Cybersecurity, also known as cybersecurity, is necessary these days, after all, finding a company that does not depend entirely on the internet to carry out its work is practically impossible.
And it is of due importance because all this material produced online by the company and other devices deserves to be taken care of with care. After all, a significant part of this data is sensitive information, whether intellectual property or financial data.
But let's get to the important part: how can you and your company update your cybersecurity methods? How to put it into practice?
We have prepared a list of 10 essential steps to understand what cybersecurity is and how to help in everyday life.
Why is cybersecurity so important?
Now that you have a better understanding of what cybersecurity is, let's understand a little better why this topic is so important.
Oh, if you're not already familiar with the topic, don't hesitate to access our guide on digital security. There you can clear up all your doubts with a quick and super educational read.
Continuing, cybersecurity is so fundamental in organizations today, as they work daily with a huge volume of information from their customers and users.
Even more so if we take into account that much of this data is sensitive information, such as personal information or other types of data for which unauthorized access or exposure could have negative consequences.
And with the more sophisticated and dangerous scenario of cyber attacks on the rise, companies, and organizations need to take truly effective measures in relation to their cyber security.
Proof of this are the numbers: according to a study by Chainalysis, an English platform that tracks data on the use of cryptocurrencies in criminal businesses, in 2020 alone data kidnapping increased by 311%, and around 350 million dollars were paid to criminals.
10 Steps to Strengthen Your Cybersecurity
The effectiveness of a cybersecurity strategy depends mainly on the coordination of efforts within the information and technology system, in collaboration with the rest of the organization.
Thinking about helping you, dear reader, to escape this situation, we propose 10 good cybersecurity practices for companies, elucidating ideas on what can be done to prevent problems arising from the misuse of technology or even help protect against cyber threats.
1. Assess the current scenario and develop a plan
Are there weaknesses in the organization? Make them evident.
Map where your data and assets are located, what protections you have in place, the effectiveness of your security solutions, and your company's readiness to defend itself.
Organize your resources to define a clear cybersecurity plan that includes policies and access levels, as well as what to do in the event of a breach.
Identify containment steps and what it will take to resolve the incident and move forward.
2. Establish an internal information security policy or regulation
In this regulation, it must be clear that the company defines the rights and duties of its employees, their responsibilities, the limits of access to company information, and the possibility of using this information inside and outside the workplace.
It is also necessary to emphasize the confidentiality of the information obtained, the penalties if the rules are disobeyed, and the control and monitoring mechanisms of the company's technological apparatus;
3. Simplify management
Those who are not yet familiar with a cybersecurity system may be confused at first. Therefore, simplifying is nothing more than optimizing the implementation of the plan.
Consolidate roles, segments, and environments into one architecture. By doing so, you are able to build successful operations and smooth policy coordination across all network segments.
4. Make room for biometrics
Tools that verify the system of network users through fingerprint, voice, or facial recognition are excellent options.
Biometric identification is one of the best cybersecurity practices, as no two individuals have the same biometric capabilities. So, if an employee accesses unauthorized information, it is possible to identify him through biometrics;
5. Multi-factor authentication? It works and must be applied!
It may seem like a very basic and inefficient attitude, but this cybersecurity practice helps protect confidential data, adding an extra layer of protection.
Even if a malicious actor has your password, they will still need a second or even a third authentication factor, such as a security token, your cell phone, fingerprint, or your voice.
As an additional benefit, it also allows you to distinguish users of shared accounts, improving your access control
6. Encrypt sensitive information
Establishing a hierarchical encryption system ensures that only specific departments access the information they need in their workflow.
Employees who do not participate in this workflow will not have access to critical data, thus reducing their vulnerability;
7. Pay attention to remote access
Remote access is a necessary part of business, but it can also be a weak point for data.
Create secure remote access procedures, using an encrypted connection, with well-configured authentication and authorization. Also, pay attention to the processes for creating and revoking access.
8. Be suspicious and inform your team about phishing
Often, well-meaning employees inadvertently help perpetrators by providing them with a way to get into their system.
Attackers use phishing techniques such as spam emails and phone calls to discover employee information, obtain credentials, or infect systems with malware.
So companies should get a spam filter set up correctly, making sure the most obvious ones are always blocked. It is also essential to educate your employees about popular phishing techniques and the best ways to deal with them.
9. IoT Security Management
IoT devices are gaining a lot of popularity in recent times, but the most challenging thing about IoT is accessing sensitive data. Security cameras, smart locks, doorbells, heating systems, and office equipment are vital parts of the business network.
You can protect your business from cybersecurity threats by ensuring data encryption at rest and in transit. You can also conduct penetration testing to understand the real risks and plan your security strategy accordingly, ensuring proper authentication.
10. All employees must report any information security or data protection incident
For all employees to be aware of the importance of the topic, it is necessary not only to train them but also to make them aware that every incident must be reported to the information security team, if any.
Therefore, any occasion that may unduly expose company, team, or customer data can be resolved quickly and efficiently.
In fact, in the case of personal data leaks, it is worth highlighting that reporting an incident is not just good internal practice. In fact, it is an obligation provided for by the General Data Protection Law (LGPD), when it may cause relevant risk or damage to data subjects.
Invest in your company's security with Contivos!
It's not a 7-headed monster to invest in your organization's cybersecurity! In a simple, effective, and practical way, you can guarantee the safety of your team and your customers.
To do this, just become a Contivos partner! Our experts work thoroughly and constantly analyze your company's systems in order to find possible vulnerabilities, which anticipate possible cyber attacks
Now that you know the basic principles of cybersecurity and how you can intervene to protect your organization, talk to us! Contivos can help you.