Cybersecurity requires the effort of an entire organization or business. Maintaining a coordinated effort is important to create, implement, and execute plans that address cyber risk management from all corners of the organization, from leadership to all lower-level employees.
5 Common Cybersecurity Mistakes Companies Make
While there is no one-size-fits-all blueprint for an organization’s cyber risk management needs, there are basic core principles that all organizations should uphold to maintain a sound security posture in the face of ongoing attacks.
In the same way, cybersecurity threats interconnect, and so do the solutions. Below are the five most common mistakes companies make when protecting assets from cyber attackers and how to avoid them.
Assuming You’re Not a Target
No matter the size of the business, all companies face the threat of a cyberattack. However, news headlines often mention stolen credit card or personal data. As a result, companies that do not handle this kind of data consider themselves less desirable targets for cyber attackers.
In reality, attackers are conducting large-scale campaigns across all sectors of the economy to infiltrate networks and steal information and assets. Organizations certainly have valuable data. All institutions need to recognize this fact and work to prevent the devastating damage cyberattacks can cause.
Please take this risk seriously. Once your organization’s leadership addresses cybersecurity as a business priority, find qualified security professionals to conduct assessments and tests that identify vulnerabilities across your organization’s technology, people, and processes.
Approaching Cybersecurity as an IT Issue
Technology is part of the solution, but a successful response requires comprehensive strategies, policies, and processes. Ultimately, the CIO or CISO is responsible for threat analysis, but everyone in the organization owns the data and is responsible for protecting the company’s core assets.
Risks to the company via cyber vectors should regularly get to the highest levels of the company’s decision-making bodies. Executives don’t need to know technical details. However, they should have sufficient threat awareness to help them develop good cyber response plans and allocate adequate resources to execute those plans. Through training, education, and simulation, you can teach your entire enterprise how to detect threats and prevent attacks.
Neglecting Your Network
Companies cannot prevent all attacks. The network and target area are too extensive and have too many entry points. However, without understanding the architecture of your network and keeping your software up to date, attackers can compromise your system with little or no resistance.
At the enterprise level, IT teams must implement robust protocols to update all software promptly. Organizations need to know where their critical data resides, the size of their network, where their exit points are, and how the network is segmented. Failure to understand basic network principles and standard network hygiene exposes organizations to unnecessary risk.
Relying Solely on Antiviruses
In today’s threat environment, antivirus technology alone is not sufficient to prevent persistent and advanced attacks. Attackers are evolving their technology faster than security companies can update their tools. Worse, hackers are increasingly using malware-free attack tactics. In fact, less than 40% of attacks today involve malware. You can’t just rely on antivirus security to protect your business.
Antivirus software is still useful and should always be up to date. However, although traditional antivirus solutions can catch mundane malware, they are no match for sophisticated attackers using stealth tactics. Organizations should employ solutions that identify adversary targets and attack impacts, even in the absence of known signatures.
Failing to Monitor Your Enterprise’s Endpoints
The traditional defense model focuses on defending an organization’s perimeter. Today, attackers primarily find ways to infiltrate networks and execute code on system endpoints. We’re also witnessing a continuous and constant evolution of enemy tradecraft. Observing boundaries might be helpful but not the ultimate security option. This is because once enemies are inside, they can operate freely without being detected. After all, no one is looking.
Deploy technology that continuously monitors endpoints. Endpoint visibility is essential in moving from reactive security to proactive search and detection. Collecting large amounts of data and looking for anomalous behavior across your organization can also help identify signs of an attack, allowing you to isolate and mitigate an attacker’s impact on your network.
How to Fortify Your Safety
In addition to the several measures mentioned, installing a good proxy server for your business can improve a company’s chances of surviving cyber threats. Free proxy alternatives are also available for startups looking to secure themselves but still don’t have a big budget. Whatever measures you take, ensure your business can detect and prevent cyber-attacks.
