Cyberattacks can disrupt your business operations. And if you do not have a structured cybersecurity approach in your company, how exactly do you want to stand up to the bad actors?
Internet Live Stats has revealed that more than 145TB of internet traffic occurs per second—-an indication that the internet is deeply rooted in all aspects of modern life. And just as merchants in those days were sometimes attacked and their goods stolen, digital business owners can fall under cybercriminals’ attacks.
The most critical aspect is that you may not know when this attack could occur. A hacker could be causing real havoc on your network without you knowing it, and the damage could only become evident after you have completely lost the business.
An attack could be launched by leveraging an unsuspecting employee to gain access to a network. However, you can take preventive measures to completely hamper the hackers’ activities.
To ensure you have a structured cybersecurity approach, deploy the SASE architecture.
SASE is a network and security architecture that deploys multiple cloud-native security technologies such as Firewall as a service (FWaaS), Secure Web Gateways (SWG), Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA), Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), and WAN capabilities such as Software-defined Wide Area Network (SD-WAN) to build secure connections to systems, endpoints, services, and applications from various locations.
SASE incorporates a wide array of network security solutions with SD-WAN to enhance performance and accessibility as resources are used from various locations and at different times. You can read more here.
You can do more to keep hackers from accessing your data.
1. Use Encryption Security for Data
Use encryption solutions to secure data from being accessible to hackers. Encryption software like VPNs will protect sensitive data such as client/customer credit cards, employee records, and financial data or statements from being accessed by unwarranted persons or devices.
Hackers and cyber attackers often implement processes that make it possible to track user data while being transmitted between users. Leveraging encryption solutions will make it difficult to track or use resources. Even when intercepted by hackers, they cannot interpret it without having the encryption key to secure it.
2. Multi-Factor or Two-Step Authentication Method
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) includes using more than one method to gain network access. For instance, a potential request may require users to verify their password and receive a one-time code through their mobile devices.
So, even if an employee loses their device or a hacker can access their password, it will still pose a huge challenge for the hacker to access their secure resources. Hence, MFA has been reported to offer more than 95% protection to corporate networks.
Most service providers also provide two-factor authentication. However, it is important to verify. If you are not receiving this as part of your package, consider other security alternatives.
3. Apply the Principle of Least Privilege
The rule of the least privilege relates to implementing privileges on a need-to-know basis. It ensures that the organization provides tangible and intangible benefits from end to end. And if a compromise occurs, threat actors will be resisted and contained to minimize the spread across the network.
Some tools and strategies include separating privileges and systems hardening, Network segmentation, and Privilege Access Management. Begin with operating different accounts for privileged users. For instance, employees could have a separate corporate account for production with passwords different from the one for routine tasks such as timesheets, emails, intranet, etc.
The Zero Trust framework plays a key role in the application of least privileges. It restricts access based on identity prioritizing authorization and authentication processes upon every access request. Unlike legacy security solutions that offer free access to every resource after an initial authorization process, Zero trust only grants access to restricted resources per time.
4. Employee Education
Your employees will determine the strength of your security infrastructure. If they aren’t well informed on actions to take when faced with a potential data breach or phishing situation, they could take actions that will blow up your security infrastructure and come with dire consequences. However, regular training will boost proactive measures to secure the network. For instance, ensure that the web is used with restrictions to certain platforms. And also control email use from servers or while using administrative privileges.
5. Analyze Your System Vulnerabilities and Risks
Take an integrated approach to secure your network against attacks while involving every aspect of your organization, including implementing processes, procedures, and technical measures such as antivirus software and firewalls. You should capture and visualize the various security risks and gaps in your organization to uncover the hazards, vulnerabilities, and mitigation measures in relation to the overall architecture, assets, and business strategy to ensure a reliable security strategy.
Visualize and measure the potential impact of the risks and leverage the insights to prioritize investments and initiate measures for a stronger security framework. Come up with a simple, easy-to-deploy solution that helps users and employees who aren’t really techy.