Cybersecurity has become an essential element of business operations however IT teams and C-level executives often have different perspectives and priorities when it comes to security, leading to misalignment and gaps in communication.
IT teams may feel that the C-level executives do not understand the importance of security, while C-level executives may view IT teams as a cost centre that is always asking for larger IT and security budgets without considering the broader financial implications.
Same goals, different concerns
There are a few reasons why security may be a challenge in the boardroom.
Role and responsibilities are different
C-level executives and management are primarily concerned with the impact of security on business outcomes, including risk reduction, regulatory compliance, and reputation enhancement. They view security as a crucial aspect of business operations that can have an impact on the organisation’s bottom line. Their top priority is ensuring that the organisation meets regulatory requirements, avoids negative publicity, and prevents reputational damage. On the other hand, IT teams are mainly focused on the technical aspects of security, such as implementing policies, procedures, and tools to safeguard the organisation's data and systems. They dedicate their time to patching systems, implementing firewalls, and anti-virus software. While these measures are essential for protecting digital assets, they may be too technical and complex for non-IT professionals to fully comprehend.
Lack of understanding and communication
One common reason for issues in IT security is the lack of understanding and effective communication channels between management and IT teams. Management may not possess a comprehensive understanding of the technical complexities of IT security, while IT teams may be unaware of the business implications and priorities of management. This absence of mutual comprehension, due to inadequate communication, frequently results in conflicting priorities and a shortage of resources.
Cost vs investment
Another reason for the disconnect is the perception of IT security as a cost, rather than an investment. Many C-level executives view IT security as a necessary expense, rather than a strategic investment that can drive business growth and success. This can lead to a lack of buy-in and support from management for IT security initiatives, causing IT security to be underfunded and understaffed. IT teams may also assume that management ‘knows’ why they are requesting additional budget or a new system or software when management do not have enough information or knowledge to help them take a decision.
Business goals are not aligned
While management is focused on accomplishing business goals such as enhancing revenue, reducing costs, and improving customer satisfaction, IT security prioritises technical objectives such as avoiding breaches, identifying incidents, and mitigating risks. These conflicting perspectives and goals often create tension and misunderstandings. For example, management may be interested in exploring business opportunities or innovations that IT security may consider risky or unfeasible. Conversely, IT security may emphasise increasing resources or expenses to tackle the growing threats and complexity, while management aims to minimise expenses.
Lack of awareness on security
The technical jargon utilised by IT teams may be overly complex for C-level executives to comprehend, causing them to overlook the significance of security measures. Management may not be informed about the most recent threats and technologies, while IT may not possess the resources or expertise to keep up with the latest advancements. Consequently, this can result in a lack of confidence in IT security and a lack of trust in IT's capacity to safeguard the business.
Risk tolerance
IT teams may have a low-risk tolerance and may want to implement strict security measures that may impact business operations. In contrast, C-level executives may have a higher risk tolerance and may view security as a trade-off between risk mitigation and operational efficiency.
Bridging the divide
To bridge this gap, IT teams and C-level executives need to establish a common language and understanding of security. They need to align their goals and expectations and collaborate effectively on security initiatives.
Key message
IT security is not only a technical issue but also a business issue. IT security and compliance should be integrated into the company's overall strategy. By aligning IT security with business goals, the company can proactively anticipate and mitigate risks and make better-informed decisions. This can also help to align the IT security budget with the overall budget and reduce the chances of a budget cut.
Clearly defined roles and responsibilities
IT and management need to work together to develop a security framework that ensures all stakeholders are aware of their roles and responsibilities in case of a security incident. Other teams, such as legal and HR, need to be involved.
Security training and awareness
Every executive at management level should receive security awareness training that covers the basics of cybersecurity, such as phishing, malware, and social engineering. Tailored to their roles and responsibilities, training should include examples of security breaches and their impact on an organisation.
Communicate often
Regular communication is a must when it comes to security. The IT lead should be present in management meetings and explain what is being done on security, the latest threats, risks, and solutions. This builds trust and makes it easier for management to sign-off on any technology or actions needed to improve security. Security should also be discussed at Board level. That way, security is treated a top-level priority.
