Cyber Security Best Practices: Identifying and putting in place the best practices for cyber-security appear more complicated today than what it was a few years ago. Between the frequent updates, never before seen attacks, and new compliance mandates, there is much to balance while managing security operations.
The big question is how you can guarantee your company is up to date on the newest cybersecurity practices? Are you confident that your business has the protection it needs from the constant evolving cyber-attacks?
While it is true, your staff is the driving force behind your organization. However, they are at times the main business weakness when referring to cybersecurity. All organizations must protect itself from all types of threat, both external and internal. Moreover, to do this, you need an understanding of the basics of cybersecurity.
Simply put, the three main elements of proper security operations are
- Prevention
- Detection
- Response
You need a cybersecurity strategy that helps you with these three processes to respond to current, and future potential threats. The following are eight ways you can be sure your protection is up-to-date in every area for 2018.
Build Processes Before Choosing Tools
Businesses must consider putting in place a proper security governance program. That allows the right teams to guarantee the security strategies and business goals are well-aligned. In a time when it often feels like security is battling the profit motive, using this approach can do a lot for a business.
For instance, it can aid in bridging the divide and turning security into an enabler instead of a naysayer for the company. In the end, thinking through your strategy to conclude the best processes to carry out the plan prior to investing in security tools.
You can find yourself pulled in to the glamour of a hot new item without considering how it fits into your company’s goals. You will less likely be a victim of this struggle if you prioritize your processes over tools.
Designate HR to Halt Data Loss
There are situations when security can become an isolated section of an organization That adds to some of the issue mentioned above. For a much more efficient approach is to look at areas where security is naturally a concern. Then, integrate secure processes and tools into relevant departments. A strong example of this would be data loss and how it impacts human resources.
As you are probably aware, data loss is a massive problem. In the first half of 2017, stolen data took place more than the entire year of 2016. Fast forward to today, there are no reasons to feel that trend will slow or reverse in 2018.
“The best strategy to guarantee your user training is valid is by making it relatable and hands-on. “
One strategy you can use to reduce the chances of falling victim to losing data in 2018 is to dedicate your HR team to develop and implement offboarding procedures. That will protect your data by removing access from departed and departing employee systematically.
Integrate Employee Training
If you think 2018 will be the year that online scams and phishing will come to a halt, think again. Because 2017 was the epic year for attacks and social engineering and both of these only get more sophisticated each year. Therefore, brace yours for a rocky year filled with incredibly effective social engineering scams.
“Social” is the main keyword here. It is your staff that will be your weakest link or your best line of defense. Which of these options comes into play depends on the level of education and training you provide to spot attacks in the making.
The best strategy to guarantee success of your employee security training program is by making it relatable and hands-on.
Limit Visibility to Reduce Insider Threats
Managing risky user behavior and insider threats is a persistent challenge—again, nothing new in 2018. However, businesses are getting wiser about what it will take to be successful at this. In a survey by Gateway, getting full visibility into the behavior stated was that 68 percent of respondents felt it to be “highly challenging” to accomplish.
If you want to decrease the insider threats within your organization, limiting visibility is a perfect place to start. Most security tools only analyze the system, network, or computer data. To put a halt to insider threats, both accidental and malicious, you must monitor all activity by users continuously.
Be sure you select a platform that offers unregulated visibility If your plan for 2018 is to invest in technology for insider threat prevention.
Test Your Backup Systems
Many organization makes the mistake of not checking to see if the tools they invest in actually work by testing their abilities. If this is you, you will find that the worst time to discover your failproof program is not so safe is in the center of a crisis.
Do not stall until your company gets hit by a ransomware strike. Moreover, you get hit by a data exfiltration while in progress to learn your systems are not doing as they are supposed to. When you make investments in backup solutions, be sure to set aside the necessary time to test them on a regular basis.
You will also need to verify that your data’s protection is in safe hands. Every business owners need this assurance
Automate All the Things
You have more than likely read about the necessity of keeping your systems and software up to date. With the Meltdown and Spectre demonstrating vulnerabilities, it is very vital to be confident that your business systems, such as your computer operating systems, remain patched continually.
Do not leave tasks such as system updates to your user’s option. If there is a security task that involves human effort, it will fall through the cracks if you leave it to just anyone to do. That is still true to a large variety of task that is security related and best practices.
Secure Your Site with HTTPs
Protect your users and your site with SSL Certificate. Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, or HTTPS, is an internet communication protocol that protects the confidentiality and integrity of the data between the site and the user’s computer.
Google recommends that all business adopt HTTPS to guarantee a private and secure online experience and protect the user’s connection to your site. In general, this offers three vital methods of protection, these are:
- Encryption
- Data Integrity
- Authentication
Final thoughts
Your business should be prepared to go to the next level with cybersecurity. The fact is, cyber-attacks are not going away, and you as a business owner needs the necessary security to keep your business out of the hands of cyber criminals.