Cybersecurity is a growing concern among businesses, especially with the increasing prevalence of cyberattacks. In fact, the average number of cyberattacks per company rose to 270 attacks in 2021 from 206 in 2020. So if you're not taking steps to protect your business, you're putting yourself at risk of huge revenue losses, reputational damage, and hefty penalties resulting from noncompliance with relevant regulations.
To safeguard your company data and IT systems, you should implement these three types of security controls.
Preventive Security Controls
These refer to measures aimed at preventing attacks from happening in the first place. Examples of preventive controls include the following list (we know, it's long...but we wanted to be thorough!):
Vulnerability Testing
Conducting vulnerability testing allows you to identify, assess, and mitigate vulnerabilities in your system. By regularly scanning for and patching vulnerabilities, you can reduce the risk of attack.
Firewall
A firewall allows or blocks incoming and outgoing traffic between your company’s internal network and the outside world based on a set of predetermined rules
Spam Protection
Spam filters protect your company inbox from unwanted and potentially dangerous emails. These filters prevent phishing emails containing malware from reaching your inbox and infecting your systems.
Encryption
Encryption converts data into a coded format that only users with the decryption key can decode. By encrypting your data, you can protect it from being accessed by unauthorized users, even if it's intercepted in transit.
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
An IAM system allows you to control which users get access to your company's data and systems and what level of access you want them to have. It can be used to give employees and other third parties, like contractors, the minimum amount of access they need to do their job. By restricting user access, you can effectively contain any damage from a compromised user account.
Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA requires users to present two or more forms of identification (i.e., factors) when logging into a system. This makes it more difficult for hackers to gain account access, as they would need to provide all the required factors to do so.
Network Segmentation
Segmenting your network entails partitioning your network into more manageable segments. This makes it easier to control and monitor traffic, and limits the spread of any malicious activity should one segment get compromised.
Security Awareness Training
Security awareness training can help employees develop good security habits, such as creating strong passwords, not reusing passwords, immediately applying software updates, and locking their devices when unattended.
By undergoing this training, employees will also learn how to spot phishing emails and other common cybersecurity threats to help reduce their chances of falling for these attacks. When properly trained, they will be more skilled at detecting suspicious activities and know how to respond properly.
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Related reading: Why Security Awareness Training is Important for your Business |
Detective Security Controls
The following controls are those that help you identify and respond to attacks that are already occurring:
Video Surveillance
A video surveillance system captures digital images and videos, enabling you to monitor activity in and around your premises.
Intrusion Detection System (IDS)
An IDS monitors your network for suspicious activity and sends alerts when it detects something unusual.
Anti-Malware Software
Anti-malware software protects your systems from malware infections by identifying and removing malicious files.
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM)
A SIEM system collects and analyzes data from your various security devices, such as firewalls, IDSs, and anti-malware software, to identify potential security issues before these issues disrupt business operations.
Corrective Security Controls
These refer to measures that mitigate the potential impacts of an attack and allow businesses to resume regular operations.
Incident Response Plan
This is a set of procedures that outline how to deal with a security incident. By having a plan in place, you can ensure that incidents are dealt with quickly and effectively, minimizing the impact on your business.
Data Backup and Recovery System
This system helps protect your data from being lost or corrupted by making copies of it and storing these copies in a safe location. In the event of an attack, you can use these backups to restore your data and get your business up and running again quickly.
It’s never too late to improve security measures for your company. As they say, the best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago, but the second best time is now. The same applies to the ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape, as there are constantly new developments. Whether that’s new cyber threats or new security measures that you can put in place to prevent those cyber threats from affecting your company.
Charles IT can implement and manage these three types of security controls for you. With our help, you can rest easy knowing that security experts are on top of your company's cybersecurity. Schedule an appointment with us today!