Many of the challenges facing IT teams can be addressed if they clearly communicated their requirements and concerns to management. Talk to one of BMIT’s experts TODAY to learn how we can help you bridge the ‘security divide’ and optimise your business’s security posture.
A security policy is a set of rules and guidelines that define how your business protects its information assets and systems. It establishes what actions need to be taken to prevent the unauthorized access, use, disclosure, modification, or destruction of those assets and data.
If your business deals with sensitive data, customer information, financial records, intellectual property, trade secrets, or confidential communications, you need a security policy!
Security policies are important because they help your business to manage security risks and incidents in a consistent manner. Each policy makes it clear to your employees, customers, and partners what your responsibilities are and what your expectations of them are as well. In regulated industries, a security policy is mandatory for those entities to be compliant with legal and regulatory frameworks.
A well-defined and regularly updated policy is a statement of intent that you are prepared for the likelihood and impact of a security breach or data loss. It also enhances your reputation and trust as a secure and reliable business.
However, creating a strong security policy is not a one-time task. It requires ongoing review and update to reflect the changing needs and threats of your business environment.
Starting the process
- Security objectives and scope. Define the goals of your security policy, the assets and systems that need to be protected, the stakeholders and users that need to be involved or informed, and how your security policy aligns with your business strategy and values?
- Risk assessment. Creating a baseline is an important step. Identify any potential threats and vulnerabilities and their severity; gaps and weaknesses that may be present. Define the controls and measures in place to prevent or mitigate them.
- Security requirements and standards. Based on your risk assessment, identify the specific security rules and guidelines to implement to protect your assets and systems, the minimum security levels and best practices that you expect from your employees, customers, partners, and vendors.
- Document and communicate. Using clear and easy to understand language, communicate your security policy to all relevant parties and ensure that they acknowledge and agree to it. Not everyone in your business is IT savvy or knowledgeable on security.
- Implement and enforce. Define actionable steps and procedures. Provide adequate training, tools, resources, and support to help your employees, customers, partners, and vendors comply with your security policy. Establish mechanisms for reporting, auditing, reviewing, and updating your security policy on a regular basis.
- Evaluate and improve. Monitor the effectiveness and efficiency of your security policy, collect feedback from stakeholders, identify areas for improvement and update accordingly.
Elements of your security policy
You can set and enforce policies that address many security areas. Here are few key areas:
Password Management
One of the most critical components of a strong IT security policy is effective password management using strong passwords, multi-factor authentication.
Access Control
Zero trust or least privilege are two principles to follow. Only give access to those who need it and treat every user as a possible threat.
Data Encryption
Encrypt all data, both in transit and at rest, using industry-standard protocols.
Employee Training
Training employees on best practices for password management, data security, and incident response to help prevent security breaches and mitigate the impact of any incidents that occur.
Third-Party Access
Ensure third-party vendors / contractors follow the same IT security policies as your employees.
Network Security
Ensure that firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and other network security measures are in place and functioning correctly. Consider VPNs for secure remote connections.
Mobile Device Management
Develop strong policies for securing and managing mobile devices, enforcing strong passwords and remote wiping capabilities, among others.
A security policy is a crucial component of an organization's security strategy, providing direction and guidance for creating a secure environment, fostering a culture of security awareness, and enhancing resilience against threats. A comprehensive, consistent, realistic, and adaptable security policy sets the tone for how security is prioritized and implemented throughout the organization.
How can BMIT help?
If you are relatively new to cybersecurity and creating a security policy for your business, BMIT has a Cybersecurity Assessment Tool that will identify weaknesses in your enterprise IT security and offer recommendations. Our solutions architects can then help you fill in the gaps in your security posture with a detailed report on what is needed.
Want to learn more about creating a solid business security policy and strengthening your business’s security posture?
Contact us today!
