareness trainings include:
- Employee Education: Your employees are your first line of defense. Regularly train them on the latest cybersecurity threats and best practices, including how to spot phishing emails and what to do in the event of a potential breach.
- Simulated Attacks: Conduct simulated phishing attacks to test employee awareness and readiness. Use the results to refine future trainings.
4. Data Encryption
Data encryption is a security technique that transforms data into an unreadable format to protect it from unauthorized access. It ensures that all sensitive data, both at rest and in transit, is secured. This makes it much harder for cybercriminals to access or steal your data.
5. Backup Disaster & Recovery
Backup Disaster & Recovery (BDR) is the process of creating copies of data to ensure that it can be restored in the event of data loss, corruption, or disaster. To do this, your critical data should be backed up and stored either off-site or in the cloud and the backups are protected against ransomware (e.g., air-gapped). Data should also be stored in multiple secure locations, as opposed to just one.
6. Regular Software and System Updates
Regular software and system updates are critical maintenance work that involves installing the latest versions, patches, and fixes for software applications, operating systems, and more. These updates are essential for keeping systems protected from vulnerabilities, stable, and performing optimally.
7. Incident Response Plan
An incident response plan (IRP) is a structured, often collaborative, approach for handling security incidents that ultimately helps minimize damage and restore normal operations efficiently. Incident response plans involve:
- Preparation: Develop and document a clear incident response plan outlining steps to take in a cybersecurity breach. This should include roles and responsibilities, communication protocols, and recovery procedures.
- Testing and Drills: Regularly test your incident response plan through drills and simulations. This will help identify any weaknesses and ensure that your team is ready to respond effectively in a real-world scenario.
Read also: Ransomware Strikes: Protecting Your Organization from Cyber Extortion
Good Security Starts with You
Good cybersecurity practices don’t just stop with the technical measures we’ve outlined – there are steps you and every other member of your team can take as well to further ensure the security of your organization’s data. These steps include:
- Implementing strong, complex passphrases that are unique across accounts.
- Keeping your work data and personal data separate from each other (e.g., don’t let kids have access to your work computer).
- Being mindful of which applications you use, and the level of access you grant them to your data. More applications = larger footprint for potential incidents.
- Updating devices and software sooner rather than later to ensure they receive all necessary security patches and updates.
With these steps in mind, you’ll be more prepared to spot and prevent potential cyber threats. However, know that you also don’t have to work to implement a comprehensive cybersecurity framework at your business on your own. The SUCCESS team of experts is here to ensure that your IT infrastructure is meeting industry standards for what good looks like. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary assessment of your current IT framework, and we’ll help you get started on the road to a more secure network.