Cybersecurity Risks Require Cyber Resilience
With investigations regarding cyberattacks headlining the news, companies need to be hyperaware of the threats that their companies face. According to a recent study by the Institute of Information Security Professionals (IISP), budgets are not keeping pace with the cyber threats that their systems face daily.
Security spend can be difficult to justify based on external threats and factors alone. Economic impacts for a company can be a restraint. There is also the reality that as companies expand, those new branches bring a host of additional cybersecurity concerns. In light of that, companies are changing from a defensive posture to one that is focused on good detection and response capabilities to address cyberattacks.
As a business owner or the head of an IT department, you want to focus on systems and processes to respond to problems as they arise, learning from others, and then putting all of that to work for your company. No business is safe from cyber threats, but it can be hard to focus a large chunk of the budget on cybersecurity when there are so many investment opportunities in emerging technologies. How can you address these issues effectively? Read on to learn more.
Operational Resilience is Key
The point of operational resilience is focusing on threats, assessing what you need to defend against, and then defining and aligning your objectives with distinct levels of control. Criminals who are trying to access your data are looking for a return on their investment of tools and time. You need to be aware that they do not think in silos and neither should you!
Recognize that your departments are all interconnected and interdependent so your IT defenses and responses need to reflect that reality. You need to take that interconnection and put it to work for you.
5 Features of Operational Resilience
Here are a few critical aspects of operational resilience, which include:
- Backups – If you want to get up and running again quickly after an attack, you need to maintain your data in a backup format that can be accessed and rebooted in a short period of time. Set up a procedure that includes backups of the main servers as well as the individual workstations or laptops. These backups help you to minimize data loss while avoiding the costs of having to pay-out for release from ransomware.
- Encryption – Using encryption on every laptop or computer as part of the standard operating procedure can minimize breaches if the equipment is ever lost or stolen. It could be a PIN necessary to boot up the machine or a two-factor authentication. Levels of encryption can be adjusted to reflect the importance of the data being accessed on that machine.
- Patch Management/Updates – One of the biggest issues for IT is keeping machines updated to give them the greatest security possible. Therefore, a patch/update process is critical and must be enforced. An easy way to address this is with a Unified Threat Management solution, thus allowing you to institute security updates through a centralized location.
- Data Management – Segregating your data can help you to minimize how much data is at risk, depending on the breach. Centralize data into key hubs, which can then be protected more effectively. You can then block an infected machine while still protecting the central hub.
- Intelligence About Threats – While you cannot prevent every attack, the more you know, the better defenses you can put into place for your company. Proactive defense means looking at other companies in your industry to determine the threats they face while keeping up with the latest information in IT about potential cyber threats.
Do You Have a Cybersecurity Plan?
To effectively protect your company, it is imperative that you recognize that no security solution is a one-size fits all. Each company needs to create policies and procedures that reflect their specific needs and the potential threats to your industries.
Still, many companies find themselves without the right people in place simply because cybersecurity as a career is still relatively unknown. Therefore, you might find it difficult to find the right person to give your company the operational resilience you need. Contact us today for a free assessment of your security needs and the options we have available.
Sagacent Technologies offers technology management and support, including proactive/preventative maintenance, onsite and offsite data back-ups, network and security audits, mobility solutions, disaster planning and emergency business resumption services. The company serves clients of 10 to 150 employees within the Silicon Valley region.