Humans are extremely complex beings. Each one is different, possesses the ability to do good, or bad; to absorb knowledge or fail to understand basic concepts. They are also subject to manipulation, biases and extremes of emotion. Ultimately, as much as we’d like to believe we understand them, they are more likely to surprise us by their actions and behaviour.
So, you may ask, what does this have to do with cybersecurity?
Everything.
Humans are the weakest link in your security chain. One individual’s actions – intentional or not – can wreak havoc in your network, cause irreparable damage to your business and, in a worst case scenario, bring a business to a standstill.
Human factors and behaviours
Not surprisingly, there are quite a few!
Motivation: Motivation is powerful driver. Every business wants its employees to be motivated and working hard in the company’s interests. The problems start when employees have ulterior motives. For some it may be personal gain, revenge, or even boredom. Their actions may be intentional or unintentional but still compromise cybersecurity – copying or sharing corporate data to a personal drive, sabotaging systems or facilitating third-party access to systems in return for money.
Trust: A lack of trust between employees can have a significant impact on cybersecurity. If employees don't trust each other, they may be more likely to engage in malicious activities, such as stealing or sharing sensitive data. The flipside is that employees who trust too much, may open emails that appear to come from their boss or a colleague; or they may trust a vendor or service provider that has access to the network (who may be compromised).
Bias: Humans are not always rational and take ‘shortcuts’ or biases to arrive at decisions. These biases impact cybersecurity. For example, optimism bias can lead to the false belief that the network is secure because all systems are configured and running. Other examples are availability bias, confirmation bias, aggregate bias and the framing effect.
Responsibility: When employees feel a sense of responsibility for the security of their workplace, they are more likely to take cybersecurity seriously and take appropriate actions to protect company data. On the other hand, when employees feel that cybersecurity is someone else's responsibility, they may be less likely to take appropriate actions to prevent cyberattacks.
Complacency: If employees are not reminded about the importance of cybersecurity on a regular basis, they may become complacent and assume that nothing bad will happen. This complacency can lead to careless behaviours, such as clicking on suspicious links or downloading malicious attachments.
Awareness: When employees are not aware of the risks associated with cyberattacks and the impact that a security breach can have on the company and their personal lives, they are less likely to take cybersecurity seriously and follow best practices to protect themselves and the company. They may use weak or reused passwords, share sensitive information on unsecured channels, download unauthorised software or applications, or leave devices unattended or unlocked.
Overconfidence: Some employees may feel overconfident in their ability to detect and prevent cyberattacks, leading them to take unnecessary risks or overlook potential threats.
Stress: High levels of stress or pressure can lead employees to take shortcuts or make mistakes that can compromise cybersecurity, such as reusing passwords or failing to follow security protocols.
Employee behaviour has a significant impact on cybersecurity in the workplace. While technical measures are important, a business cannot ignore the emotional and behavioural factors that can increase the risk of cyberattacks. IT teams can rely on line managers to identify behaviours that could indicate a problem or potential threat.
By fostering a culture of awareness, education, and accountability, companies can help ensure that employees take cybersecurity seriously and follow best practices to protect themselves and the company.
By addressing the human factor, businesses can help create a culture where employees feel empowered to take an active ‘cybersecurity’ role.
Internal IT teams in companies using Microsoft infrastructure are often seen to be struggling to implement setups that use the best practices, are ideal for their business and maximise investment.
This growing trend also indicates that implementations are not always optimal. This is happening because IT staff do not have the time or they are overwhelmed by the setup’s complexity and internal demands. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the challenges that legacy Microsoft environments create.
Lack of support for legacy Microsoft environments
One of the major challenges of legacy Microsoft environments is the end of support for older systems, such as Windows Server 2008 and 2008R2, whose technical support and security updates ended in 2020. This will also extend to Windows Server 2012 and 2012R2 in 2023. In addition, legacy systems may be running on hardware that is no longer capable of supporting more advanced versions, leading to poor scalability and potential disruption to business operations.
The lack of operational system support also poses a significant security risk, as unpatched vulnerabilities can be exploited by malicious actors, leading to data breaches and other security incidents. It is essential for organisations to upgrade their systems to ensure ongoing security and protection of their data and networks.
