What your business can do to stay unhackable
With cyber attacks becoming ever more common and constantly evolving, here are some steps you can take to protect your organisation.
Published on 9th June 2023
The increasing digitization of business & organization functions and the burgeoning threat landscape mean that the risks of cyberattacks are higher than ever. No matter the size of your business, ensuring data and systems security must be a top priority. Even seemingly secure organizations are vulnerable to sophisticated hackers, with the World Economic Forum reporting that cybercrime will cost the global economy $2.9 trillion by 2025.
That said, complete immunity to hacking is an unattainable ideal. Instead, businesses should focus on being as resilient as possible, decreasing their vulnerability, and speeding up recovery time in the event of a breach. This article explores several critical steps your business can take to avoid falling prey to cyber threats.
1. Risk Assessment
The first step in bolstering your security posture is understanding the risks you face. A risk assessment can identify vulnerabilities in your systems and prioritize them according to the potential impact on your business.
- Conduct a comprehensive audit: Identify all hardware, software, data, and network assets, and examine them for potential vulnerabilities. This helps in understanding the most sensitive areas of your business.
- Prioritize risks: Not all risks are equal. Classify them based on their potential impact and likelihood of occurrence.
- Update regularly: Cyber threats evolve rapidly. Regular updates of your risk assessment will ensure you stay ahead.
2. Employee Education
Human error remains one of the primary reasons for successful cyberattacks. According to a study by CybSafe, human error accounted for 90% of cyber data breaches in 2019. Therefore, it’s crucial to educate employees about cybersecurity.
- Regular training sessions: Equip employees with knowledge about common threats, such as phishing, malware, or social engineering attacks.
- Simulated attacks: These can be effective for testing employee awareness and adjusting training accordingly.
- Create a cybersecurity culture: Encourage employees to report suspicious activities and reward those who help identify potential threats.
3. Implement Robust Security Policies
Once you understand your risks and your employees are aware of cyber threats, you must implement stringent security policies.
- Access control: Implement a policy of least privilege (PoLP), granting employees only the necessary access to perform their duties.
- Password policy: Enforce strong, unique password use and consider implementing multi-factor authentication.
- Update policy: Ensure regular updates and patches to all software, hardware, and networks to fix potential vulnerabilities.
4. Secure Your Network
Securing your network infrastructure is a critical aspect of your cybersecurity strategy.
- Firewalls: These act as a first line of defense by controlling incoming and outgoing network traffic based on predetermined security rules.
- Encryption: Encrypt data at rest and in transit to make it unreadable to unauthorized users.
- Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS): These can help identify potential threats and respond to them in real time.
5. Regularly Back Up Data
Data is often the primary target of cyberattacks. Regularly backing up data ensures business continuity, even if your data is compromised.
- Automated backups: Automating your backup processes ensures that all important data is regularly backed up.
- Offsite and onsite backups: Have a mix of offsite and onsite backups for added security. Cloud-based backups can be particularly beneficial.
- Regular testing: Regularly test your backups to ensure they can be restored in the event of a disaster.
6. Incident Response Planning
Despite best efforts, breaches can happen. Having an incident response plan in place can help mitigate the damage.
- Develop a response plan: Identify the steps your business will take following a security breach.
- Regular drills: Run through the plan regularly to identify potential weak points.
- Involve all stakeholders: Make sure everyone involved knows their roles in the event of a breach.
7. Regular Audits and Penetration Testing
Regular audits and penetration testing are essential for maintaining an effective cybersecurity posture.
- Audit security measures: Regularly review your security measures to identify any weaknesses.
- Penetration testing: Hire ethical hackers to test your system’s defenses and identify vulnerabilities.
The University of Maryland reports a hacking attempt every 39 seconds on average, affecting one in three Americans every year. Given these high stakes, a proactive and comprehensive approach to cybersecurity is crucial. By assessing your risks, educating employees, implementing robust security policies, securing your network, backing up data, planning for incidents, and conducting regular audits, your business can fortify itself against most cyber threats. Remember, staying unhackable is a continuous process, not a one-time task.
