As technology evolves, so is the need for businesses to reinforce cybersecurity measures. As software developers and information technology experts continue to fight cyber threats such as malware, ransomware, and different types of phishing, cyber hackers are also keeping up with these advances.  

When it comes to cyber hacking, it’s just a matter of when. Business organizations of all sizes can suffer from cybersecurity problems if the issue is not handled proactively. Whether you’re running a multimillion company or a fresh startup, here’s how you can outsmart cybercriminals and make their work more difficult.   

1. Consider I.T Outsourcing 

Cybersecurity requires continuous evaluation and updating, not to mention upgrading. If you don’t have at least one person to handle these concerns in-house, it’s best to hire third-party IT specialists. You can start looking for one in your area by searching cyber security Brisbane, for example.

Outsourcing your cybersecurity activities may look costly upfront, but a comparative analysis between hiring an in-house team and seeking on-demand services will show that your company is going to save more by outsourcing IT work.

Additionally, outsourcing cybersecurity services means you’re secured 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and could have access to customer service if something happens, even during emergency situations. I.T professionals have access to the latest technologies, and hiring their services means your company will benefit from these state-of-the-art devices and software, too.

2. Foster a Cybersecurity Culture   

Cybersecurity is the responsibility of everyone in the business organization. Organize at least an hour of cybersecurity training for your staff at least once a year, or include it as part of your orientation for newly-hired employees.   

A simple sharing of information about the dos and don’ts in promoting cybersecurity will do. For instance, you can remind your employees not to connect to a public Wi-Fi, or teach them how to identify phishing scams or emails. You should also send recent updates about issues such as hacking, cybersecurity tips, and other related information.    

3. Always Update Your Software 

Software developers are always on the lookout for security issues in their products. Cyber hackers work the same way, checking software and apps for loopholes and using these weaknesses to launch attacks. 

That being said, software companies issue updates regularly in the hopes of improving the system’s resilience to cyber threats. Make it imperative for your staff to install regular updates to ensure the safety of your company’s sensitive data. Complemented by other cybersecurity measures, you can rest assured that your data stays secure.   

4. Activate Multi-Factor Authentication 

Some may think of this as an unnecessary layer of extra security, but a two-factor identification (2FA) can be effective in averting cyberattacks. Hackers have become so advanced these days that they can access complex surveillance systems.  So, when it comes to cybersecurity, you should leave no stone unturned, as the saying goes.   

To the uninitiated, 2FA requires you to enter your password, which by the way, you also need to change frequently, and add another set of credentials which could either be a fingerprint, a one-time password, or a code.   

It’s more advisable to upgrade to multi-factor authentication, which requires more than two authentication methods. This improvement generally gives added security to your account. If you’d rather stick to passwords, consider having a password managing app that has built-in encryption to make them safe from cyberhackers.    

5. Avail of Advanced Cybersecurity Systems  

According to industry studies, enterprises with robust cybersecurity prevention methods can save up to $1.4 million for every cyberattack failure, making cybersecurity a worthwhile investment. 

We’re bringing this to the table since the next suggestion may require shelling out large amounts of cash. And we’re talking about availing of a machine learning cybersecurity system. It sounds fancy and may carry a hefty price tag.  

Cybercriminals have become highly sophisticated in their craft, and they sometimes find it too easy to breach cybersecurity structures built by some companies. That’s likely due to the fact that current cybersecurity applications are quite static and easy to break through.

With machine learning, cybersecurity systems can actively analyze and predict cyberattack patterns and respond proactively. Machine learning can identify the ever-changing patterns employed by cybercriminals in getting through security systems and protect your system in real-time.     

6. Enable Confidential Computing 

Companies have found a new approach to cybersecurity and it’s called confidential computing. This new approach refers to a new technology that enables data isolation while it’s being processed. A data that’s being processed makes it vulnerable to hacking because it needs to be unencrypted. Confidential computing works by encrypting your data even during operations. The central processing unit (CPU) performs this isolation, with the data in question remaining inaccessible to a program or a person.     

