Cyber-attacks have become not just increasingly common, but more sophisticated as well. Some of the most common examples of cyber attacks include corporate espionage, data theft, and extortion by ransomware. Needless to say, the global cost of these cyber crimes is growing as well. According to Accenture, the cost of cybercrime for organizations had ballooned to $13 million in 2018.
Regardless of the size of your company, you can’t afford a data breach. As the adage goes, prevention is better than cure. Learning how to prevent a cyber-attack can save you from spending resources that you could otherwise use for scaling your business. Keep reading to learn the best practices for preventing a cyber attack.
1. Start from the top-down
When it comes to cybersecurity, every person in your organization must be on the same page. This will only be possible when you implement top-down policies that place particular emphasis on cybersecurity. It should always be an essential part of corporate governance, with full support from senior management and adequate funding for necessary software and hardware.
Cybersecurity training may also be required, particularly for employees who handle sensitive business information. It’s also prudent to set aside a budget for hiring security experts as well as outside security services.
Above all, your cybersecurity policies must be geared toward informing everyone about the risks involved in a cyber attack. Other than being just a sunk cost, these attacks can cause your business to incur massive losses and lose out on new business opportunities.
2. Invest in the proper knowledge, tools, and manpower
The second step is to strengthen your cybersecurity practices by investing in the right resources. While this entails a significant investment, it’s necessary for limiting or mitigating cyber attacks. A good starting point is upgrading your software and hardware. By keeping them up to date, you minimize the risks of cybercrimes.
Don’t forget to boost the security of your networks as well. Aside from being segmented, they must be protected using intrusion prevention systems and firewalls. Regular penetration testing must be conducted to ensure that the networks are always secure. If you’re a health insurance provider, you should also keep in mind the different standards of security and privacy that are expected from your organization. Even if you have a secure network, it is important to maintain HIPAA compliance throughout your organization by using HIPAA cloud storage.
Employees must also be adequately trained. They need to know how to operate software securely and what to do in case of a cyber attack. In particular, they need to watch out for phishing attacks through emails, which is the most common method of communication within an organization.
3. Take a more proactive measure
It’s high time that you take cybersecurity seriously. There’s no use in waiting for a cyber attack before you do anything to prevent it. A proactive approach enables your entire organization to be ready in the event of advanced cyber threats, like ransomware attacks, which help minimize losses for your organization.
Security experts always recommend acting as if you’ve already been hacked. This makes it easier to implement the necessary security solutions to protect all of your company’s valuable data and information. And always remember that no matter how advanced these attacks are, they can be prevented provided you have the right security tools and adhere to strict security policies.
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Very interesting read from an IT perspective coving the main factors that business owners should take into consideration
Nice work