5 Cyber ​​Security Mistakes Most Businesses Make

Cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility, not just information technology professionals. As with personal safety, people must pay attention to their surroundings and their actions.

There are a number of areas that companies and employees do not pay attention to when it comes to cyber security. These are not in order of importance as they are all critical.

Lack of training for staff.

When we raise our children, we make sure they know to look both ways before crossing the street, not accept candy from strangers, and never get in a car with someone they don’t know. For all of us, this is common sense, since we ourselves received this same education.

With cybersecurity, the same principles apply. Do not open attachments from unknown sources. Do not go to websites that seem suspicious. Do not tell anyone your password(s).

Companies should ensure that they have education for all employees regarding these and other basic cybersecurity concepts. Training should occur at new employee orientation and it makes sense to have annual or semi-annual reviews.

Do not limit/log access

Who has access to what data? Which IT admin changed the directory structure? Who changed the permissions? Do all employees have access to HR files? Does some unnecessary person have access to the financial records? Are there records showing who accessed what data?

Most of the answers to these questions will be “we don’t know” and that is a problem that needs to be recognized and addressed. Businesses need to use built-in tools to log access and, when necessary, purchase third-party software for greater control and granularity. Access tracking can not only prevent a data breach, but it allows organizations to find out what happened when a data loss occurs.

Taking care of corporate data

Most employees are simply focused on their day-to-day work, not necessarily concerned with intellectual property in their company. A large number of employees don’t even know what data is critical to the success of their business.

With a myopic focus on what’s in front of us, it’s extremely difficult to protect what really matters to an organization. Employees understand that financial and human resources records deserve protection, that’s not enough.

Staff must also be aware of basic business-critical data so that they can be sure and take appropriate action when dealing with that information and when dealing with others who have a responsibility to protect that data.

Understand cyber threats

Identity fraud. parody. worm. Troy Horse. Pharmaceutical products. Kidnapping attack. All the key terms in the world of cyber security, and with few exceptions, most people don’t know what these expressions mean.

Along with basic education, it makes sense for organizations to ensure staff know what these attacks are and how to protect against them. There are a number of terms and threats that people are familiar with, it is the responsibility of companies to help employees understand the additional dangers. Common sense goes a long way, and by adding simple communication, companies can ensure that employees know what to look for and how to act when problems arise.

Spending money in the wrong areas, or not spending it at all

Too often, companies focus on revenue-generating opportunities and return on investment when they spend money. Businesses must also take a defensive stance. This doesn’t just mean spending money on network equipment and edge devices to protect your information assets, but understanding the scope of threats and spending in many areas.

Firewalls, extranets, and intrusion detection systems are all very well; however, they only protect companies from specific types of attacks. Businesses need to take a holistic view of cybersecurity and invest as needed. Cyber ​​security is an investment and should be viewed as such through the budget process.

Everyone must take charge of cyber security. In today’s world, with major data breaches occurring on a seemingly weekly basis and affecting millions of people, it is imperative to pay attention and share the responsibility for data protection.

Through education, registration, understanding corporate data, awareness of threats, and proper investments in cybersecurity, businesses will find greater security. When companies have data protection, investors, employees and consumers receive the peace of mind and clarity that they are as safe as possible.