Wiredelta

10 Ways To Minimize Cyber Security Risks

As software is eating and feeding the world, cyber security is an ever-growing challenge for organizations across the globe. That is why we have collected the 10 best practices to avoid the unthinkable to happen:

 

1. Always, always, use the latest security patches

Hackers don’t need much to make their way into your system. All it takes is just a tiny gap. That’s why it is vital to have regular scans of your security systems. In addition, it is also important to keep all software updated with patches. Interestingly, you can now hire an ethical hacker to look for flaws and vulnerabilities of your digital systems, networks, and system infrastructure.

 

2. Protect outbound data

Data protection should be considered a two-way street. Just like you protect your system from incoming malware with a firewall, you also need to make sure that certain data never leaves your system. If you want to prevent your employees’ honest mistakes like releasing sensitive data out from your system and improve your company’s cyber security you should put focus on egress filtering.

 

3. Train your team regularly

Another best practice is to have regular training for your team on possible security issues and how they can prevent them, which further leads to the improvement of cyber security jobs in your company, as you will no longer need to search for job opportunities in cybersecurity elsewhere to fight malicious cyber attacks. Some of them could be about how to distinguish phishing scams sent through email and messaging apps that might appear genuine.

 

However, most of the time they are actually attempting to steal credentials or sensitive data or release malware into the system. Many companies also use a variety of software for insider threat detection. This is because insider threats are much more difficult to detect and prevent compared to threats emanating from outside the organization.

 

4. Be smart about passwords

On the bright side, most organizations have users password policies which provide tips for stronger passwords. The most common mistake is underestimating the local administrator’s PC password. They usually use the same password as the one used on servers. This makes it even easier for a hacker to breach into the entire system and use the information for their cruel intentions.

 

5. Encrypt your data

Don’t do the mistake of storing sensitive data in normal-text format. Alternatively, you should encrypt all information stored in databases and on servers. This is a very important step if you want to protect your company against hackers, and even giants like Google and Facebook forgets to take this crucial step.

 

6. Limit the number of login attempts

Keeping your customer’s as well as your internal data safe should be of a high priority to each company. One way to do that is to limit the login attempts of each use. That could help you block force attacks and keep your web applications safe. Importantly, it is essential to make a backup version of your website or app to secure yourself in case something goes wrong.

 

7. Make sure you have a ‘kill switch’

The best way to prevent large-scale damages is to have a kill switch. In other words, the moment your IT team notices something suspicious, they will be able to shut down all access to servers and maybe even take down websites for maintenance, until the issue is resolved.

 

8. Setup a password management system

A good way to share passwords within the organization is to have a password management system. That will allow you to distribute credentials without putting at risk the company’s security. Good examples of password management systems are 1Password or LastPass which help you manage everyone’s login. The systems allow your employees to come up with more difficult passwords, hence decreasing the possibility of breaches.

 

9. Never, ever, store credit card information

One of the biggest damages that a hacker can do to your company is to obtain credit card information of your customers. That will definitely lessen your company’s credibility and the customer’s trust in you. In order to avoid this from happening you should use third-party companies like Stripe and Paypal to handle payments for you. It is much safer to allow their platforms manage the payments and refunds for you.

 

10. Only people looking for trouble reject automated backups

Last, but definitely not least, decentralized server functions and automated backups can help you avoid and recover from eventual breakages. Having backup servers that are ready to be swapped in and out instantly can help you react tremendously fast. Another good tip is to have a monitoring infrastructure like intelligent software that can detect potential issues.

 

The best way to ensure your company’s cybersecurity is to plan ahead and try to predict what hackers might be after. That, of course, asks for a complete understanding of your company’s weaknesses and vulnerabilities. If you are in doubt about these potential weaknesses and vulnerabilities, do not hesitate to contact us or start chatting with us today.

 

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