Government, military, retail, finance and healthcare organizations generate and store vast quantities of sensitive data on their computer systems – this may include personal details, financial records or intellectual property rights: Cyber Security Services.
Training employees on security topics is an effective way to combat negligence that may result in costly breaches. An all-encompassing cybersecurity plan also includes Business Continuity Planning and Incident Response as components.
Data Security
Data security involves protecting digital assets against threats like malware and hacking, protecting physical space where data resides and implementing policies and procedures designed to safeguard sensitive information.
A comprehensive data security strategy should include tools that ensure only authorized people have access to your information, including password protection, encryption and the deletion of obsolete records when no longer needed. In addition, employees should be fully apprised of company policies as well as trained in how to recognize social engineering attacks.
Human error remains one of the primary sources of data breaches and hacks, so training your team on password hygiene and understanding security procedures is one way to limit risks. Furthermore, regular system tests as well as creating an incident response plan will minimize impact and allow for speedy data recovery when incidents do arise. For more resources related to data security check out this FSA Cybersecurity page dedicated specifically for schools.
Network Security
Cyber security encompasses an expansive set of tools and techniques used to safeguard computers, servers, mobile devices, networks and data from malicious attacks. This can include IT security policies and threat control technologies like firewalls and load balancers – not to mention software and hardware designed to prevent malware infections – among many others.
Vulnerability management is a vital element of network security. This involves identifying, prioritizing, remediating and reporting vulnerabilities found within systems through regular penetration tests, scans and assessments as well as web application security measures such as secure coding or SSL/TLS protocols.
Intellectual property protection is another essential aspect of cyber security. This ensures that your ideas, inventions and products remain proprietary – keeping competitors at bay. Furthermore, protecting intellectual property reduces financial risks from stolen customer information, sales numbers or business strategies being stolen by thieves. Many organizations must abide by data protection regulations such as HIPAA or EU’s General Data Protection Regulation if required to operate legally.
Business Continuity Planning
Business continuity planning (BCP) typically covers natural disasters; however, it should also account for cyberattacks. An attack could have lasting ramifications on any company impacted, from reduced revenue and brand damage to loss of customer confidence and lost customers. While it might be tempting to leave cybersecurity solely up to IT, its incorporation should be integrated into all areas of BCP planning process.
An effective BCP begins with impact analysis and risk evaluation, recovery strategies to mitigate damage, and remediation plans designed to limit their spread. Cybersecurity professionals can offer invaluable expertise during these processes and assist in developing an inclusive BCP that addresses all threats.
Once a plan has been developed, employees should receive training on how to respond if an incident arises. This helps minimize confusion when an attack takes place and ensure that everyone understands their roles and responsibilities during such times as well as provide confidence that the company can deal with unexpected disruptions effectively.
Identity & Access Management
Cyberattacks can wreak havoc on any organization by stealing personal information and data, disrupting services and ruining reputation. One way to defend against this damage is deploying identity and access management tools within your organization.
These tools enable you to verify a user’s identity, grant controlled access to network resources and track user and device activity. They also can be used for PAM management – which manages permissions for special accounts such as admins who oversee databases or systems.
IAM tools offer security through policies and software designed to minimize user access-related risks in the company. Many solutions in IAM offer features to streamline security processes, such as single sign-on for quick and easy access while decreasing repeated logins that hinder productivity. Automation also helps relieve strain on IT departments while leading to financial savings; furthermore these tools support MITRE ATT&CK framework – an annotated catalog of attack tactics and techniques derived from documented real-world observation of attacks.
