Cyber threats, such as ransomware and phishing attacks, are occurring every day and put businesses at risk of monetary extortion and business interruption. Cyber threats are constantly evolving, and new tactics used to infiltrate your network appear every day. Within the last quarter of this year alone, 6,000 new vulnerabilities were detected. These vulnerabilities are doorways that hackers seek out to gain access to your network.
Having preventive measures in place on your network is one of the best ways to keep cyber attacks from compromising your business.
Although many business owners are left confused about where to start with cybersecurity, security tools don't have to be shrouded in mystery. Here are some of the best tools to mitigate the risk of successful cyber attacks.
Firewalls:
Firewalls are one of the most basic forms of protection that you need for your organization’s security. A firewall is a security device that acts as a form of protection between your internal network and outside traffic. It monitors everything and everyone trying to gain access to your network to keep out suspicious or unrecognized sources.
Firewalls ensure that the only traffic allowed into your network is what you have requested and has proved to be a valid, trustworthy source. This is similar to having a lock on the door of your house- it isn’t something you would question having.
A lock is the only way to ensure intruders don’t get in unless you have allowed them entry. A firewall is an easy way to ensure that your network has verified any access to mitigate the risk of any cyber threats. It is critical to have a firewall to ensure you have that first line of defense against network infiltrators.
Antivirus Software:
Antivirus software is used to monitor your network for suspicious behavior and block or remove threats as soon as they appear. This is critical to the protection of your network from malicious software and viruses.
Now more than ever, the digital world has made downloading files and documents an everyday instance people don’t second guess. More often than not, we click to download something without knowing that there is a virus attached.
Clicking on a harmful link or file can allow someone to access your network and steal files or cause damage. Be cautious when opening unknown links or files. Antivirus software is another layer of protection to block and save you from the future headaches of accidentally downloading something that could have a virus in it.
It is the closest thing to ensuring that downloading files is not putting your network or your company’s security at risk. Antivirus software helps protect your devices from viruses, allowing you to use them safely for your daily activities.
Multi-Factor Authentication:
Multi-factor authentication(MFA) is a method of user verification that requires two or more factors to gain access to a resource, device, or application. This is a security tool that many companies require for network users.
The most common forms of MFA occur when you log in. You will likely need to verify your identity by a pin sent to another device, a fingerprint or face scan, or even answer personal security questions that only pertain to you.
MFA ensures that if you were ever to fall victim to a phishing scam or have your login credential compromised, the hacker would not be able to gain access unless they can get through the other level(s) of authentication.
MFA makes it difficult for a hacker to gain access to your systems through a targeted user. Since the application or device will notify you of someone trying to access your device or application, you can quickly change your login credentials to ensure they are stopped in their tracks.
MFA is critical for businesses to have in place for all their users to help prevent any of their information from being compromised. These multiple layers of defense help to ensure the security of the user and your business’s confidential information.
Read more about other ways your staff can achieve greater online security in our blog: Top 6 Email Security Tips for Employees.
Cyber Insurance:
Cyber insurance protects your business in case of a data breach with sensitive information about you or your clients. Just like health insurance, it might not seem immediately necessary, but if something bad happens you'll be glad to have it. It can also help to put your mind at ease as cyber-attacks become more prevalent and target others in your industry.
Cyber insurance covers legal fees and expenses correlated to a data breach. Your cyber insurance could also help cover the following:
- Notifying clients in the event of a data breach
- Help restore and recover data
- Repair damaged computer systems
You and your team should review the policy carefully. This will help you understand what is covered and what is not in case of a data breach.
To read more about why cyber insurance will be your best resource in the even of an attack, check out our webinar: Is Cyber Insurance A Critical Part of Your Cyber Attack Survival Kit? (Webinar Recap)
Cybersecurity Training:
When it comes to cybersecurity, one of the most important things you can do is train your employees on threat detection best practices. So many cyber attacks occur simply due to human error. It doesn’t take a malicious person to accidentally click on an email that’s embedded with a virus. Cyber-attacks happen very frequently, every 11 seconds to be exact.
A simple accidental click on a malicious file or phishing email can put your entire company at risk. Your employees must be trained on the latest cyberattacks so that they know how to recognize and avoid them. You organization should require cyber security training at least yearly. Many companies perform them quarterly or even monthly to ensure their users stay up to date.
The training can help your team distinguish legitimate emails from a phishing scams, making them more prepared in the event of an attack. Phishing tests can show how well your team can spot fake emails and who needs more training to avoid scams.
Penetration Testing:
Penetration testing is when you hire a cybersecurity firm to use the tools and techniques as a hacker-in-the-wild to identify vulnerabilities before a malicious actor can exploit them. Another term for this type of hacker is an ethical hacker.
Penetration testing is a proactive approach to improving your security year after year and threat after threat. Testing your cybersecurity tools is a great way to improve them. The assessment will provide recommendations categorized as critical, high, medium, or low. This is a great way to ensure that your business is constantly alert to any vulnerabilities that could open the door to a potential data breach.
Managed IT Services:
Hiring a managed IT services provider, MSP, allows third-party complete management of your network infrastructure, end-user support, backup, and security. When an MSP is chosen, they assume full access and responsibility to run diagnostics on your networks and monitor your environment for threats.
The MSP will identify security risks, analyze network setup, and suggest ways to improve your network for better business efficiency. An MSP will use cybersecurity monitoring tools to ensure that it is running smoothly and can defend against suspicious activity or breaches. This allows your company to focus on business operations instead of worrying about cybersecurity.
Are you looking to enhance your cybersecurity?
Cyber attacks are continually evolving and getting harder to recognize. You must have a variety of tools in place to ensure there are multiple lines of defense to keep your business safe.
Proactive monitoring, antivirus software, user training, and other best practices are quickly becoming requirements to qualify for a cyber insurance policy. Otherwise, businesses without these safeguards might not qualify as they are considered a liability. To read more about how to qualify for cyber policies, read our blog: Top 5 Things Required For Cybersecurity Insurance Coverage.
Hiring an MSP provides an excellent option for enhancing your cybersecurity tools and creating a more proactive security approach. A network assessment is a great way to get to know a provider, and allow you to access the crucial information cybersecurity assessment tools uncover.
If you want to get ahead of cyber attacks by getting to know your existing cybersecurity gaps, click the button below to get a network assessment from an expert.
