Cyber security or IT security refers to the methods and strategies used for protecting computer and information systems, networks, software, and hardware from unauthorized access, theft, damage, and misuse. The IT infrastructure of an organization is the driving factor behind its success; if your business’s cyberspace is vulnerable to attack, it can damage your reputation and cause loss in the bottom line and revenue.
The need for setting up effective cyber security protocols and updating existing ones is crucial as more and more security breaches occur. Here’s how you can enhance and improve your organization’s cyber security.
· Carry out a IT Security Risk Assessment
First and foremost, you need to understand your IT infrastructure and evaluate it to identify any loopholes and security gaps. Ensure that you follow all the guidelines as specified by the IT industry and weigh your risks.
· Conduct a Network Audit
To make sure that your organization’s network is protected against external and internal threats, carry out a network audit. A network audit will help you to evaluate any potential problems and weaknesses in your business’s network system and rectify them.
· Manage Your Vendors
Your vendors and the other organizations you deal with also play an important role in improving or degrading your cyber security. Hence, it’s always wise to know the practices and policies of the organization you pass on vital information to.
· Backup Your Data
This is something which should never be ignored. Just as you backup your personal data, you have to make it a habit of backing up your organization’s vital information as well. The way to go about this route is to select a data storage plan that works best for you.
By regular backups, your data will remain protected in the event of a major security breach. Even if you lose it, you can always recover it easily.
· Update Your Software
It goes without saying that updating software is extremely crucial; but why? Cyber criminals are continuously searching for different ways to gain unauthorized access to your organization’s IT infrastructure and one of them lies in outdated software.
Software manufacturers release patches to address important loopholes and bugs that can prove fatal for the security of a company. Hence, you should develop a policy to perform regular updates for various applications and software utilized in your firm.
· Establish a Training Program
The security of your organization doesn’t only rest on your shoulders; it is also the duty and responsibility of your workforce. You need to setup an effective cyber security training program for your employees and educate them about how businesses are vulnerable to different internet security threats and the multiple ways to prevent them.
You also need to establish contingency plans in the event of an imminent attack and educate your staff about the different steps they can take if they have been the victims of cyber criminals.
