Step up your cyber game today

Having a solid cybersecurity strategy in place is more than a modern business best practice. It’s essential. Just look at the facts: cybercrime is expected to cause $6 trillion in damages globally in 2021. And, if you experience an attack, it could spell financial ruin for your business. In 2020, the average cost of a data breach was $3.86 million. The average cost of a ransomware attack is $233,000. In 2021, cyberhackers will inflict a ransomware attack on a business every 11 seconds.

Unless you already have iron-clad cyber protection in place, now is the time to step up your cyber game. Here’s what you can do.

Fortify your most important line of defense – your employees

Human error and a lack of awareness surrounding cybersecurity threats are responsible for the majority of data breaches.

The solution? Engage employees. Provide regular cybersecurity training. And make sure they are well versed in the fundamentals. They should know how to recognize phishing emails, change their passwords regularly, and what they should do if they notice anything suspicious.

Create a fool-proof BYOD policy

With more than half of the U.S. workforce working remotely in 2020 and 2021, most companies allow their employees to use a personal device to work at this point. Suppose your employees are logging on to your network on their personal laptops at home or on their smartphones. In that case, you need to make sure your BYOD policy includes a robust set of cybersecurity rules.

A cyber-secure policy should include the following:

Data access rules – Employees can only use approved apps for work. Every time they use unapproved apps, a practice known as shadow IT, they put company data at risk.
User access – Make it clear who can access specific business apps through a BYOD endpoint and what data is safe to access.
Data protection – Store company data on a remote server that can only be accessed through a virtual private network or your computer network. Only personal data should be stored on personal devices.
Authentication – Users should be following authentication best practices such as using long passwords, changing them regularly, and using two-factor authentication where possible.
MAM or MDM – Your BYOD policy should include a way to lock a lost or stolen device remotely or wipe all the data. Make sure you use mobile application management or mobile device management as part of your cybersecurity strategy.

Be diligent about testing and monitoring

Another way to up your cyber game is to ensure you have the proper ongoing and routine testing and monitoring practices. To prevent a cyberattack, your business should have 24/7 network monitoring so you can detect attacks early. Regular vulnerability tests, software patches, and security assessments are also essential.

Handling cybersecurity on your own can be difficult if you don’t have the proper in-house IT resources. But, this is one area of your business that you can’t afford to cut corners with.

Get peace of mind that your company is doing everything it can to be protected against a cyberattack. Partner with an IT service provider specializing in creating tailored cybersecurity plans for businesses. You’ll benefit from proactive strategies, employee training, and IT support from trusted experts. Contact GB Tech today.