Legacy applications, which are systems and applications that have not been updated with the latest technology advancements, often suffer from poor performance due to the lack of updated features for performance optimisation. This makes it challenging to scale these applications across multiple platforms, resulting in poor performance on mobile devices. As of 2021, it is estimated that over 60% of internet traffic originates from mobile devices, making it imperative for applications to be optimised for mobile use. The lack of a mobile-friendly version of these legacy applications further exacerbates the problem, making it difficult for users to access and use these applications effectively on their mobile devices. To provide a seamless user experience and improve overall performance, organisations should consider upgrading their legacy systems to the latest technology and hardware.
Lack of appreciation for the significance of IT
Businesses must start appreciating the all-around significance of IT since legacy Microsoft environments. Essentially, IT should remain at the heart of an enterprise's departments and adequately line up with its operational strategy. This will help minimise costs and increase performance.
However, most companies usually treat their IT departments as an ‘expense’, thinking that they probably don't need it. Some departments may also look at ‘IT’ as a simple ‘computer’ when in reality it is the core of most operations. Companies also need better IT regulations, structures, processes, and personnel training.
Ensuring that your legacy is in line with the current Hybrid Cloud
To address these challenges, Microsoft has invested over a billion dollars annually in its cloud platform, with a focus on security and manageability. The company's aim is to stay ahead in the field of cybersecurity and make the transition to the current hybrid cloud environment easier for businesses.
Why BMIT Technologies provides a solution
All BMIT clients has different needs and require different solutions. Therefore, we tackle each need with our technology, business strategy, and innovation expertise. We design intelligent, secure infrastructure solutions, and help build your internal capabilities. Our goal is to also identify opportunities to enhance your business potential through innovative technologies. This ensures a greater level of business management and progression.
If you want to learn more on how to respond to the challenges of legacy Microsoft environments, contact us, and one of our experts will reach out and guide you accordingly.
We are delighted to announce that BMIT has once again been shortlisted for a prestigious EGR B2B Award, a reflection of our commitment to providing excellent customer service and IT solutions to our clients.
This year, BMIT has been shortlisted for three categories: 'Best Customer Service', 'IT Supplier', and 'Data Centre and Cloud Systems Provider'. We are proud to be recognised in these categories, which showcase our expertise and dedication to providing top-notch services to our customers.
The EGR B2B Awards recognize and celebrate the achievements of companies in the online gaming and betting industry.
At BMIT, we have always put our customers first. We believe that excellent customer service is essential to building strong relationships with our clients, and we are proud to have been shortlisted for the 'Best Customer Service' award. Our team works tirelessly to ensure that our customers receive the best possible service.
In the 'IT Supplier' and 'Data Centre and Cloud Systems Provider' categories, we are being recognized for our expertise in providing innovative and reliable IT solutions and services to our clients, led by our team of experts who ensure they can advise and implement solutions based on the latest trends and technologies.
The winners will be announced in June 2023.
If you are looking for reliable IT solutions with excellent customer service, contact us today to learn more about our services and how we can help your business grow.
Today, phishing is one of the most prevalent and dangerous types of cybercrime that businesses and individuals face nearly three decades after the word was first recorded, in 1995.
What is phishing?
It is a social engineering attack in which a malicious actor tries to trick or lure someone into divulging sensitive information, such as login credentials, financial details, or personal data, by posing as a trustworthy organisation, website or person they know well, for example, the company’s CFO or even the CEO.
These attacks come mostly via email, but they can also be delivered through phone calls, text message or social media. They have become so sophisticated that even trained professionals can fall victim to such attacks.
According to Ironscales, 8 out of 10 organisations worldwide have experienced an increase in phishing attacks since March 2020.
EarthWeb estimates that more than 3 billion phishing emails are sent daily, and almost half of all emails sent in 2021 were phishing attempts.
Phishing is a very lucrative revenue stream for cybercriminals. For example, clients of a UK law firm lost more than £3 million due to a phishing attack in April 2022.
