Due to the increase in cyberattacks, more people are waking up to the dangers that these threats pose to their organization. Although it's crucial to put preventative measures in place, it can be challenging to know where to start. The techniques listed below are a great start to an effective cybersecurity plan:
- Maximize your visibility
- Minimize risk
- Pick a security framework
- Strong Asset Inventory
- Always Update
- Use Strong passwords
- Enable Multi-factor Authentication
- Increase User Awareness
Maximize Your Visibility
The first step towards effective cybersecurity is to determine where your organization's data is stored, how itβs used, and where the vulnerabilities lie. There are various tools available, such as intrusion and threat detection, penetration testing, and traffic monitoring. Taking the time to identify your digital footprint, its components, and possible weaknesses will help minimize risks and fortify systems.
Minimize Risk
Once you know your digital footprint and the vulnerabilities, itβs time to minimize the risk. Taking steps to close these gaps and decrease your chances of a breach can save revenue, keep operations working, and safeguard your data from theft or corruption. There are several strategies to mitigate risk, and thatβs with tools like encryption, employee cybersecurity training, and disaster recovery plans.
Pick a Security Framework
A well-crafted security framework defines policies and procedures for establishing and maintaining security controls. It serves as a roadmap for your security team. Fortunately, there are several popular frameworks available that you can use as a model for your own. One highly-regarded approach offered by NIST employs the following: identify, protect, detect, respond, and recover.
Strong Asset Inventory
If you want to secure your network and protect it from cyber threats, you need to conduct an asset inventory. This includes all devices connected to your network and the internet, such as printers, computers, smartphones, and cloud servers, along with your data and other related items. It also includes all software installed on laptops, desktops, and servers. Each of these components can be susceptible to cyberattacks or security breaches. To manage your assets effectively, start by identifying their location, assigning ownership, and ensuring that they have secure connections.
Always Update
To maintain the security of your digital data, it is crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest security patches and software updates. These updates play a vital role in safeguarding your computer against potential cyber threats. Ignoring these patches can create vulnerabilities in your system, increasing the risk of your computer being exploited by malicious actors. Furthermore, keeping your software current enhances your computer's efficiency and minimizes downtime. Therefore, it is advisable to regularly update your system and keep it running smoothly.
Use Strong Passwords
A strong, complex password is one of the best protections against cyberattacks. Weak passwords can be cracked by guessing them or by using a combination of techniques. Passwords guard access to your data, emails, accounts, and logins while also protecting the assets of the business. The strongest passwords contain a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and they never include any personal information.
Enable Multi-factor Authentication
Having a secure password is the first step in effective cybersecurity, and using different methods of authentication is ideal. MFA increases security since, should a password be hacked, unauthorized users won't be able to complete the additional authentications. Additionally, it is a great solution for your cybersecurity strategy due to the variety of authentication methods available.
Increase User Awareness
Training all employees in security risk awareness is the first step in a successful cybersecurity plan. They should be instructed on how to spot phishing emails, how to create strong passwords, and who to contact if they see any unusual activity on their accounts. Social engineering can still target any organization, but risks can be minimized by having an informed workforce.
As we come to a close, keep in mind that the first step to developing a successful cybersecurity plan is determining what you have and how you want to safeguard it. Once you have a plan in place, use wise strategies like multi-factor authentication, secure passwords, and regular upgrades. Keep your employees trained and informed about new security measures by providing frequent, thorough training.