Cybercriminals are continually finding new ways to attack businesses. Their goals include an alarming array of potentially very expensive harm. They are out to get the personal information of businesses’ customers to initiate fraudulent transactions and perpetuate ongoing identity theft crimes. They are also trying to infiltrate businesses’ networks to install ransomware and other malware, or they aim to get direct access to a business’ financial assets. Businesses need to prioritize cybersecurity in their risk management plans.
GET YOUR WHOLE TEAM ON THE SAME PAGE
A business’ cybersecurity infrastructure is only as strong as its weakest link. Everyone in a business’ workforce needs an in-depth understanding of what they need to do to follow the business’ key security policies. The relevance of some policies may differ for various departments or job roles, but everyone must have a clear picture of what they need to do in the day-to-day tasks that are unique to their position and user permissions. In order to achieve this, written policies must codify all important information about logging in, saving data, and using the internet.
It is advisable to offer extensive training about policies on network safety. Ideally, training should use helpful visual demonstrations. It should give people the opportunity to ask questions. When reviewing these topics, training leaders should be sure to let personnel who to contact for help if they have a data security concern. It may be necessary to have follow-up training sessions to reinforce core policies, and data security policy training should be part of a company’s onboarding process for all new hires.
UTILIZE ADAPTIVE TECHNOLOGIES
Network administrators need to find ways to detect threats effortlessly. It may be advantageous to implement artificial intelligence to monitor events such as vulnerabilities in the configuration of security settings or neural network chips. This type of technology can alert networking professionals to threats in real-time and work to fortify businesses’ security protocols.
It is imperative that antivirus programs and network protocols get continual revisions to offer suitable defenses against amorphic cyber weaponry. Furthermore, it is crucial that administrators perform all recommended updates. Postponing an update simply because a system is performing slowly could have disastrous consequences. Updating both antivirus programs and more general applications could be comparably important. Security enhancements are one of the most common reasons why general applications and even operating systems release updates.
CHOOSE THE MOST EFFECTIVE TOOLS OVER THE MOST WELL-KNOWN TOOLS
Cybercriminals will pursue as many potential targets as possible when they’ve identified or created a tactic to breach security controls. They’ll keep using the same tactics for as long as they can. In response, many of the most popular antivirus and network protection services will find ways to effectively resolve vulnerabilities. When criminals are trying to surmount security advancements, their first step will often be to take on the most popular workaround by focusing their efforts on the most popular companies.
Opting for a big name simply because familiarity with it inspires confidence may not necessarily be the best guiding principle for choosing the right product to safeguard a business’ network. Features and functionality that a security solution offer ultimately matters a lot more than the size or branding reach of the company that makes it.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Data breaches can represent a business’ single greatest source of exposure to liability or loss. Comprehensive cybersecurity management plans need to be well-measured to the seriousness of what businesses are up against. Policies should be stringent, promote consistency, and sufficiently address a business’ unique operating risks. Companies need to carefully consider the value of investing in key defenses such as technological safeguards, monitoring tools, insurance coverage, and staff training.
