Cybersecurity Best Practices

Cyber security is an essential component of IT infrastructure. Companies must implement strong cybersecurity measures due to rising cyber attacks and data breaches. Fortunately, numerous best practices can help organizations prevent cyber threats and reduce the risk of an attack.

But what exactly does “best practices in cyber security” mean? As cyber risks have increased and cyber security has gained national media attention, the buzzword has become nuanced. Best practices are simply a set of standards and practices generally accepted as superior to others in protecting against cyber threats. This article will discuss why all companies should follow best practices in cybersecurity solutions and outline what some of those best practices are.

Following Best Practices Is Crucial

Not following best practices puts a company’s customer data, profitability, and reputation at risk. While some business owners may be in denial about their chances of becoming a victim, the reality is that 61% of all small businesses reported at least one cyber incident in the previous year.

According to IBM and the Ponemon Institute’s data breach research, the average data breach cost in 2021 was $4.24 million, a 10% increase from 2019. With such a high price, it’s no surprise that 60% of small companies go out of business within six months of a cyber attack.

To put it simply, the risks and price of cyber attacks continue to grow, and companies that don’t follow best practices are likely to become victims of an attack.

5 Cyber Security Best Practices

Here are a few best practices to ensure the safety of your company:

1. Raise Cybersecurity Awareness

The digital landscape changes constantly, and hackers commonly find ways to exploit human error and negligence, with 95% of cybersecurity concerns being caused by human error. Organizations can stay ahead of the game by providing knowledge and training that emphasizes the human factor of cyber security.

2. Protect Access To Critical Assets

By implementing the principle of least privilege and password policies, companies can protect their assets and limit access permissions for users, accounts, and computer processes to just those resources that are absolutely necessary to carry out regular, required operations.

3. Backup Data

Backing up data is an essential part of any cybersecurity practice. It not only protects against the loss of essential files but also helps to ensure that you can recover your data in the event of a breach or another type of problem. Cybersecurity companies recommend backing up data on a regular basis.

4. Establish Cybersecurity Policy

A cybersecurity policy defines how a company will prevent cyberattacks. A cybersecurity policy can include things like encrypting data, limiting access, and policies on the acceptable use of technology. By establishing clear guidelines, organizations can better protect their data from hackers.

5. Protect Access With Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)

Multi-factor authentication is a method used to protect access to sensitive resources. Depending on the kind of account, MFA may be as simple as needing a password plus a second factor, such as a phone call or text message, or as complex as requiring several forms of authentication. Using MFA, companies can prevent unwanted data and network access.

Keep Up With Best Practices To Protect Your Business

As technology evolves, so does cyber security. Hackers will constantly find new ways to steal data and put companies at risk. Keeping up with best practices or hiring an IT service provider to implement best practices is ultimately what will keep your company safe from an attack.