Phishing attacks are so successful because they target one of the weakest links in an organisation – employees.
To prevent your company from falling victim to a phishing attack, it's essential to train employees on how to recognise and avoid these scams.
The Red flags
There are several red flags that can indicate a phishing email or message.
Suspicious senders or domain names: Check the sender's email address carefully, as scammers often use domain names that are similar to legitimate ones but with slight variations. Check the email header to confirm if it is a legitimate domain.
Urgency or fear tactics: Phishing messages often use urgency or fear tactics to prompt quick action from the recipient. Think twice before opening and if in doubt delete and call the person who sent the email to verify.
Request for sensitive information: Most businesses never ask for sensitive or financial information by email. Neither do genuine organsations ask you to update your credentials or bank details by email. If in doubt, contact the sender and delete.
Amazing offers: If it’s too good to be true, then it most likely is. Quick wins, surprise gifts, and coupons, for example, are used to tempt users to click on the links or attachments.
Misspellings and grammatical errors: Many phishing emails contain misspellings or grammatical errors, which can be a sign that the message is not legitimate. Badly designed or formatted emails should also raise a flag.
Suspicious links or attachments: Hover over links before clicking on them to ensure they lead to a legitimate website. The rule is simple: Do not download attachments from unknown sources.
The message to employees should: if in doubt, delete. Contact the sender by email or phone to verify the information or request.
What you can do
- Ensure that ALL employees receive some form of cybersecurity awareness training or dedicated phishing training.
- Sign up for a security awareness program that allows you to educate and test your employees’ actions when receiving phishing emails. Most programs integrate seamlessly with your corporate email and in real-time.
- Show employees what phishing is and how it works. Explain the different types of phishing attacks and how they can be delivered - email phishing, spear phishing, and smishing (SMS phishing), among others. Ask your IT team to send samples of phishing attempts to everyone as part of an ongoing phishing awareness exercise and explain the tactics that scammers use to make their messages look legitimate.
- Emphasize the importance of being cautious. Encourage them to always think twice before clicking on links, downloading attachments, or entering sensitive information online.
- Establish policies and procedures for them to report phishing attempts to the IT department or security team.
It is important to create a culture of security awareness among employees. Cybercriminals play on human error and this is a major security weakness. Training employees to stop phishing attacks contributes to a more secure first line of defence and a huge step towards keeping your business safe.
A survey last year of small and medium sized businesses (SMBs) found that more than half did not have any cybersecurity measures in place, with just over a third (36%) saying they were ‘not at all concerned’ about cyber-attacks or were ‘too small’ to be a target.
Cyberattacks are increasing, and no business can afford to ignore what is a real and growing concern. Many companies complain of a lack of resources or budgets, but the cost of a breach or loss of data is much higher than any investment in security.
It is never too late to focus on security.
The following are some areas to consider.
Risk management
Risk management involves identifying, assessing, and mitigating risks to your business. Cybersecurity risks can be caused by a range of factors, such as human error, technology failure, or malicious attacks. You can mitigate these risks by implementing access controls, encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and regular backups of critical data. Ongoing assessments and monitoring are important risk management strategies.
Engagement and training
Your business is only as strong as its weakest link – your employees. Engagement and training are critical components of cybersecurity. You need to ensure your employees are trained to identify potential cyber threats, such as phishing attempts, and how to respond to them. Cybersecurity training can help them understand their role in protecting the business's assets and data.
Vulnerability management
Vulnerability management involves identifying and addressing potential weaknesses in your IT infrastructure. The goal is to proactively address security risks by identifying and mitigating vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by attackers. This involves regularly scanning and testing systems and applications for vulnerabilities, assessing their severity, and determining the most effective way to remediate them.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
Identity and Access Management (IAM) is a set of policies, procedures, and technologies used to manage and control access to sensitive information and resources within your business. It is a critical component of every cybersecurity plan because it limits access to information and resources to authorised persons and reduces the risk of unauthorised access. Some of the key components of IAM include user provisioning, access control, password management, identity federation, and audit and compliance. IAM solutions can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud.
