In today’s digital age, data is everything. Businesses rely on data to make decisions, stay competitive, and grow. Protecting this data is essential to maintaining a successful business. This is where cyber security comes in. Cyber security is the practice of protecting electronic information by mitigating information risks and vulnerabilities.
There are many cyber security risks that businesses face today. These include viruses and malware, phishing attacks, cyber espionage, and denial of service attacks. Cybersecurity concerns are not going away anytime soon, which is why it is important for businesses to have a solid understanding of how to be cyber secure.
What is Cyber Security?
Cyber security encompasses a set of tools, processes, and best practices designed to protect electronic information from unauthorized access or theft. It includes both physical and logical security measures. Physical security measures protect against physical attacks on devices or networks, while logical security measures protect against logical or cyber attacks.
How Does Cyber Security Apply to My Business?
In the past, businesses could get away with having weak cyber security because the stakes were not as high. However, in today’s digital age, businesses store massive amounts of sensitive data electronically. This data can include customer records, financial information, trade secrets, and more. If this data falls into the wrong hands, it can be used to harm the business or its customers. As a result, it is essential for businesses to have strong cyber security measures in place to protect their data.
Why Is Cyber Security Important?
There are many reasons why cyber security is important for businesses. First and foremost, it protects businesses from financial losses. A significant data breach can cost a business millions of dollars in damages. In addition, it protects businesses from reputational damage. A data breach can tarnish a business’s reputation and make it difficult to regain trust from customers. Finally, it helps businesses comply with laws and regulations. Many jurisdictions have laws in place that require businesses to take steps to protect customer data.
How Can I Be Cyber Secure?
There are many steps that businesses can take to improve their cyber security posture. First and foremost, they should assess their risks and vulnerabilities. They should also develop strong policies and procedures related to cybersecurity. Additionally, they should implement technical safeguards such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. Finally, they should provide training to employees on how to identify and respond to potential cybersecurity threats.
- Enabling multifactor authentication on all SaaS services like Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Facebook etc. For the most secure solution setup the one time passcodes in your password manager to avoid Man in the Middle attacks receiving text message codes.
- Use a robust password manager to securely share passwords between colleagues, instead of storing them in Excel or an insecure PDF for example Keeper Security.
- Use a centralised endpoint protection solution instead of standalone antivirus to manage your network endpoints from one unified console for example Sophos or SentinelOne.
- Setup different permissions for your sensitive data in your company so only authorised personnel can access it.
- Ensure you have regular cloud based backups for your email platform and file repository e.g. Microsoft 365.
- Enable firewalls on all endpoints and consider an MDM (Mobile Device Management solution) to manage BYOD devices accessing sensitive company data on insecure networks.
- Consider a cloud based VPN if regularly working on insecure public networks like Perimeter 81.
- Get Cyber Essentials Plus certified.
- Consider getting an external cyber security audit/assessment carried out.
Cybersecurity is a critical concern for all businesses in today’s digital age. Data breaches can lead to financial losses, reputational damage, and legal problems. To be cyber secure, businesses must assess their risks and vulnerabilities, develop strong policies and procedures related to cybersecurity, implement technical safeguards such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems ,and provide training to employees on how identify and respond potential cybersecurity threats .By taking these steps ,businesses can protect themselves against many common cybersecurity threats .