Cybersecurity is a top priority for businesses across the world. Executives want to ensure that they’re taking the proper steps to protect their data, their customers’ data and staying out of the weekly data breach headlines.

After all, the last thing they want is to end up like Equifax, which leaked the information of 143 million Americans.

Or Target, which let slip the information of nearly 70 million customers.

In truth, it’s essential for everyone, on every level, to understand at least the basics of cybersecurity. Especially its general aspects and potential daily risks. On a greater level, your entire organization must be protected, and all team members must work together towards a united goal of a well-protected enterprise organization.

After all, even a single data breach can devastate a company. The average total cost of a data breach was estimated at $3.62 million.

Developing a security framework is a critical step to ensure that you inventory what you are trying to secure, along with identifying the right controls, to address the ever-changing threat landscape.

Below are 3 important aspects of cybersecurity preparedness.

Risk Assessment from an Outside Perspective
Security Architecture
Educate Every Team Member

1. Risk Assessment from an Outside Perspective

Have your IT team identify risks from a hacker’s perspective. Developing a working strategy to prevent cyberattacks means looking for loopholes and weak spots that you wouldn’t normally consider outright threats.

Remember, this isn’t something your average IT person can do. If necessary, you’ll want to hire a team of security experts to do the heavy lifting for you. Security experts live in this world and have access to numerous environments to build their experience.

Cybercrime damage costs to hit $6 trillion annually by 2021.
Cybersecurity Ventures

Security experts will look for attack vectors that could lead to a breach. They can also help you develop a plan to mitigate these attack vectors, and can help you develop an incident response plan.

By identifying each risk, making a plan, and properly training those responsible, you strengthen your security posture.

This means taking a proactive security approach, from assessments to cybersecurity solutions and from administrators and end-users alike.

2. Security Architecture

Once you’ve developed a security framework and completed an environmental assessment, you’ll need to determine how your security architecture stacks up. Most organizations have perimeter security products. That includes things like intrusion prevention systems, email and web security products, endpoint protection services, VPN security clients, cloud security, and much more.

These are all foundational, but they’re not enough to demonstrate a strong security posture.

Once you have the right solution in place to meet the goals of your security framework, you’ll need to focus your shift to tools that provide real-time insights into what’s happening. After all, monitoring, analytics, and automation are all important parts of the overall security architecture.

All of this can become overwhelming, but partnering with security experts can help you develop a strong roadmap to keep you and your customers safe.

3. Educate Every Team Member

We briefly mentioned employee education earlier.

But what does that actually entail?

Perhaps it is formal security awareness training. Maybe it’s holding workshops with a cybersecurity professional to educate and inform each person.

Here are the top security issues they should be informed of:

What is Hacking?

As we know, this type of cybercrime can cause huge financial damage to any company. In simple terms, hacking is when someone is able to access information without permission. This is done directly or remotely.

In most enterprise-level cases, hackers target unsecured website accounts and passwords to get access. Once they access your accounts, they have their hands on all your data. A hacker can then manipulate your data – either they’ll destroy it, sell it, or hold it for ransom.

For the fourth consecutive year, “123456” and “password” topped the list of leaked passwords.
TechRepublic

Hacking is a broad term for a variety of different attacks. Nevertheless, the best practice to avoid hacking is to keep your passwords secure, your messages encrypted, and your common sense at an all-time high.

Why Do We Keep Hearing About Identity Theft?

Some hackers work on targeting specific people so that they can steal important data. If not protected, your team members may be unknowingly giving those hackers access.

In a practice known as “spoofing”, malicious actors disguise their communications to look similar to legitimate sources.

For example, spoofers may take the form of your boss sending you an email asking you to send personal information, such as a social security number or credit card details.

With this vital information, the scammer can further their ploy and use a victim’s identity to make purchases. But identify theft causes more than financial damage – there’s also emotional stress to consider, too.

The solution is minimizing spoofing attacks is to have 24/7 network monitoring and an active email filter to block these fictitious emails.

Still, the absolute best course of action is to train employees to recognize these false emails, usually denoted by their odd tone or incorrect spelling.

What is Malware?

Malware is software that exists explicitly to harm or steal your information. In short, they’re computer programs developed for the sole purpose of corrupting and damaging other computer systems.

Malware is tricky to spot, as it often comes as an add-on to legitimate programs. But what’s worse than one infected computer?

Multiple infected computers.

Malware can spread throughout the network and become a complete nuisance to deal with. To fight it, you’ll need to use robust antivirus programs and training that helps people understand how to avoid risky websites and fishy links.

More Cyberthreats to Come?

Of course, with more advanced technology come more sophisticated cyberattacks. We’re now seeing the possibility of AI/Machine Learning (ML) software used by hackers.

In order to safeguard against these more sophisticated attacks, you must also use better technology to guard your critical assets.

73% of firms fail cybersecurity readiness tests.
Hiscox

As cyber threats evolve, take a proactive stance. We recommend having dedicated cybersecurity resources at your disposal. Look for trusted, experienced personnel you can count on to manage every aspect of your cybersecurity.

This way, you know for a fact that your organization is in good hands.

The Right Approach for the Right Outcome

Naturally, all of the above are huge challenges. With planning and a methodical approach to address these challenges, you put yourself in a much better position for success. It’s never too late to bolster your security measures, and there’s no better time than today to get started.

We can help. We design, deliver and operate our security services and solutions with care.

· Assessments and road mapping

· Vulnerability scans and penetration testing

· Solution design and implementation

· 24/7/365 Managed Services

· Real people – local – ready to help!

With our team of highly certified professionals, you’ll have all the support you need, at all hours of the day.

Call Square3 today to find out how you can be secure in every aspect of your organization.