With the ever-changing cyber security landscape, a simple firewall is no longer enough to protect your business against malicious cyber attacks. Does your company have a top-down cyber security policy in place?
Cybercrime is becoming big business and extremely lucrative for criminals across the globe. Without proper planning and protection, it isn’t a matter of if your business will be attacked, but when. Business owners are responsible for building a strong cyber security culture within the company especially as more and more businesses move to cloud based storage. With cybercrime growing from a small inconvenience to legitimate business risk, often dishing out a fatal blow, businesses must consider a stronger ethos regarding cyber security.
According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, up to 20% of small businesses experience some form of attack, whether they know it or not, and 60% of those are forced to close within 6 months after the original hack. Small business owners have to adapt to these new times and building a solid plan to deal with cyber attacks is a must.
Here are some pointers on where you can start.
- Policy should drive your company’s cyber security practices. The understanding, approval and enforcement are key to your success. It’s not only a matter of writing it, you must practice what you preach and stick to your plan.
- A company’s data is its most valuable asset. You need to know where it is, how it’s stored and how it is being protected at all times. Ransomware attacks are on the rise and can seriously cripple even the most solid business. Ensure you have a plan to recover it if something goes wrong.
- Your cyber infrastructure is vital to any sort of defense network. This means that if it’s connected, then it must be protected. Obviously, every business is different, however, you need to have a good IT infrastructure that can withstand attacks.
- People are actually the weakest link in your cyber defense. If they have not been trained correctly then who knows what common threats and phishing software they can fall victim to. It’s important that the business owner provides adequate cyber security training and that protocols are upheld.
With a strong policy in place, the correct training, proactive data source management, and in-depth knowledge of company data practices, businesses stand a much better chance at defending against malicious cyber attacks. As well as mitigating the damage of such an attack.
We help Australian companies build cyber resilience while delivering innovative solutions. Contact us today if you need help developing a cyber security policy or updating the policy you currently have by ensuring it’s the best to protect your company. Learn more within our Services.
