The potential of a cyberattack is constant in today’s digital environment and firms that incur data breaches suffer financial and reputational harm, making it very important to avoid 5 Common Mistakes That Can Hurt Your Cybersecurity Program
While it is obvious that any firm must take a serious, proactive approach to cybersecurity, the intricacy of this subject leaves many people feeling lost and overwhelmed. It should therefore come as no surprise that some businesses continue to attempt to protect sensitive data by making costly and risky errors.
Xperteks is committed to upholding the highest standards of compliance and cybersecurity and keeping up with new best practices, trends, and threats. Our top priority is safeguarding the private information that our clients and staff have entrusted to us.
We also actively promote the significance of cybersecurity services to reduce the faults listed below.
Mistake #1: Not staying up to date
In the area of cybersecurity, not remaining up to date can imply various things, from failing to update software to not being aware of current risks and trends. Whatever is outdated, all of these can increase an organization’s vulnerability to a cyberattack.
How to prevent it
While a business can’t eliminate cyberattacks, dangers can be reduced or dealt with as quickly as possible by being up to date. The security team of a business should give solid protocols for upgrading all software and patching operating systems priority. The systems utilized by workers and consumers are kept at the highest degree of security and data protection thanks to this “network hygiene.”
Companies should prioritize routine audits to identify any old or insecure software and put replacement plans in place in addition to frequent updates. For the most recent information on trends, changes, and threats, it’s a good idea to follow cybersecurity leaders like the National Cybersecurity Alliance. It takes time, but it can also offer a higher degree of awareness that could shield your business from a cyberattack.
Mistake #2: Not properly training employees
The possibility of inexperienced employees initiating a security breach at their employer is highlighted by numerous research. Human mistake continues to account for the bulk of data breaches at businesses, which typically implies an employee unintentionally divulged valuable data during a hacker attack.
Businesses commit grave errors if they just pay attention to external threats while ignoring the possibility that inside personnel could lead to a breach. Companies cannot afford to keep their staff members in the dark about cyber attacks, which are more common than ever.
How to prevent it
Insider attacks can occasionally be a result of an employee’s evil intent, but most data breaches are the result of ignorance. Even though increased awareness cannot remove all risks, the risk can be reduced, by regularly doing cybersecurity training and simulations. Through a culture of knowledge and education, all employees should be motivated to adopt a firm stance on cybersecurity.
Make sure, your employees update themselves on new trends and risks throughout your company’s cybersecurity awareness training. Employees will learn this crucial information easily if your training sessions are brief, frequent, and engaging.
Mistake #3: Not preparing for a cyberattack
No business ever wants to think that a hacker might circumvent their security measures. However, it is a fact that businesses will experience cyberattacks at least once. It is preferable to be ready for a threat than to assume incorrectly that your organization is impervious to such an assault.
If a business is forced to go offline while the threat is being addressed, a lack of preparation could have expensive repercussions for revenue and reputation.
How to prevent it
Companies need to develop and maintain a cybersecurity policy and incident response plan in case of a breach, rather than underestimating the likelihood of a cyberattack. The good news is that, given the right tools, developing a robust cybersecurity policy isn’t as challenging as it may seem. It’s crucial to first recognize which assets need to be safeguarded and whether your company is subject to any particular rules or regulations, such as GLBA or HIPAA.
The next step is to identify common dangers and the regulations that must be in place to safeguard against cyberattacks. An incident response plan should be part of the threat preparation and planning process so that everyone involved has a clear idea of what to do in the event of a cyberattack. This thorough plan of action has many advantages, guaranteeing that there will be little downtime following a breach while upholding confidentiality and company trust.
Mistake #4: Not using security-focused software
Any program that is installed on a worker’s work computer could be dangerous, especially if it hasn’t been approved, hasn’t been frequently reviewed, or hasn’t been updated. In a similar vein, not all software is secure by default, which may easily put a company at risk. Without protocols in place, a worker could accidentally download unsafe software that contains vulnerabilities.
How to prevent it
Only use advanced solutions that offer a high level of security to protect everyone from insecure software. Additionally, all new software be reviewed and approved before installation, and only software which are approved by an IT or security team be used.
To maximize their security and compliance, software and solutions should undergo regular updating and vulnerability scanning in addition to being observed as to which personnel is utilizing them.
Mistake #5: Not securely gathering information.
Businesses that gather client information must adhere to strict security and compliance standards. There are substantial repercussions for both; the organization and the customers concerned if sensitive data is lost in a breach. Employees cannot acquire data securely without the right administrative controls, secure connections, or compliance standards, endangering everyone involved.
How to prevent it
All businesses that gather user data must be aware of the security concerns and the compliance and privacy laws relevant to their business. Your firm may need to abide by HIPAA, GLBA, GDPR, and FERPA, among other laws, depending on the sector you operate in. Failure to do so could result in severe fines.
Conclusion
Adopt a firm position on cybersecurity. Avoid putting your company at risk for a cybersecurity catastrophe! The best approach to taking when it comes to being robust against threats is to be proactive and prepared.
Our guide to data collection in a secure, compliant manner will arm your firm with all the cybersecurity information needed. Contact us at 212.206.6262. Don’t forget to sign up for cybersecurity tips.