Data security
In cybersecurity, data security refers to the protection of digital data from unauthorised access, use, disclosure, destruction, or modification. Data security is essential to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of sensitive information – also known as the CIA triad cybersecurity model. There are various techniques, processes, and technologies to safeguard data, including encryption, access controls, data backup and recovery, network security, and vulnerability management. These measures are implemented to prevent data breaches, unauthorised data access, theft, or loss of data.
Logging and monitoring
Logging and monitoring is the practice of recording, storing and analysis of events and activities within an IT environment, such as user activities, system events, and network traffic, to identify and respond to security threats. Logs are stored in a central repository and can be used to analyse security incidents and provide evidence for forensic investigations.
Logging and monitoring are essential components of cybersecurity because they help organizations identify and respond to security threats in a timely and effective manner.
Supply chain security
This is a growing area of concern for many businesses who depend on remote workers, 3rd parties or consultants. Supply chain security involves managing the risks associated with third-party vendors and suppliers. When you implement robust supply chain security practices, you ensure that your business's data and systems are protected from potential cyber threats.
Asset management
Asset management is the practice of identifying and managing your business's assets, such as hardware, software, and data. By doing so effectively, you can ensure that all assets are protected from potential cyber threats, minimizing the risk of data breaches or system failures.
Incident management
Incident management involves responding to cyber incidents, such as data breaches or system failures. By implementing incident management practices, you can minimize the impact of cyber incidents and ensure that your business can recover quickly.
Investing in cybersecurity is not an expense. It is essential for your business's success and longevity. It is up to you to protect your business from potential cyber threats, minimize the risk of data breaches or system failures, and ensure your business can recover quickly in the event of a cyber incident.
More importantly, you are not alone. If you’re new to cybersecurity, BMIT can help you on this important journey to protect your business.
Small businesses must prioritize cybersecurity. In today's digital landscape, the threat of data breaches and cyberattacks is a constant and growing concern, and small businesses are often seen as easy targets by cybercriminals.
They need to be proactive if they want to protect sensitive information, prevent data loss, and maintain customer trust.
In this blog post, we look at five areas and best practices that businesses can implement to protect themselves from cyber threats.
Protect identities
Protecting identities is essential for small businesses, as sensitive information can be compromised if an identity is stolen. Two-factor authentication should be implemented for all employee accounts, requiring an additional code or device to verify identity in addition to a password. Encryption should be used to protect sensitive customer information, such as credit card details or personal identification information. A strong password policy should be developed and enforced for all employees, including regular password changes and requirements for complexity to make it more difficult for passwords to be guessed or hacked.
Set up security defences
Small businesses should set up robust security defences to prevent unauthorized access to company information. This includes installing antivirus and firewall software on all company devices, which can detect and prevent malware from infecting the system. Regular updates and patches should be applied to software to address any known security vulnerabilities. Regular security audits should also be conducted to identify potential weaknesses in the system and address them before they can be exploited.
Maintain good IT health
Maintaining good IT health is essential for small businesses to ensure that their systems are running smoothly and free of issues. Regular backups of important data should be taken and stored securely, so that if any data is lost or compromised, it can be easily restored. Disaster recovery and business continuity plans should be regularly tested to ensure that the business can continue to operate in the event of a disaster or security incident. System performance should be regularly monitored to identify and address potential issues before they become major problems.
Train employees
Training employees is important for small businesses to ensure that everyone is aware of best practices and potential threats. Regular cybersecurity training should be provided to all employees, covering topics such as password hygiene, phishing attacks, and social engineering tactics. Phishing simulations can be conducted to help employees recognize and avoid phishing attacks. An acceptable use policy should also be developed and enforced to ensure that employees are using company devices and networks appropriately, which can help prevent security incidents from occurring.
