David Kelleher
Oct 07, 2024
David Kelleher
Oct 07, 2024
A lot has changed since the first Cybersecurity Awareness Month initiative began in 2004. The pervasive adoption of technology has been matched by an exponential increase in the number of cyber threats and attacks. Every day we come across new and sophisticated threats.
The theme “Secure Our World”, highlights the pressing need for organisations to focus on stronger cybersecurity measures to safeguard their assets, data and reputation and enhance organisational resilience. This concept encompasses preparedness for attacks and the ability to emerge from such incidents with minimal damage.
Small businesses face a diverse and evolving threat landscape, including ransomware attacks that can cripple operations, sophisticated phishing schemes exploiting human vulnerabilities, business email compromise attempts manipulating employees, and insider threats that can inadvertently expose companies to significant risks.
The advice to every organisation should be consistent: focus on the fundamentals and adopt a security culture at every level of the organisation.
Adopt a zero-trust strategy. Trust no one, verify all the time. This approach should extend beyond identity and access management (IAM) and become a mindset for every individual. Does that email look suspicious? Yes. Don’t trust. Verify its authenticity. An urgent request for payment comes from the CEO. Stop and think. Does the CEO make these kinds of requests? Verify first before processing.
Passwords. If you’re still using passwords, make sure they are strong and use a password manager – not a piece of paper. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. It is a strong technical control against unauthorised access, requiring something you have (token, authentication app), something you are (fingerprint, retinal scan), and something you know (passphrase, password).
Regular employee training on identifying phishing attempts, handling sensitive information, and adhering to security protocols is essential and should be an ongoing effort.
Patch, patch, patch. It only takes one vulnerability on an unpatched machine that is exposed to the internet to cause some serious damage. Don’t underestimate the importance of regular vulnerability scanning and remediation (after testing) to address potential weaknesses.
Implement frequent data backups, coupled with robust encryption practices, with one or more copies offsite, along with detailed incident response plans for mitigating damage in the event of a breach.
Regular monitoring. You need to know what is happening on your network. Are you seeing unusual network activity? Are some machines sending data to an external IP address? Setting up alerts and logging with regular monitoring can stop an attack before it causes more harm. Automate this process using a SIEM (Security information and Event Management) solution.
This Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we urge all organisations to take concrete steps towards enhancing their digital security but more importantly to work towards instilling a strong security culture within the organisation. Every employee has a role to play, and it is up to management to lead the way and set an example. Ongoing training plays a big part in this.
For many organisations cybersecurity can be a challenge, but it should not be so. There are providers, like BMIT, who understand the challenges facing small businesses and what it takes to build a resilient business. Remember: It is never too late to start.
If you have any cybersecurity concerns or need assistance enhancing your organisation's security posture, don't hesitate to reach out to us. Our team of experts are ready to help you navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and build a robust, resilient infrastructure to protect your business. Fill in the below form and take the first step towards securing your world.