The Bottom Line 

There are diverse techniques that could help businesses strengthen their cybersecurity systems. The implementation of these methods will depend on the setup and capacity of your organization. 

Even small businesses need a cybersecurity plan, whether they have a few computers connected to Wi-Fi or they have a larger network. With the increasing likelihood of becoming the victim of a cyberattack, small businesses simply can’t leave their network unsecured. 

An unsecure network can lead to customer data being leaked, proprietary information being stolen, or data being held hostage by ransomware. Any of these can lead to lost revenue and have a huge financial toll on a small business.

Part of any good cybersecurity plan is assessing how well that plan works. Once a small business moves past the planning and implementation stage of creating a network security plan, they should establish a process of continual evaluation of how successful that plan is. 

One effective way to see how well a cybersecurity plan is functioning is to incorporate the use of penetration testing, also known as pentest. In pen testing, a professional ethical hacker will probe a network for vulnerabilities and determine how those vulnerabilities might be exploited. 

Pen testing can be expensive because it requires paying a professional for their services. These services might not be cheap, but pen testing even on a semi-annual or annual basis is better than nothing. 

Pen testing offers a number of benefits to small businesses; here’s how incorporating periodic pen testing can help protect yours. 

Regulatory Requirements

Many industries have governmental regulations that require a certain level of cybersecurity. One example is in retail sales which accept credit cards, called the PCI DSS. Vendors who take customer credit card data or store credit card info are required to meet minimum standards.

Compliance is a word you may have heard in reference to regulations, but you may not know what it means. Compliance in the cybersecurity world means following the regulations and industry standards set for your industry.

Noncompliance can be very costly, both in fines and if your business suffers a breach and you become the subject of lawsuits by customers whose data has been compromised. 

Pen testers can help you ensure you’re meeting industry standards for safeguarding customer data. They can tell you where your critical vulnerabilities are and how to fix them so your better able to protect your customers.

Help Secure Your Network

Nobody wants malicious actors poking around their company network. They could steal customer data, or, as has become the case, can encrypt your business data and demand a ransom for it. They can also install viruses and other malware that slows your systems down or steals data as well.

Pen testers work by identifying gaps where savvy cybercriminals can get into your network. These vulnerabilities aren’t necessarily identifiable through just vulnerability scans by your IT department. Many times, companies don’t find out about those gaps until it’s far too late. 

Instead of being reactive, small businesses can be proactive by seeking out the services of a qualified pen tester. Getting a jump on the security holes in your network defense plan can help a company avoid issues later on as a result of being hacked. 

Avoid Ransomware

As seen in the recent Colonial Pipelines hack, cybercriminals are often using a tactic called ransomware. In this method of cyber attack, criminals gain access to stored data (often a lot of stored data), and encrypt it. 

Encrypting this data simply means they lock it up so nobody but they can access it through the use of a special decryption key. In order to get their data decrypted, the victims of a ransomware attack have to pay the hackers. This could be a relatively small fee for very small businesses to millions of dollars for large corporations.

Employing a pen tester periodically can help mitigate ransomware by identifying the areas in your small business’s network that could allow hackers to get in. Pen testers can find those vulnerabilities and help you come up with a plan to close them. 

Ransomware is particularly insidious because it directly affects your company’s bottom line, not to mention when hackers use it to steal confidential medical information, as is often the case. Paying a relatively small amount to a pen tester now can save thousands or even millions of dollars in extortion fees later. 

Don’t Skip Pen Testing – It’s Critical

At the end of the day, pen testing is going to pay dividends for your small business. Not only is it often a regulatory requirement, it helps save your company money and helps you protect private customer information. Some clients may even require proof of pen testing prior to doing business with you.

With ransomware attacks on the rise and a world where hackers are getting better and better at penetrating defenses, you should consider hiring a pentester. It’s better to find vulnerabilities now and work on getting them fixed, instead of learning about them the hard way later on. In this instance, an ounce of prevention is certainly worth a pound of cure.