State of readiness
Being in a state of readiness means that small businesses are prepared for potential security incidents and can respond quickly to minimize damage. An incident response plan should be developed and regularly updated to address potential security incidents, including steps to be taken in the event of a breach or data loss. Backup and disaster recovery plans should be regularly tested and updated to ensure that they are effective in the event of an incident. Developing and maintaining relationships with security professionals and law enforcement can also help small businesses respond to incidents quickly and effectively.
No network or system is 100% secure but businesses can do a lot to minimise attack vectors and prevent cybercriminals from causing serious damage. Security is never an expense. It is a wise investment. Bringing onboard a trust partner, like BMIT Technologies, with years of experience and expertise, goes a long way towards achieving this.
Nowadays, organisations have a better understanding of the potential risks associated with their reliance on technology to conduct business operations. The possibility of a cyberattack that could significantly impair an organization is a legitimate concern. Although there has been an overall increase in awareness, there are still numerous organisations that fail to give cybersecurity the attention it warrants.
Many organisations face significant challenges when it comes to cybersecurity. These difficulties can range from a lack of understanding about the fundamentals of security to uncertainty about where to begin and how to secure buy-in from management. For those organisations with limited IT resources, the task of implementing effective cybersecurity measures can be particularly daunting.
Kickstarting the cybersecurity journey
The first step is to identify your security posture.
A security posture refers to the overall approach and measures taken by an organization to protect its assets, including people, information, and technology, from potential threats and vulnerabilities. It encompasses the policies, procedures, controls, and technologies that an organisation employs to secure its systems, data, and networks.
An effective security posture should help the organisation to detect, respond, and recover quickly and efficiently from any security breaches should they occur.
In today's dynamic threat landscape, it is crucial for organisations to assess and enhance their security posture to effectively counter cyberattacks and data breaches. This necessitates a continuous review and update of security measures to stay ahead of evolving threats.
By maintaining a resilient security posture, organisations can protect their valuable assets, mitigate risks, and establish credibility and confidence with their customers and stakeholders. It is imperative for organisations to prioritize the reinforcement of their security posture to ensure their long-term sustainability in an increasingly interconnected world.
The starting point: a cybersecurity discovery assessment
Establishing your cybersecurity posture requires a fair amount of work but it is not as challenging as you may think. Ideally, you would rope in expert advisors, like BMIT technologies, to help define your security posture and then assist with the execution of a plan of action.
BMIT’s cybersecurity discovery assessment is based on an important industry standard framework from the Centre for Internet Security (CIS). BMIT uses version 8 of the CIS Controls.
What are these controls?
The CIS controls are a set of best practices for securing IT systems and networks, and widely recognized as a leading framework for IT security.
How does it work?
The first step is to perform a thorough cybersecurity discovery assessment of your IT systems and networks. This will help you identify vulnerabilities, weaknesses, and potential attack vectors. Once you have identified these risks, you can prioritize your remediation efforts based on their severity and impact on your business.
The second step is to establish strong security policies and procedures that align with the CIS controls. This includes implementing password policies, access controls, patch management, and other key security measures that are in line with industry best practices. In addition, your employees should be trained on security awareness and procedures, so they can recognize and respond to security incidents.
The third step is to monitor and maintain your IT infrastructure on an ongoing basis. This includes regularly reviewing and updating your security policies and procedures to ensure they remain up-to-date and effective. Additionally, you should regularly monitor your IT systems and networks for signs of unauthorized access, or other security incidents. This can be achieved through the implementation of security tools and technologies such as intrusion detection and prevention systems and firewalls, for example.
In the event of a cyberattack, you need to have a response plan in place that can help mitigate the damage and quickly restore normal operations. This plan should include steps for identifying the source and nature of the attack, isolating and containing the affected systems and networks, and notifying the relevant authorities and stakeholders. Additionally, your response plan should include steps for recovering data and systems.
BMIT and your security posture
BMIT is an ideal partner to help you identify the security challenges in your organisation, fortify your infrastructure and environment and finally, be ready for a cyber attach or breach.
