The cybersecurity landscape is ever-changing and challenging. The start of 2023 is an excellent time for businesses to take stock of their privacy and security policies, procedures, and defenses and evaluate their preparedness to respond to an attack.
Use the security and IT checklist below to see how prepared you are:
Implement MFA (multi-factor authentication)
Implement multi-factor authentication on email systems, desktops, servers, mobile devices, and any administrative or privileged account. A simple password system is not enough to keep unwanted trespassers out. Multi-factor authentication requires at least two pieces of information to authenticate a user before allowing them access to software or a network resource.
Maintain and Test Backups
In the event of a catastrophic event or a malicious attack, your best defense is a good solid backup of your data. Deploy strong backup and retention processes and test them. Don’t assume they are working. Instead, perform test restores to ensure all your files are accounted for and viable. Consider using immutable storage options, including cloud backups, tape, thumb drives, and optical storage, which may not be accessible by intruders.
Keep in mind RTO (recovery time objective), the amount of time a system or data can be down before negatively impacting your business, and RPO (recovery point objective), the amount of time that may pass where the amount of data lost exceeds the company’s allowable “threshold.” Make sure that both RTO and RPO align with the business’s expectations and understand costs associated with meeting these objectives. Calculate these two items into your backup plans.
Endpoint (EDR) Security
EDR refers to securing and monitoring endpoints (points of entry into your corporate network), watching for intruders and suspicious activity, and responding immediately to threats. EDR may be handled through automation or manually. Make sure information coming from your EDR solution is reviewed by your team or, more likely, a managed security operations (SOC) partner to help ensure signs of abnormal activity aren’t being missed.
Email Security
A high number of security incidents began with a phishing email. Install email scanning software to protect all incoming messages and scan for viruses, malware, and suspicious solicitation. Educate your employees on the dangers and how to respond.
User Awareness Training
User awareness training is a critical component of your security system. Training your staff to be aware of cybersecurity threats increases your chances of preventing attacks and intrusions. Running phishing campaigns and annual (at least) training videos are good places to start. Deputize your entire company to create a formidable first line of defense.
Know Your Risk Score
To be fully prepared, you must know where your vulnerabilities lie. Assessing risk is crucial in allowing an organization to fully understand gaps and build a plan to prioritize response areas. In addition, a risk assessment can assist in building a roadmap to demonstrate how an organization can reach their target level of security. How does one do this? In order to complete a comprehensive risk assessment, it is important to have a professional first gather and assess data that exposes vulnerabilities and then work with the organization to create a comprehensive plan to address them.
Update Policies, Procedures, Standards, and User Access
Now is the time to review all policies, procedures, and standards and bring them up to date to match current threats and cybersecurity best practices. Pay particular attention to user access and implement a need-only user access policy. Limit who has access to your most valuable assets and data.
Create a Disaster Recovery Plan & Test It
Create a disaster recovery plan and test your strategies before you need them. Assign specific tasks to key players and run a full incident response/disaster recovery simulation to test every aspect and improve from there.
For more information on how to secure your business, contact Socium Solutions today. Socium is a comprehensive security-focused Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) transforming business through technology.