Co-Authored by Ben Abbott & Associates

Progressive IT infrastructures should be built around progressive security systems. While the landscape of network technologies has changed through the assets like cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT), keeping data protected is getting more challenging than ever before. To ensure data security is top of mind for your corporation, you have to build a cybersecurity strategy that resonates with your particular ecosystem, responding to all possible threats and vulnerabilities. See our Top 6 Steps below and make sure you RSVP today to join Diaz Trade Consulting’s Cyber Security and CTPAT webinar on October 9.

Picking the right security practices for your company

If you don’t know where to start, explore your current data security mechanisms to understand how you can strengthen them. The common mistake is focusing on the methods of cyber security protection, instead of the context in which these methods can be applied. The reality is the ways of securing your data infrastructure haven’t changed much over the time. Two-factor authentication, firewalls, and intrusion prevention systems that have been used for years now, are pretty much effective today. Therefore, it’s a good idea to start building your security foundation, based on devices and context rather than methods of data protection.

The next thing you can do is to set up a system of proactive testing related to software, hardware, and network maintenance. The major goal here is to identify the areas in your infrastructure that can be susceptible to internal or external attacks. Ensure there’s a robust feedback system in place through which your teams will be able to report identified threats.

Lastly, develop a system of possible improvements, based on the information you collect through testing. Explore the best practices of enforcing a cybersecurity strategy in your corporate environment. There are plenty of ways to tap into data protection trends, the easiest of which is attending cybersecurity events or webinars like Cyber Security & CTPAT that will take place on October 9, 2018.  Choose countermeasures against cyber threats and develop the clear sets of instructions for those who interact with your information infrastructure. Once you’ve put the system in place, develop clear performance metrics to determine the success of your cybersecurity strategy.

A step-by-step guide to building an effective cyber security strategy

The development of a clear data protection policy is a meticulous process that should cover the following steps:

  1. Identify cyber threats. Based on the specifics of your IT ecosystem, it’s possible to predict the threats that your corporation is most likely to face. According to Laissez Faire, the top three cyber threats today are the illegal use of computers to mine cryptocurrencies, also known as crypto jacking, Powershell, and security software attacks. If you understand the key vulnerabilities of your infrastructure, you can build a targeted strategy for protecting company information.
  2. Give preference to private servers: You can protects client data by storing it on private servers not connected to the internet. This strategy helps prevent numerous network attacks and is the one you should embrace in case you have lots of sensitive data, the disclosure of which might hinder the company or your clients.
  1. Use “push” system update strategy. Regular and timely updates of your software can help you avoid getting into a trouble. Many companies still use a “pull” update mechanism, but it’s critical to understand that this approach doesn’t work with sophisticated IT  infrastructures anymore. Since “pull” strategy implies optional device updates, your employees or clients might put a device at risk if they miss or decline an important update. The smart alternative is a “push” approach, due to which all devices get updated automatically once they are connected to the internet.
  2. Conduct staff training. When it comes to cyber security, technology isn’t always the major concern. Due to unpredictability of human behavior, your own staff can be a big threat to the security of company data.
  3. Starting from senior specialists, train your employees on the matters of cyber security that are relevant to company infrastructure. Next, you can either encourage senior staff to educate their teams or make a cyber security training the part of an on-boarding process. Ensure the following aspects are communicated within the training:
    1. Reporting fake emails and suspicious files.
    2. The ways to identify password phishing attempts.
    3. Transporting electronic devices that hold company data to other countries.
    4. Relevant cyber security trends.
    5. Response plan (the actions your employees should take in case there’s a cyber-attack).
  1. Set up protective monitoring and create a comprehensive response plan. To keep company information secure, understanding your cyber security strategy isn’t enough. Your team has to be on the alert every day, deterring possible threats and being ready to take the right measures in case some attack breaks your defense. Apart from preventive practices, develop a detailed response plan that communicates how to go about an attack step-by-step. From the basic reporting techniques to protocol audit, it should cover every stage.

Conclusion

Creating and maintaining a secure information infrastructure within a company is the key to protecting your assets. With network technologies changing fast and furious, it’s critical to keep your eyes open for possible cyber threats. A solid cyber security strategy, aligned with your company mission, is the one that reflects system vulnerabilities, sets clear instructions for your staff, and determines detailed response planning.