Cybersecurity threats are only getting more complex, and as individuals share more personal data freely, protecting your organization is more critical than ever. The willingness to openly communicate personal information and offer access to devices presents a significant business risk that reaches beyond the information technology department. Organizations must protect themselves from evolving threats and safeguard their brands’ reputation, customer trust, and continuity while navigating security risks.
1. Sensitive Data Requires Protection
Associate access to sensitive information may be so commonplace that your team doesn’t think about potential risks. Customer care teams can access sensitive client data, even if credit card information is encrypted. Bad actors often need less detail than you’d think to overcome your systems.
Protect your sensitive data by controlling applications and installations on company devices. By managing and limiting downloads and installs of plug-ins and software, you can prevent potentially malicious software from accessing systems.
Implement application allowlisting to block untrusted and unauthorized programs systematically. In action, this practice blocks unauthorized downloads and establishes a process for which associates can request and download approved software.
Some organizations use their IT ticketing system to request approval through their chain of command, only allowing downloads after approval. This process does require associate compliance and additional resources to respond to requests, but these additional steps reduce risks, which can cost millions. It’s worth investing the extra time and effort.
2. Your Organization is the First Defense Against Bad Actors
Implement a layered security protocol that facilitates multiple layers and fail-safes to protect key assets. Key assets are critical data, essential applications, and systems your business requires to function.
Complete an inventory assessment throughout the organization, working at all levels to identify systems. Label each system’s security requirements from highest to lowest, prioritizing those with personally identifiable information as the highest risk.
Determine how to layer security measures to protect against potential threats. This might include firewalls, intrusion, detection, antivirus, software, endpoint security, and user training. Work with your human resources team to create training modules and a tracking methodology to ensure compliance with security protocols.
3. Compliance Requirements Only Become More Demanding
Government regulators continue to enhance their vigilance over cyber risk. Cybersecurity is a matter of homeland security, and if you do business with government entities, expect standards to tighten.
Consider your applications, especially those stored in the cloud, and whether they have met FedRAMP approval. While you may not have a standard that aligns with federal requirements, doing so may be a strategic risk management practice. If aligning with these more restrictive standards presents a challenge, consider modeling your risk assessment against similar criteria.
Plan for the future and consider if your industry may be subject to enhanced cybersecurity regulations. Determine if investing in systems now is achievable and how your future budget planning should function. Collaborate with industry associations to gain insight on future-readiness best practices and guidance, bringing your findings back to the organization.
4. Threat Intelligence Helps Organizations Prepare for the Future
While you can’t predict the future, taking a proactive approach to identifying potential cyberthreats is mission-critical for managing vulnerabilities. Threat intelligence is a critical asset for future planning as leaders can better understand vulnerabilities before it’s too late.
Invest in staffing appropriately to allow for proactive cybersecurity intelligence. By investing in internal assets, you have immediate access to insights and strategy with a trusted team member. While these individuals may collaborate with external experts, they are best suited to distill findings and guide proactive security measures.
Establish a risk assessment and prioritization methodology to help focus on the highest potential threats first. These teams can also support incident response and recovery planning in the event of a data breach or ransomware event. Create a cross-functional team to identify organizational risks and discuss strategies to manage future risks.
5. Boost Stakeholder Confidence and Investment
Consumers are more familiar with cybersecurity and threats more than ever. Customers often list security standards as a top priority for those they choose to do business with. Individual consumers are keenly aware of the personal risks they face if a company has failed to secure its data.
When your organization prioritizes comprehensive cybersecurity practices, you can strengthen trust amongst stakeholders across the board. Potential investors or lenders may examine your cybersecurity protocols to determine if your organization is a worthwhile investment. Business clients will need to feel confident that you have a continuity plan in place.
Moreover, your plan to avoid disruptions through cybersecurity best practices can have you better positioned for the future. Your comprehensive cybersecurity plan can reduce financial and legal risks that threaten the health of your business and long-term stability. Avoid financial ruin and public scrutiny by bolstering your cybersecurity best practices and company standards for daily operations.
Prepare for the Evolution of Cyber Risks
Well-rounded strategies will win the game against evolving threats and unique vulnerabilities within your organization. By identifying critical assets and their vulnerabilities, organizations can layer security measures and manage human error. Business leaders can protect their organizations more effectively and efficiently with a comprehensive and strategic approach to cybersecurity.
By establishing cybersecurity as a critical business protocol, leaders can ingrain cybersecurity best practices into their strategies. With a culture of cyber awareness and future-readiness, organizations can protect their brands, data, and long-term success.
