Cybersecurity simplified for businesses: Steps that matter!

The relevance of cybersecurity extends beyond compliance. Unfortunately, small businesses constantly ignore the basic steps that can secure their infrastructure perimeters. Knowing a vulnerability or identifying common cybersecurity threats is just one step. What matters as much is taking proactive steps, to prevent unexpected incidents. Even a small security breach can have serious consequences, including damage to brand existence. In this post, we are discussing the basic cybersecurity steps that will come handy for all businesses.

1. Test your networks & systems. An aspect that many companies fail to take seriously– Testing. Networks, networked assets, and IT infrastructure should be tested regularly and as extensively as possible, to find and fix vulnerabilities. This is the precise reason why big giants have bug bounty programs, or hire ethical hackers.
2. Figure out measures for password protection. Sometimes, small mistakes lead to serious security lapses. For instance, if IP cameras are being managed using default passwords, it wouldn’t take long for a novice hacker to get access. Basic password protection measures include creating strong passwords, changing default usernames & passwords, enabling features like lockout and multifactor authentication.
3. Invest in good security programs. Social engineering requires serious attention, and just practicing safe browsing is not enough. If your company hasn’t invested in antivirus, antimalware, and anti-ransomware programs as yet, consider these options, and ensure that your employees know the basics about preventing a malware attack in the first place.
4. Update your resources. All firmware, software and other programs must be updated, and this must be done regularly. Manufacturers and vendors are constantly fixing security issues and flaws, and they offer free updates, which must be installed immediately.
5. Create an incident response plan. Despite all necessary precautions, issues do happen, and not all incidents are as damaging. However, having a clear set of protocols is absolutely necessary, so that security incidents are managed efficiently and considerable damage control can be initiated immediately.

Creating the cybersecurity roadmap

From creating strong & long passwords, to hiring cybersecurity experts to train your people, a few steps can be extremely useful in avoiding a breach. If your company has invested in IP video surveillance systems, make sure that you do your homework on keeping firmware update, encrypting data, and reducing access to these systems. Access right management is another aspect that matters in keeping up with cybersecurity norms and regulations. When needed, take help from outsider professionals, so as to find and fix flaws that would be otherwise ignored.