There are five steps in the process:
Audit, Assess & Review
BMIT conducts a thorough discovery exercise based on these controls to gain a deep understanding of your current IT infrastructure, data architecture and requirements. Based on this analysis, BMIT will determine the level of assessment required to identify any cybersecurity gaps.
Strategy & Design
After gathering all the information from the assessments, BMIT will deliver a strategic roadmap and provide actionable recommendations to mitigate the findings. Our experts will guide you through the entire process and explain the significance of each action required.
Enable & Deploy
The solution advisors and security engineering team will map out the requirements and time-frame to implement or deploy the solution/s. Deployment may occur in phases depending on the project's complexity and circumstances.
Manage & support
BMIT will manage the deployment as needed and provide full support to ensure the smooth execution and running of any solution or configuration. Once the project is completed, BMIT provide ongoing support and maintain the deployed solutions to ensure optimal performance.
Re-assess & Optimisation
BMIT's experts will continuously monitor and optimise your setup to ensure that your deployment remains secure and compliant. In addition, our experts will recommend changes or further configuration to maximise the deployment's potential.
The BMIT cybersecurity discovery assessment and guidance will help you transition from a reactive to a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Your organisation will be more prepared, aware, and ready to detect, respond to, and recover from any security incident quickly and effectively.
If you want to learn more about BMIT’s assessment and the benefits to your organisations, visit our website here or contact us to book your cybersecurity discovery assessment today.
In today's world, cybersecurity has become an increasingly important aspect for organizations of all sizes. With the rise of digital transformation, the number of cyber-attacks has also increased, making it imperative for organisations to take steps to secure their Microsoft environments. Hardening is a process of securing and reinforcing a computer system or network to reduce the risk of unauthorised access, abuse, or attack. In this article, I will discuss the importance of hardening Microsoft environments to enhance security.
Why Hardening Microsoft environments is important:
Protecting sensitive data: Microsoft environments contain sensitive information such as business critical data, financial information, customer data, and other confidential information. Hardening the environment helps to secure this information from unauthorised access and helps prevent data breaches.
Compliance: Many organisations are subject to regulatory requirements and standards that dictate the protection of sensitive information. Hardening Microsoft environments helps organisations meet these compliance requirements and avoid costly penalties and fines.
Reduced risk of cyber-attacks: By hardening Microsoft environments, organisations can reduce the risk of cyberattacks such as malware infections, phishing attacks, and other malicious activities. This helps to minimise the potential impact of a cyberattack on the organisation's operations and financial stability.
Improved network performance: Hardening Microsoft environments helps to improve network performance by reducing the risk of system downtime due to malware infections and other security incidents. This can lead to increased productivity and improved user satisfaction.
Steps to harden Microsoft environments:
Apply software updates and patches: Regularly applying software updates and patches helps to address known security vulnerabilities in Microsoft environments. This helps to prevent cyber criminals from exploiting these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access to systems and sensitive data.
Use strong authentication methods: Implementing strong authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) helps to prevent unauthorised access to systems and sensitive data. MFA requires users to provide two or more forms of authentication such as a password and a security token, making it more difficult for cyber criminals to gain access.
Implement a firewall: Installing a firewall helps to protect against external cyber threats by controlling the flow of incoming and outgoing network traffic. This helps to prevent cyber criminals from accessing systems and sensitive data.
Encrypt sensitive data: Encrypting sensitive data helps to protect it from unauthorised access, even if it is stolen or intercepted. This helps to minimise the potential impact of a data breach on the organisation.
Regularly perform security audits: Regular security audits help to identify vulnerabilities and potential security risks in Microsoft environments. This allows organisations to address these risks before they are exploited by cyber criminals.
Hardening Microsoft environments is an essential aspect of enhancing security for organisations. By taking steps to secure systems and sensitive data, organisations can reduce the risk of cyberattacks and comply with regulatory requirements. Regularly applying software updates and patches, using strong authentication methods, installing a firewall, encrypting sensitive data, and regularly performing security audits are just a few of the steps that organisations can take to harden their Microsoft environments. Implementing these best practices will help organisations protect against cyber threats and improve the overall security of their IT environment.
