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When it comes to cybersecurity, prevention is always better than cure.
A lot of businesses and residential users rely on “reactive” security to protect themselves. Antivirus applications, for example, work by eliminating threats only after they’re detected.
Since most antivirus solutions are capable of dealing with the latest threats, relying on them may seem like a good idea on paper. Unfortunately, they often come with costs that could’ve been avoided with a more proactive approach.
According to statistics, cyber attacks have cost enterprises a whopping $11.7 million in 2017.
A more recent study by the Ponemon Institute reveals that successful cyber attacks cost an average of $157 per data record. Data loss due to system glitches and human error, on the other hand, cost $131 and $128, respectively.
Source: The 2018 Cost of a Data Breach Study
These figures put pressure on organisations to update their security investments and pivot from threat detection to prevention.
In this post, we’ll show you how to do just that.
1. Hire a Data Protection Officer
Hiring a Data Protection Officer (DPO) has numerous benefits.
In addition to securing compliance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), a competent DPO is also tasked to educate everyone in your team about safe data processing. They are also in charge of mediating between the organisation and data protection authorities in the EU.
Due to the hiring costs involved, some companies choose to work with an outsourced DPO contractor. It can, however, be a gamble if you have no idea what to look for in a potential candidate.
To help you make the right decision, here is a short checklist of the qualifications you need in a DPO:
- Knowledgeable in cybersecurity
Your DPO must be capable of performing routine security audits to identify potential attack vectors in your organisation’s network. - Excellent communicator
To function effectively, a DPO must be able to communicate well with your IT team, the board of directors, and customers who may have concerns regarding your company’s data policies. - Can perform duties independently
A DPO is expected to fulfill their role without awaiting instructions from the organisation. They must also be able to remain unbiased and put the needs of customers or data subjects
2. Choose Secure Website Platforms
When developing web assets for your business, always go with a platform backed by a host of security options.
All-in-one platforms like Wix may offer integrated solutions that improve the security and performance of your website. However, a more flexible Content Management System (CMS) like WordPress will provide you with a broader range of security services and plugins to bolster your data protection front.
To make full use of these tools, it’s important to learn the best WordPress security practices that can protect your back end. This includes choosing a secure WordPress hosting solution, installing themes or plugins from reputable sources, and keeping the CMS updated to address vulnerabilities found in previous versions.
3. Invest in Employee Education
Although cyber attacks executed by hackers tend to incur higher costs, the vast majority of data breaches can be traced back to human error.
Statistics show that up to 92.5 percent of security incidents and 84.7 percent of data breaches stem from unintentional employee action. This pertains to events like accidental emails, irresponsible sharing of company information, and misdialed faxes.
Source: International Association of Privacy Professionals
It shouldn’t be surprising that the leading cause of data loss is the negligence of those who are trusted to handle them in the first place. That’s why companies must establish an effective employee training program that focuses on proven cybersecurity practices in the workplace.
Here are some of the must-have talk points in your employee training efforts:
- Password safety
Despite the burgeoning problem of cybersecurity, a lot of people still use unsafe passwords like “123456,” “password”, “letmein,” and “admin.” Fortunately, this can easily be remedied with password safety awareness. - Public Wi-Fi
Permitting remote work sometimes perpetuate digital eavesdropping, especially if employees make it a habit to connect via public Wi-Fi hotspots. To prevent hackers from stealing crucial information in transit, you can train employees to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt their connection. - Reconsider your BYOD policy
A lot of small businesses and startups implement a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy to save money, increase employee happiness, and improve productivity. If you are concerned about the risks this policy imposes, lay down additional security measures like tightened access controls, data encryption, and the utilisation of a Mobile Device Management (MDM) software. - Discourage removable storage media
Removable storage devices like flash drives, memory cards, and external hard drives can harbor malware and infect computers the moment they’re plugged in. Your organisation can prevent this by relying on more secure cloud storage platforms like Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive.
5. Be Vigilant
Once you have all the tools and resources necessary to actively defend your business from cyber threats, the only thing missing is a more vigilant mindset.
You can never be too prepared if the security of your business is on the line. If you value the stability and integrity of your brand, you need a reliable contingency plan for security that will help you recover if all else fails.
Learning how to detect the symptoms of an ongoing cyber attack before it escalates is a step in the right direction.
Below are some of the telltale signs that your website’s been compromised:
- Unexplainable website crashes
- A sharp decline in traffic
- Suspicious codes in certain site elements
- High bandwidth usage
In this scenario, your best bet is to consult your hosting provider or a recovery specialist. Their assistance might come at a price, but you can be confident that they’ll mitigate the attack and expedite the recovery process.
You can also pay for the real-time protection of a Security Information and Event Management service. Rather than hiring security firms that offer priority cleanups, a managed SIEM service actively monitors your network and infrastructure for security events — preventing website integrity violations and data loss that may occur even if a cyber attack is eventually resolved.
As an extra layer of defense, take the time to set up automatic backups to give you more restoration options.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity may be one of the tedious aspects of managing an online presence, but it’s also one of the most important.
The strategies above should be more than enough to help secure your business from most types of cyber attacks. If you want to ask a question or share other security tips with your fellow readers, feel free to use the comment section below.
