Every October, IT experts come together to spread word about cybersecurity awareness and the best ways of keeping individuals’ and businesses’ data safe online. With cybercrime showing no signs of slowing — and in fact, has proven to only grow in both frequency and sophistication — businesses like yours can easily face millions in damages when left unprepared. Thankfully, there are ways to avoid this by simply adopting new or better security practices, and there’s no better time than now to start.
Steer clear of phishing scams
Phishing continues to be a leading cause of cybercrime, with nearly one million phishing sites detected worldwide in the first quarter of 2024 alone. The tactic involves tricking users into clicking a malicious link, only to lead them to a fraudulent site disguised as a trustworthy platform (i.e., a social media login page) requesting personal information.
To avoid falling victim to these schemes, it’s important to recognize a phishing attempt when it happens. Always think before you click, verify a website’s security, and invest in anti-phishing software, if necessary. As a rule of thumb, it’s best to be skeptical of messages that “urgently” request confidential information or financial transfers. In these situations, take the time to confirm the sender’s identity through other means, such as by calling them or asking them in person.
Maintain proper password hygiene
Employees too often rely on simple or reused passwords across all their accounts, making them a prime target for hackers using brute force tactics. Take the time to instill proper password practices in the workplace, such as using different codes for different profiles and changing them every few months to maintain security. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) also recommends focusing on length, rather than complexity, as the longer a password is, the harder it is to crack.
Additionally, it may be worth investing in extra tools such as a password manager and multifactor authentication. The former helps remember your passwords for you, and can even generate new ones for each new account. The latter, on the other hand, provides you with an extra layer of security by requesting an additional method of verification (i.e., a PIN sent to your phone or biometric data).
Invest in AI technology
Though cybercriminals are now leveraging AI in their schemes, businesses can also take advantage of the technology to improve their overall security. Generative AI, for example, can be used to simulate common cyberattacks or scenarios. This could help in forecasting the likelihood of such situations and allow employees to better equip themselves to handle these risks.
Composed of machine learning and neural networks, AI could additionally be used to improve threat detection and management. The technology learns and remembers patterns of behavior over time, making it adept at singling out suspicious activity or anomalies when they occur. Its ability to handle vast amounts of data also makes it the perfect tool for analyzing your business’s current security environment, helping pinpoint any vulnerabilities or gaps that could be patched up.
Conduct regular security audits
Frequent cybersecurity audits allow you to keep track of any flaws, compliance issues, and outdated assets within your security environment. It’s best to perform audits on both an annual and monthly basis, and they should encompass all aspects of your strategy, including your security policies, controls, and procedures. Be sure to keep detailed logs of your findings, as they could aid in resolving any future data breach attempts or malicious system activity. It also helps to be wary of any regulatory changes within your industry that may require improvements in your current practices.
When performing a cybersecurity audit, you could start by determining the scope of your review. What aspects or processes do you wish to investigate? What do you hope to achieve by conducting your audit? This can then form a clear path for your next step, where you’ll identify the unique threats to your data security and whether your current controls or policies hold up. Finally, you could use this information to plan out an appropriate response to any gaps or vulnerabilities found, including ways of mitigating common risks and a comprehensive business continuity plan.
Adopt a zero trust approach to security
Finally, the best way to achieve a trustworthy security system is to simply not trust anyone (yes, this includes even your own employees!). Also known as zero trust security, this approach assumes that any user could be a potential threat, and employs the same verification processes for anyone, regardless of role or position. This way, you’ll ensure your data sources are wholly protected and can be accessed by only those who can properly authenticate their identity.
You could even add another layer to zero trust by applying the principle of least privilege: a concept that ensures that users are only given verifiable access to the resources they truly need. The just-in-time approach works in a similar manner, granting users potential access to systems for only a specific time or purpose. Combining these three approaches not only helps strengthen your data security, but it reduces the chance of malicious internal actors as well.
Looking for a security boost? outsourceIT offers comprehensive network and data protection to keep your business one step ahead of emerging threats. With a proactive approach, advanced technologies, and even extensive employee training, we’ll help you keep your data safe for the long haul. Get in touch with our team today for a free consultation to discuss your security needs.
