Signs Your Cybersecurity Strategy Is in Need of an Upgrade

Most things are connected to the Internet, this is especially true for businesses. However, the Internet is not a safe place. There are hackers and intruders who have an interest in gaining access to your system and steal your valuable data. No business, no matter how small, is free from potential attacks. That's why it's important to educate yourself on the latest cybersecurity risks and implement the necessary strategy to secure your business. If you are wondering if your cybersecurity strategy is in need of an upgrade or not, here are some questions to ask yourself.

Are You Using the Same Measures for the Last Few Years?

Security measures can get outdated really fast, given how fast Internet technology grows and how advanced hacking techniques become. If you are using the same security measurements from last year without any update, you are already exposing your business to potential security breaches. Old systems and obsolete technologies are easy to break into, especially for advanced hackers. Even if you haven't been hacked yet and your cybersecurity system has been running smoothly for years without any issue, consider an upgrade if you want to keep hackers at bay. Sooner or later, they will reach you if you don't act.

Do Your Employees Know Anything About Cybersecurity?

Cybercriminals are constantly looking for a weak entry point to let them enter a network. The risk increases exponentially if they specifically target your business. A weak entry point can be a technical configuration, but it also can be your employees. How? Using techniques like social engineering, hackers can trick your employees into giving them sensitive information that will give them access to your network. In most small companies, employees generally don't have any interest in learning about cybersecurity assuming it has nothing to do with their job. You, as a business owner, need to educate them on basic cybersecurity measurements so that they know how to detect malicious requests or suspicious links, for example.

Do You Have the Right Data Encryption Technique?

Data is where the money is in business. Imagine having an online shop that processes customers' credit cards on a daily basis. Dealing with sensitive information like credit card details demands a different approach to data security. It's you to decide whether to store that data or not, as well as how to transmit that data securely from the user's browser to your server. Without powerful data encryption, hackers may find a way to intercept in between you and your customers and gain access to the financial data. For those that store customers' passwords and financial details on their server, strict encryption measurements should be implemented to protect not only your customers' data but also your business' reputation and credibility. Just look at the recent security breach scandals around the world. Would you trust those businesses again with your data?

You Don't Understand What Third-Party Risks Are

A recent study found that attacks from third parties cost companies $370,000 on average. These third parties are your partners, vendors, suppliers, etc in business. They all have different levels of access to your system. There are multiple ways a hacker can break into your system through your third parties, for example:

• By hacking their system first, and then use their compromised system to gain access into yours
• By social engineering

Such attacks are also called supply chain attacks.

While there are many different ways your business can be vulnerable to cyber attacks but having a strong cybersecurity firm on your side can help prevent potential breaches into your system, educate employees on avoiding scams, and Vette and approve third party sources that could potentially open your business up to attack. Find your teammate in cybersecurity on WhatBench and begin protecting your data today.