(ThySistas.com) Developing a solid cyber security strategy should be at the top of your list of priorities. All businesses are at risk of a data breach, and you need to take steps to protect you and your customers. Read on to discover some top tips for effective cyber security.
Before we go onto some of the methods you should follow, it is first imperative to establish why this is so important. All companies today are at risk of a breach. It does not matter whether you run a small company or a nationwide business, you are at risk. All companies hold information that cyber criminals deem valuable. So, recognising that you are a target is always the most critical step. Once you have done this, what’s next?
There is only one place to begin, and this is by determining your weaknesses. You will never be able to build a strong cyber security strategy if you do not know where your vulnerabilities lie. A lot of companies invest in penetration testing to assist with this. This is a service that involves hiring ethical hackers who will exploit your system for the purpose of discovering your weak spots before a criminal hacker does. They will then advise you on the best security measures to put in place.
Aside from this, employee training on safe practises is a must. From securing their devices to developing strong passwords, you need to make sure that your employees are aware of how to use devices securely in order to reduce the risk of accidental insider breaches, which are rife at present.
You also need to make sure that your approach to cyber security is layered. What does this mean? It is all about having various different approaches to data security, rather than assuming there is one method you can use. Instead, you need to use everything from encryption to two-factor authentication to make sure that your business is secure. There are many different ways a cyber hacker can attack your network, which is why many different defences are needed.
You also need to develop a cyber security incident response plan. This will ensure that you are prepared should a breach occur. You will be able to act instantly in order to reduce any damage. A key part of your incident response should be having data backup solutions in place. From non-compliance fines to reputational damage, the impact of a data breach can be huge, and so you need to be prepared.
As you can see, there is a lot that needs to be considered when it comes to the data security of your company. If you follow the steps that have been presented above, you can go a long way to ensuring that your business runs without incident.
Staff Writer; Susan Wall