Building out a cyber security posture can be intimidating. There are a lot of things to keep in mind and it may seem like buying lots of tools is the best way to protect yourself.
In reality, building a cybersecurity posture needs to start with the basics and grow from there. Much like building a house, there's no sense buying blinds if you don't even have a foundation yet.
That's why we've identified five cybersecurity basics that can put you on the road to preventing cyberattacks.
5 Easy Steps To Prevent Cyberattacks
There are many different ways to bolster cybersecurity, but a few basics need to be in place before you can build out your posture.
There are five basic pieces that should be the foundation of every cybersecurity plan.
Antivirus software
Anti-malware software is a must for both personal and professional devices. Without an antivirus software, your system is completely vulnerable.
Backups
Ensuring your information is housed safely is essential for businesses. This can be accomplished through a local appliance, managed providers, or data centers that can host your data.
Should data be lost or stolen, it can easily be replaced if your company is doing frequent backups. This is especially important in the case of ransomware, when your data might be held for a ransom. Instead of losing valuable data, simply restoring a backup will save you a headache.
Multi-factor authentication
This involves the use of a code or app authentication in addition to password login through an approved device, such as a person’s smartphone.
Adding multi-factor authentication is an easy way to bolster your cybersecurity posture. If you don't already have multi-factor authentication, it should be.
Regularly updating and patching your hardware and software should be a standard part of your cybersecurity posture. Implementing MFA can take place in the form of an SMS Token, Email Token, or Software Token.
Updates and patches
This is an easy step to make sure your devices are less appealing to cybercriminals.
Hardware that is up-to-date and under warranty is a more difficult target. The update notifications you receive on your devices aren't always just to make your device or application run more efficiently. Often, they contain changes in response to the ever-changing landscape of cyberthreats.
Training
A necessary and often overlooked piece of any cybersecurity posture is training. Employees are often the largest cybersecurity risk for an organization. Employee security risks are often due to negligence, apathy, and a lack of knowledge. The most common, and dangerous, mistakes employees make in cybersecurity are
- Using weak passwords.
- Using unapproved personal devices.
- Sending emails with sensitive data to the wrong recipients.
- Accessing free WiFi Hotspots for work.
- Sharing sensitive data with colleagues using unsecured messengers.
- Unauthorized application installation.
- Not backing up critical data.
It may not be malicious in nature, but there is always the risk of human error when it comes to cybersecurity. Employees can be your weakest link or first line of defense when it comes to data security. During onboarding with Anteris we provide training for employees and continuing education throughout your partnership. Reminders are necessary to help employees remember and employ best practices.
How Anteris Can Help
Our goal is to help our Clients align their cybersecurity posture with their needs. Whether you're just starting out with the basics or looking to build a more robust posture, we have the experts to form a plan that best works for you.
Cyber threats are constantly changing so it is important to continually work on your cybersecurity posture. It's not just set it and forget, but rather an ever-evolving process to assess, align, and act.
Let us make your technology freeing, not frustrating.
