October marks Cybersecurity Awareness Month, an annual campaign aimed at raising awareness about the importance of preventing cyber-attacks. For businesses, this is a timely reminder to evaluate your security posture and strengthen your defenses. There are a few simple, cost-effective ways in which you can accomplish this.
1. Train Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices
Your employees are a critical part of your security. Many data breaches occur as a result of human error, such as an employee using a weak password. Regular training on cybersecurity best practices can help employees recognize and avoid common threats. Topics should cover:
- How to spot phishing attacks and other malicious activities
- The importance of strong, unique passwords
- Safe internet and email practices
- How to report potential security risks
2. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
One of the simplest ways to improve your cybersecurity posture is by implementing MFA, which requires users to provide two or more verification factors to gain access to systems or data. By enabling MFA, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access even if login credentials are compromised.
3. Regularly Update Software and Systems
It is crucial to keep software, applications, and systems up-to-date. This is because updates are often released to patch known vulnerabilities that threat actors may take advantage of. Ensure that the following systems are updated regularly:
- Operating systems (e.g., Windows, macOS, Linux)
- Antivirus and anti-malware software
- Web browsers and plugins
- Cloud-based applications
Better still, enable automatic updates where possible. This removes the element of human error entirely.
4. Use Strong Password Policies
Weak and reused passwords are often exploited by threat actors to gain access to company systems. Encourage employees to create passwords that are:
- At least 12 characters long
- A mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters
- Unique to each account or service
Consider investing in a password manager, to help employees store and manage their passwords safely.
5. Conduct Regular Security Audits and Risk Assessments
Regularly reviewing your company’s security policies, practices, and infrastructure can help you uncover gaps that need to be addressed. Assess the following areas:
- Firewall and network security
- Data encryption protocols
- Access controls and permissions
- Incident response and disaster recovery plans
6. Backup Your Data
Data backups help ensure that, even if data is compromised or lost, you can recover it quickly and without major disruptions. When creating a backup strategy, consider the following best practices:
- Automate backups to occur daily or weekly.
- Store backups both on-site and off-site, such as in the cloud, to protect against local disasters.
- Regularly test backup systems to ensure that data can be restored quickly and accurately.
7. Create an Incident Response Plan
Despite your best efforts to prevent cyber-attacks, you are still likely to experience one eventually. An incident response plan outlines the steps you will take to mitigate damage and return to normal operations.
Your plan should include:
- A list of who to notify (both internally and externally)
- Steps to contain the breach and prevent further damage
- Procedures for investigating and documenting the attack
- A communication plan for informing affected customers or partners
Ensure that your incident response plan is clear and accessible, and conduct regular drills to prepare your team.
How You Can Prevent Cyber-Attacks
Cybersecurity Awareness Month is the perfect opportunity to reassess and strengthen your business’ security posture. By implementing cybersecurity best practices and staying up-to-date on the latest threats, you can prevent cyber-attacks and protect your business, data, and customers.
The technology experts at Soaring Towers provide managed cybersecurity services designed to protect your business from cyber threats. We handle the time-intensive tasks of improving and managing your security for you, so that you can focus on your company with peace of mind. Learn more about how our managed cybersecurity services can help you prevent cyber-attacks.