What comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘business resilience’? Perhaps financial stability is your core concern—will you have enough cash flow to sustain operations during disruptions? Customer retention is probably up there, too; keeping them satisfied and loyal during challenging times could either ensure your future or jeopardize it.
Secure technology, however, probably isn’t as high on that list as it should be, considering how often it tests your business’s ability to bounce back. Lacking IT leaves you vulnerable. Vulnerability leads to cyber-attacks, and cyber-attacks can cause significant financial losses, reputational damage, and operational disruptions—all those things a resilient business needs to avoid.
Avoiding these stumbling blocks is possible, and it starts with strategic cyber security. Read on to enhance your preparedness and overcome resilience obstacles with ease.
Is Your Current Cyber Security Strategic or Slap-Dash?
Before we dive into best practices, it’s important to understand where you might be going wrong. See which of these two categories your existing cyber defenses fall into:
Strategic Cyber Security
- Do you conduct comprehensive risk assessments regularly?
- Are you reviewing and implementing the most up-to-date cyber security best practices?
- Do your employees undergo frequent cyber security training?
- Are your software and systems running the latest versions, with automatic updates enabled?
- Do you have clear incident response and recovery plans in place, updated frequently?
Slap-Dash Cyber Security
- Are your cyber security measures ad hoc and reactive, tacked on whenever a new issue arises?
- Do your team rely on basic passwords stored on Post-its or in the Notes app?
- Was your last company-wide cyber security training more than a year ago?
- Do you dismiss software update notifications faster than we can say ‘danger!’?
- Could your incident response plan best be described as ‘cross-your-fingers-and-hope-it-doesn’t-happen’?
If you can truly say your existing measures fall into category A, you can stop reading now. Give yourself a pat on the back, or reward yourself with a snack, and check out our other blog posts—like this one on multi-factor authentication or this one on incident response planning. For the majority of you, though…
Let’s Get Strategic: 5 Cutting-Edge Cyber Security Measures Worth Implementing
- Advanced Threat Detection Systems
Advanced threat detection systems utilize machine learning and artificial intelligence to identify and mitigate potential threats before they cause harm.
These systems provide real-time monitoring and analysis of network traffic using sophisticated algorithms. Compared to their entry-level alternatives, they can identify and respond to suspicious activities, like a user sign-in from an unusual location, more quickly, preventing breaches and downtime.
Partnering with a cyber security-focused IT company can help implement these systems with minimal disruption, ensuring they integrate seamlessly with your existing infrastructure.
- Comprehensive Data Encryption
Data encryption involves converting data into a code to prevent unauthorized access. This applies to data at rest (stored data) and data in transit (data being transferred). Encryption ensures that even if data’s intercepted, it remains unreadable, leaving your confidential information safe and secure.
Don’t worry, you don’t have to be a cryptographer to access your files. Permitted users will have decryption keys that usually operate automatically in the background. Since it’ll have no impact on how they use technology, your team won’t find this measure disruptive. They probably won’t even notice it’s in place, but empty-handed cyber-criminals certainly will.
An IT company specializing in cyber security can assist in deploying and managing encryption keys securely, providing ongoing support to maintain a suitable level of encryption across your digital assets.
- Zero Trust Architecture
Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA) is a security model that assumes no trust for any entity inside or outside the network. Every access request is thoroughly verified before granting permissions.
ZTA platforms like ThreatLocker® reduce the risk of internal and external threats by continuously validating user identity and access levels. It helps ensure that only authorized personnel can access critical systems and data. As such, it can be particularly useful for SMBs in industries like financial services and manufacturing, who handle highly regulated data in stringent IT environments.
Implementing ZTA can be complex, but a cyber security-focused IT provider can design and deploy a Zero Trust framework tailored to your business needs, ensuring minimal operational disruption.
- Incident Response and Recovery Planning
Incident response planning involves creating a structured approach for handling and recovering from cyber security incidents. This includes identifying potential attack vectors (places you might be vulnerable to hacks), establishing response protocols, and defining practical recovery steps.
A well-defined incident response plan means that, in the case of cyber-attacks, quick recovery and continuity of operations are possible. It helps maintain customer trust and reduces financial losses, and helps mitigate chaos amongst your team. Rather than panicking, they know exactly what needs to occur, and their role in making it happen.
Cyber security experts can help develop and test comprehensive incident response plans, conduct regular drills, and provide training to ensure your team is prepared for any eventuality.
- Regular Security Audits and Compliance Checks
Security audits and compliance checks involve evaluating your cyber security measures to ensure they meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
Regular audits help identify vulnerabilities and areas for improvement, ensuring your cyber security posture remains strong. Compliance checks then ensure your security measures and processes meet legal and regulatory obligations, avoiding potential fines and legal issues.
Engaging with a cyber security-focused IT company for regular audits and compliance checks ensures you stay updated with the latest security standards and best practices.
For Small Businesses, Security and Strategy Go Hand in Hand
It’s time to stop relying on a slap-dash approach to cyber security. Bolting on protections only after issues arise is a surefire way to cause business disruption and damage that, one day, you might not recover from. Instead, make strategic preparedness a priority. By integrating cyber security measures that closely align with your business, you can better protect your digital assets, ensure operational continuity, and maintain customer trust.
For more information and to fully protect your business, consider teaming up with a cyber security-focused service provider. Their expertise can help you navigate the complexities of digital safety, ensuring your business stays resilient and secure.
Tier 3 IT Solutions: Trusted Managed IT and Cyber Security Partners in Edmonton and Alberta
Our mission is to empower businesses in Edmonton and Alberta to get the best from what technology has to offer them. From IT strategy and support to cyber security solutions, our expert team is equipped with over 30 years of experience helping local SMBs thrive.
To learn more about enhancing your cyber security posture, don’t hesitate to reach out for a call with our president, Jesse. Your business’s safety and success depend on staying ahead of cyber threats, and we can help you do just that.
