Cybersecurity used to be an IT director’s job; however, now, it is arguably one of the most imperative elements of an IT department’s functions. Every year, the statistics pulled from the reported data on malware and cyber-attacks continually show growth, and hackers are developing increasingly sophisticated intrusion and data theft methods.
However, it is not all doom and gloom; excellent products, strategies, and accepted standard practices rooted in compliance can help companies keep their data safe and avoid being targeted.
Employee Training and Awareness
Some of the most sophisticated and costly malware attacks on large companies have been a direct result of employees not being aware of cyber risks and malicious malware.
One of the most prolific and costly data breaches and ransomware attacks in recent history resulted from a weak password. This data breach resulted in a government-mandated state of emergency and multiple companies being unable to conduct business due to a lack of fuel to get to and from work.
So, to start with, the most imperative element of most businesses’ network security strategies begins at the most basic and essential element: staff and employee training.
The training should be continual and not a ‘one to shop’ when they join the company. It is a fair statement that people get comfortable and forget the risks from cyber threats. The training should be short and repeated throughout the year as refresher training.
Password updates can easily be set to continually be refreshed and updated, as needed by your IT department standards, to ensure that passwords are not repeated across the web.
Firewall Implementation
Another basic and essential requirement is a strongly set firewall to adhere to company standards and policies. A robust firewall is a critical element of a strong IT infrastructure as it is a barrier between the internal network and external cybersecurity threats.
The job of a firewall is to monitor and control network traffic; anything deemed potentially malicious, such as malware, viruses, and unauthorized users, can simply be filtered out.
The importance of a next-generation firewall is to help prevent cyber attacks, costly and inconvenient data breaches, and any issues that could disrupt business operations. The firewall is the grounding of all strong security practices for enterprise businesses, and it ensures the safety and confidentiality of all critical IT infrastructure.
Regular Security Audits and Vulnerability Assessments
It is good IT practice to regularly conduct web security audits and vulnerability assessments of the internal network to ensure that the software and strategies in place are maintaining a robust and secure network.
Proactive auditing is critical to identify and address potential holes in web security, network coverage loopholes, and outdated security protocols within either policy or physical infrastructure. Systematic auditing ensures that enterprise businesses are up to date on the latest industry best practices, current industry trends, and compliance standards.
Many companies ensure their staff training is effective through regularly scheduled phishing emails, which are monitored. Then, employees who do not follow the correct steps are required to attend more cybersecurity training.
Proactive monitoring mitigates the risk of future attacks and fosters a mindset of continuous improvement, which strengthens overall network resilience.
Incident Response Plan
Following the above point exploring the benefits of proactive security audits and vulnerability assessments, assessing the importance of a security incident response plan is logical. This can be looked at in two ways. 1) Disaster Recovery Plan and 2) Incident Feedback. Both plans are essential; however, one is more critical than the other.
Disaster Recovery is essential for businesses to have in place. This plan ensures that in the event of a disaster, such as a significant cyber attack, fire, or such, businesses have a plan in place to recover data and a path toward bringing their services back online and resuming business operations. Most insurance policies require this plan to be in place.
Secondly, the importance of an Incident Response Plan is to share feedback with employees regarding a real breach or a near-miss example.
These incident reports are essential in many ways, such as improving network security and educating staff and stakeholders on how malware might present itself – and the methods used to circumvent such attacks.
Endpoint Security
Once upon a time, IT departments only had to be concerned with the hardware kept at their office location, such as employee desktops.
In an increasingly hybrid work structure with an estimated third of Canadians utilizing some form of hybrid or full-time remote work, IT departments must ensure that every office-issued endpoint mobile device, such as laptops, phones, tablets, or any IoT device, is safe and up to date with all security features.
Network security is inherently dependent upon endpoint device security as these devices have crucial entry points to the network – think of them as the front door, as such. Malicious cyber threats often focus on these devices as they can grant network access to the broader IT network infrastructure.
Effective strategies to keep devices safe can include antivirus software, antivirus software, firewalls, and frequent software updates, or better yet, EDR. All of these critical factors can help contribute to creating a fortified barrier at an individual endpoint level.
Data Encryption
With workforces moving into popular hybrid work structures, data moves between employees’ homes, devices, and the home core network. This data must be encrypted to ensure it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Data encryption transforms sensitive data into an unreadable format that can only be deciphered through a decryption key. This method adds a layer of complexity and makes it increasingly challenging for unauthorized users to access confidential data.
This good practice is another safeguard against potential breaches and cyber attacks that ensure that enterprise networks remain safe and secure.
Conclusion
All of the steps outlined will ensure that your enterprise network and sensitive data remain safe from unauthorized access and any potential threat. Another significant step is to bring in managed services and managed detection for your computer network.
Their job is to ensure that their clients have the most up-to-date cyber security policies and educate them on advanced security policies that ensure companies remain at the forefront of cyber security practices. Reach out today for a quote!
