In today’s era of internet-connected devices, people are more connected than ever. For many organisations, this connectivity proves to be beneficial: It improves productivity and decision-making. It also allows them to obtain data they can use to improve work processes.
Despite these benefits, internet-connected devices also pose risks. These devices can be vulnerable to security flaws and vulnerabilities and can be exploited by cybercriminals, such as black hat hackers and malicious nation-state actors.
If an organization becomes susceptible to cybercriminals, it could lead to violations of data regulations and adversely affect the organization’s reputation among stakeholders and clients
Given these security threats, cybersecurity is as crucial as ever. Organisations have no choice but to defend their data, such as personal information, personally identifiable information (PII), intellectual property data, and governmental and industry information systems.
If your organisation wants to strengthen its cybersecurity procedures, here are steps you can take:
1. Boost Endpoint Security
Endpoints are network devices, such as desktops, tablets, laptops, smartphones, and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. Often, hackers exploit them to find an entry to launch cyber-attacks.
For this reason, boosting endpoint security is crucial to strengthening your cybersecurity. To secure your endpoints, refer to the following:
- Apply the principle of least privilege to control access to data.
- Patch and secure each network device.
- Encrypt endpoints.
- Implement a zero-trust security model to authenticate and authorise users before accessing data.
- Use a virtual private network for remote network devices.
- Create strong passwords.
- Adopt a universal storage bus access policy.
Likewise, the decreased costs of endpoint security technology make it ideal for protecting your business online. For example, you can have a single solution to meet your business’s IT needs instead of purchasing multiple software and hardware tools.
2. Conduct Security Audits
Another strategy to fortify your cybersecurity posture is to conduct security audits. Through this analysis, your organisation can find ways to identify and examine potentially weak areas in its connected devices, applications, and networks, allowing proper resolution of loopholes. All this translates to adhering to regulations more appropriately.
Security audits have three types. These types are:
- Internal security audit.
- Second-party security audit.
- Third-party security audit.
Likewise, the regularity needed by organisations for conducting a security audit varies. For instance, frequent audits are required by those with plenty of sensitive data, such as healthcare providers or financial services. Outside factors like regulatory requirements are also a basis for the number of audits needed.
3. Utilize Security Automation
You can also boost your cybersecurity by applying security automation. This is a practice where you’ll use software to detect, examine, and fix cyber threats with or without human assistance. Through it, your organisation can recognise incoming cyber-attacks and classify alerts as they come up. Conducting automated incident response is also possible.
There are many benefits to using automation for securing your data and devices. For example, it frees up time and effort for your IT security team to process the amounts of alerts and data that your security systems generate. Handling the expanding cyber-attack surface can also become more accessible because of it.
Today, you can use different security automation tools to meet your organisation’s needs. Some of those tools are:
- Security information and event management (SIEM)
- Extended detection and response
- Cyber risk quantification
- Unified asset inventory
- Risk-based vulnerability management
- Security orchestration, automation, and response (SOAR)
You can use one of these tools, especially if your information technology (IT) networks and infrastructures become more extensive.
4. Build A Cybersecurity Culture
Because of the increased cyber threats besetting various organisations, raising awareness on securing IT infrastructures and networks isn’t enough. More importantly, changing behaviours related to cybersecurity is also a must.
A cybersecurity culture helps by establishing employees’ assumptions, attitudes, knowledge, values, and norms regarding cybersecurity. This culture is essentially set by the organisation’s goals, policies, processes, structure, and leadership.
If you try to create an appropriate cybersecurity culture, some steps to follow are:
- Encourage all parties to participate.
- Form a cybersecurity incident response plan.
- Offer continual cybersecurity training.
- Create enjoyable cybersecurity training.
- Explain cybersecurity concepts that your staff can relate to.
- Ensure your present chief information security officer has a successor.
In the end, you can listen to your employees and assess how changes to cybersecurity culture have impacted their engagement. This allows for further adjustments if needed.
Final Thoughts
Fortified cybersecurity is crucial for preparing against cyberattacks. It’s a solid instrument to defend IT infrastructures, networks, devices, and data. When your organisation has a strong cybersecurity posture, it’s easier to comply with data laws and avoid reputational damage.
There are many strategies to apply if your organisation wants to strengthen its cybersecurity, such as the ones above. Implement them as soon as possible to avoid further issues.
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