Technology is constantly evolving, and work environments are becoming increasingly remote or hybrid. Alongside these advancements brings forth diverse security threats that all businesses face. These potential threats may include malware, phishing attacks, or unauthorized access attempts. Organizations must implement cybersecurity best practices to remain at the forefront of these threats, ensuring operational resiliency. From utilizing security software to building a culture of awareness around security, here are five critical cybersecurity best practices every business should implement.
1. Incorporate Security Software
Security software tools are designed to act as a resilient barrier in protecting sensitive data from potential threats. With the increase of remote and hybrid work environments, every organization will have varying needs and may incorporate different types of security software. Some commonly used software programs include anti-malware, end-to-end encryption, and multi-factor authentication. A critical cybersecurity best practice is utilizing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when working under public Wi-Fi. A VPN offers a secure, private connection, protecting employees and their sensitive information from cybercriminals.
2. Plan for Disaster Recovery
Malicious actors are constantly refining their tactics to make them more complex and innovative. Through Disaster Recovery Plans (DRPs), businesses can anticipate and mitigate risk, resolving minor issues before they escalate further. Incorporating forced system failovers in this plan allows organizations to identify critical functions and determine the length of downtime each function can tolerate. Continuous monitoring also grants organizations crucial insight into if/when a breach happens, allowing your organization to recover quickly, keeping the systems in place resilient, and maintaining business continuity.
3. Manage Access Control
Once the designated software is incorporated into the business practice, the organization needs to determine the structure of its identity and access management (IAM). This solution provides businesses with an avenue to ensure the right users and devices can access necessary resources accordingly. IAM can assist in streamlining and automating controls, including setting up access parameters to easily detect suspicious user or employer activities. This framework is essential for managing access control across a variety of corporate networks, such as on-site, remote, and hybrid cloud environments.
4. Establish Security Awareness Training
One of the leading causes of data breaches is unintentional insider threats. To mitigate this, organizations need to invest in security awareness training to ensure all employees are aware of the potential threats of malicious actors. This allows employees to learn about various threats, such as phishing and social engineering. Through proper training, employees utilize proper encryption functionalities and understand the importance of avoiding clicking on popups or unknown links. For security awareness training to be effective, it needs to be a continuous approach that enables employees to internalize and retain the acquired knowledge over time.
5. Partner with a Cybersecurity Consultant
Cybersecurity consultants provide organizations with tailored, expert advice on the protection of their digital assets from security threats. While many businesses consider hiring a cybersecurity consultant to gain a competitive edge or following a recent data breach, it is best practice to implement strategic security measures promptly. A consultant will assess the security posture of a company through various analyses and assessments. At every level, there is an opportunity to build up robust resiliency and continuously monitor and strengthen security measures.
Commit to Operational Resiliency
Organizations must be adaptable to change as technology, work environments, and security threats evolve to be more complex. Malicious actors target organizations in a variety of ways, commonly through phishing attempts, opening the door for unintentional insider threats. By embracing a defense-in-depth approach to cybersecurity, businesses can effectively reinforce their systems against complex threats, ensuring operational resiliency.
