Safeguard Your Business Operations and Data Using Key Cybersecurity Practices

Business Endpoints

All endpoints in a business, including mobile devices, IoT devices, laptops, printers, etc., are at risk from attackers. Mobile devices are a key focus area as they offer a way into a network if used to access corporate apps and data. Even printers can be a potential point of attack. A report on printer security by analyst firm Quocirca found that 67% of organizations experienced data loss due to insecure printing practices. Quocirca also points out that AI is increasing the security concerns of companies.

Business Network

Your network is a prime target for cyberattackers as it is the backbone of your business. A Sophos report found that 29% of companies with fewer than 250 employees experienced ransomware attacks that exploited vulnerabilities.

The Cloud

Cloud computing provides the infrastructure needed to perform work anywhere and at any time. This has revolutionized working practices. However, according to research from Thales, credential and stolen secrets are the fastest-growing cloud infrastructure attack tactic.

Apps

The average company uses around 93 apps, according to Okta research. While an SMB typically uses 30-60% fewer apps than its larger counterparts, the numbers are growing. One of the drivers of increased app use is shadow IT, which refers to the use of unsanctioned apps by employees. The shadow apps cause visibility issues, resulting in uncontrolled access and data sharing. Moreover, shadow apps may contain vulnerabilities that are, again, outside the control of the organization.

Data

Data is the ultimate target for cybercriminals. As a valuable commodity and critical resource, cybercriminals can use it to leverage ransom payments or sell it on to other cybercriminals via the dark web.

Employees

Staff are also a business area that carries risk. The risks come from both accidental and malicious data breaches and leaks. According to a report from Cybersecurity Insiders, 71% of organizations are vulnerable to insider threats. Human error can cause data leaks that lead to non-compliance fines, lost reputation, and potentially follow-on attacks that use the data for attack intelligence.

Control Access and Authorization

Cyberattackers take advantage of poorly controlled access. If an attacker can gain even low-level privileged access to a network or app, they can then escalate privileges to gain admin-level access rights. This will lead to a full compromise of a company, resulting in various attack scenarios, including ransomware infection, other malware infections, account takeover (ATO), and damage to IT infrastructure. Measures to help prevent the exploitation of employee login credentials include the use of the principle of least privilege (PoLP). PoLP is used to ensure that employees have only the privileges they need to perform their role.

Privileged access controls are governed using Privileged Access Management (PAM) solutions. These PAM tools set user privileges and automate the provisioning and deprovisioning of employees as they enter the workforce or leave. PAM can also enforce Just-in-Time (JiT) privileges, which are used as part of a zero-trust security approach. JiT assigns access privileges dynamically, as required. Other access control measures include multi-factor authentication (MFA). Passwordless authentication is increasingly employed using passkeys.

Secure the Network

Zero-trust network access (ZTNA) is a technology that enforces zero-trust security. ZTNA verifies every access request across the expanded network, including endpoint devices, before allowing access with the right level of privileges. Other network security measures should include regular vulnerability assessments to identify potential security gaps. Regular and prompt patching can help to alleviate vulnerabilities. However, not all vulnerabilities are known (zero-day vulnerabilities), and so other measures, including firewalls and regular network monitoring, should be deployed.

Secure the Cloud and SaaS

Cloud security best practices must be used to prevent data theft and protect your online resources. One of the best ways to manage cloud-based data is to control shadow IT apps. That is, apps that are not approved by your business for employee use. Solutions that manage access privileges can help to restrict the use of SaaS apps. Mobile Device Management (MDM) software can also help to restrict app downloads on endpoints. A vital measure is the use of robust identity management and access controls, as mentioned above. Another essential security measure is to prevent attacks on the application programming interfaces (APIs) that connect cloud components. Encryption of data at rest and during transfer is another critical security measure for cloud-based data. Because several measures are necessary to protect the cloud and SaaS applications, a company should explore unified cloud management solutions.

Secure All Endpoints

Modern networks no longer have distinct perimeters. Instead, the perimeter is stretched and broken by multiple endpoints. Security best practices in managing endpoint risks include ensuring that your organization has visibility into all endpoints that connect to the corporate network or via the cloud. This visibility involves the identification, classification, and management of edge devices, such as mobile phones and laptops. Endpoint management can be achieved using MDM, which also provides some security measures, like ensuring devices are patched. Other security measures for endpoints include the use of next-generation antivirus software (NGAV) and virtual private networks (VPNs).

Secure Your Data

Data protection encompasses all of the previously mentioned measures. Because data is literally everywhere in terms of business operations, the use of holistic, unified, and comprehensive security measures is essential to protect data. To reiterate, data protection measures must include access controls, robust authentication, privilege management, and encryption.

Other security practices include email filtering, which prevents phishing and other malicious emails; data loss prevention (DLP), which stops sensitive data from leaving the corporate network; and data backup, which helps mitigate the impact of a ransomware attack.

A notable technology that can help mitigate the impact of stolen data or vulnerabilities is the use of dark web monitoring software, such as Sentinex. This software looks for evidence of stolen company secrets and other data. The solution also identifies any communications on the dark web that share company information in readiness for an attack.

Educate Your Employees

As many risks come from human error, security awareness training is another essential security practice. Security awareness training educates staff to help them identify and prevent phishing attacks. The training also ensures that employees understand what risky security behaviors are and how to change those behaviors to improve security. For example, the importance of a secure home Wi-Fi connection, using a VPN, the vital nature of good password hygiene, and how to abide by password use policies, as well as safe browsing habits.