‘Strong enough’ isn’t enough anymore when it comes to cybersecurity. As the business world is leveraging technology to advance its processes, cybersecurity threats are also evolving.
As a result, IoT consulting services, software developers, accounting firms, the healthcare industry, and everyone that’s using the internet right now is on the lookout for robust cybersecurity practices. This is to ensure that the hackers with their plethora of cyber threats remain at bay while businesses continue to improve customer experience and augment growth.
Whether you’re a small-scale firm or a large company, you need to adopt these ten cybersecurity practices to prevent cyberattacks in 2022. But first, let’s talk about terminologies.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity is a set of guidelines or frameworks adopted by a business looking to tighten its internet security. These guidelines are in place to ensure that the company’s servers remain safe from data breaches – the cause of 90 percent of cyberattacks.
Or cybersecurity also refers to the protocols in place in case of an event of an attack. Cybersecurity covers a broad range of actions and is meant to provide security coverage to the whole IT infrastructure of an organization.
Why Do You Need Cybersecurity?
Companies, such as Vates, emphasize cybersecurity because having stringent cybersecurity will protect your business from:
- Reputational damage
- Loss of confidential data
- Financial loss
- Business disruption
Steps for Improving Cybersecurity in 2022
Here are some of the best practices businesses should follow in 2022 and avoid cybersecurity threats and attacks.
Constantly Upgrade Software
The first part of ensuring cybersecurity is to constantly upgrade all software across the organization. While software developers, such as Vates, heavily invest in software testing and QA to ensure upgraded security of the software, constant upgrades are also essential to fully capitalize on the developer’s provided quality product.
Subsequently, Update the Hardware
But a robust-quality, updated software is of no use if the hardware isn’t compatible. To ensure that your software update fully integrates with the system, update your hardware alongside. Most organizations simultaneously update the software and hardware to yield the best results.
Devise Cybersecurity Strategies
Alongside periodic actions such as updates, agile software companies such as Vates also devise stringent cybersecurity strategies. These strategies curtail many areas, including educating employees and creating strong Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plans.
Conduct Cybersecurity Training
Employee negligence is the biggest cause of cyberattacks that will lead up to $10 trillion in losses in the next two years. Implementing a cyber awareness culture in your organization, training your employees about best cyber practices (such as strong passwords), educating about phishing links, and close monitoring can help your organization remain cyber secure.
Don’t Undermine VPNs and Antivirus
VPNs add a protective layer to your IP and guard you against ill-intended hackers. On the other hand, robust antivirus act as constant monitors to your cyber activities and are able to detect threats before they become an attack. Don’t ignore VPNs, firewalls, and antivirus to strengthen computer security before upgrading your network security.
Don’t Click Every Link
While this may seem like an individualistic task, organizations need to follow it too. Clicking suspicious links or using unsecured connections can lead your organization into trouble. So, whenever you’re using a company system, make sure to avoid phishing links and educate your employees across all departments to do the same.
Bluetooth and Public Networks
Turning on the Bluetooth and frequently connecting to public networks can result in trouble for an entire organization. While you’re educating your employees and enforcing cyber awareness culture, don’t miss out on this tip.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) or two-factor authentication allows companies to limit access to the network by identity management. This helps businesses detect unauthorized users at entry-level or ensure hackers cannot enter the system with loopholes.
Have a Strong Backup System
Despite the grave concerns this year, only 50 percent of small businesses have focused on devising cybersecurity protocols. But let us tell you, it’s not a matter of if but only a matter of when. Therefore, have a backup plan in place to avoid business disruption in case of an attack. This will help you be at peace and safeguard your business’s data even in uncertain situations.
Rely on AI and IoT Solutions
Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions have revolutionized the cybersecurity industry. If you want to improve your cybersecurity framework, count on advanced IoT solutions offered by consulting companies such as Vates. In addition, AI can help you monitor and predict cybersecurity threats in advance by looking into the patterns and algorithms.
Consider Cloud for Security
91 percent of businesses have migrated to the cloud, and improved security is one of the biggest reasons behind that shift. Leverage cloud technology and opt for the cloud to increase your cybersecurity. The cloud can allow you to be agile, scalable, and secure while maintaining affordability.
Develop Incident Response Plan
Lastly, developing an incident response plan is crucial in today’s world. Be mindful of the various forms of cybersecurity threats around you and devise a plan of what to do in case of a data breach or cyberattack.
Here’s what an incident response plan looks like:
- Establishing a protocol in case of an event of a cyberattack.
- Identifying the vulnerabilities and pinpointing the access point.
- Containing the damage by turning off the systems and ensuring that the virus or cyber threat doesn’t spread.
- Eradicating the virus from the system and implementing patch management activities.
- Devising a recovery strategy by specifying a step-by-step protocol to bring the system back up.
- Learning the lessons from the cyberattack event and logging the event in your reports for future references.
What Else to Do?
Are you on the lookout for advanced IoT solutions and custom software development that will tighten your cybersecurity? Then reach out to Vates. Vates is a South American software development company that offers IT consulting, nearshore outsourcing, and numerous IT-related services in the U.S.
