Robust cybersecurity is no longer something that you can choose to opt out of, as the number and severity of data breaches continue to increase. SMEs are most often the target due to what hackers perceive as a lack of adequate cybersecurity measures, with the impact of a data breach being all the more violent in their case. In fact, many enterprises never recover from such an event, with the damage to their reputation often permanent due to the financial issues and identity theft that typically occur in their aftermath.
Since more and more information is found and stored online, and cybercriminals use tools that are increasingly sophisticated in order to come up with malware and phishing that is much more difficult to detect, having a cybersecurity strategy is a must. However, the way in which you design this strategy is very important as well. You must make sure that it is tailored to the specific needs of your company and that it is continuously upgraded and adjusted in order to help it keep up with the demands of an ever-changing environment.
Don’t underestimate the threats
Many business owners make the mistake of believing that their company couldn’t possibly be targeted by a hacker attack. Some may think that they’re simply too small to be on anyone’s radar, but that’s not how things work for cybercriminals. All businesses can become victims, as every single company holds important financial and identity information that can be exploited. Ensuring that your systems are secure is therefore very important. Make sure that every single account is guarded by a robust password that contains a random arrangement of letters, numbers, and symbols. Having a password manager for business is a must so that you can share logins securely and control access to your accounts.
The tools are designed to have a seamless setup, share bank details and vaults with no hassle, and be guarded by end-to-end encryption, reduce errors with the help of autofill for payment info, keep data accessible across all devices via offline support, and empower your team to use passkey support. Some of them are also equipped with proactive credential security to help you stay ahead of threats. Dark Web monitoring is one of them, as the data that is extracted from a leak is typically sold on platforms such as these. If you were the victim of a breach without knowing, then you’ll receive a notification if your data appears in a leak.
Identifying weak passwords, phishing protection, and account takeover prevention features are all included as well. While this could seem excessive if you never dealt with a hacker attack, the truth is that the moment one of them strikes, you’ll be grateful for all these layers of protection.
Constant monitoring
Continuous monitoring will allow you to know where you stand when it comes to cybersecurity risks. As a rule, it is better to prevent them or at least stop them in their tracks before they spiral out of proportion. Data breaches can be incredibly expensive to deal with, and some of the damage resulting from them may end up being permanent. Your reputation can suffer tremendously as well, with many customers choosing to switch to your competitors out of fear that their data could come under attack again in the future and a belief that you don’t have the necessary resources to protect it.
The methods used by attackers have become increasingly sophisticated, with many of them capable of obscuring your view of themselves and their activities. Weekly scans aren’t enough nowadays, especially if you’re looking for a proactive approach. Constantly scanning for vulnerabilities so that you know which areas of your business should be improved is crucial, too.
A cybersecurity culture
Since the scope used by cybercriminals has become so broad, it’s not just your IT department that needs to be mindful of attacks. Embracing a cybersecurity-focused workplace culture is very important, but providing everyone with adequate training and resources is imperative if this is the path you choose. In this scenario, every member of your team has at least basic cybersecurity knowledge so that they can recognize threats and respond accordingly the moment they notice them.
The more people know how to complete this task, the fewer gaps there will be for an attacker to exploit your networks. Many of the attacks nowadays are based on social engineering as well, so it is all the more necessary for all employees to be prepared. An integral part of a robust culture that prioritizes incident response is to boost your incident response and enhance it by any means necessary. Think of what your incident response is like right now and run a thorough assessment so you can determine the best ways to make things more efficient in the future.
Remember that being fast and effective can significantly minimize the impact of a hacker’s actions and the fallout you’ll have to deal with.
The architecture
Cybercriminals typically look for weak areas in your infrastructure that they can then utilize for their own purposes. Your digital architecture should be improved to become more resilient, so attackers can’t find entry points to gain access to your data. It’s not just the disaster recovery that needs to be upgraded, but your security procedures as well. The policies shouldn’t be left unchecked for months or even years on end, though. Remember that the environment changes and your business has to change with it.
All security policies should be reviewed and updated regularly for both safety and to maintain regulatory compliance. If you want to expand your operations or move in a different direction, you’ll most likely have to improve your cybersecurity measures as well. The monitoring can come in handy here, as it will allow you to have practical information about the types of threats you’re dealing with. This means that you can come up with personalized solutions that actually safeguard your enterprise’s integrity.
To sum up, being more proactive about your cybersecurity is no longer just a choice. It’s something you have to do in order to ensure you can thrive in today’s corporate ecosystem.