Understanding how to stay proactive against cybersecurity incidents is a necessity in today’s digital work environment. One data breach can often cost your company millions of dollars while damaging your reputation with clients. Looking at ways to boost your IT security is critical in staying ahead of evolving cyber threats. Knowing how to avoid making a few simple mistakes can give your business much-needed protection against these attacks.
Here are a few examples of the most common reasons for cybersecurity incidents.
1) Reactive Approach
Many businesses make the simple mistake of taking a reactive approach to cybersecurity. Waiting until an incident happens creates a major risk for your company that is never worth taking. Instead, it’s a much better option to take a more proactive approach. An IT service provider can further boost your cybersecurity in numerous ways, whether it’s conducting penetration tests, vulnerability scans, or training employees on how to avoid cyber scams.
2) Assuming Your Business Isn’t a Target
Many small business owners feel that their company is too small of a target for cybercriminals. Unfortunately, a lack of a cybersecurity plan makes your business an easy target for these hackers. One data breach can lead to substantial expenses for your business, while a ransomware incident can easily cause you to lose your valuable resources if you don’t keep your data backups up to date.
3) Incomplete Inventory
Keeping up with all your inventory and assets requires a lot of work and planning. An incomplete inventory exposes your business to numerous cyber risks, especially if employees are using personal devices for work-related activities. An IT service provider can help you maintain your inventory by creating a Bring Your Own Device Policy (BYOD) to ensure every device remains accounted for at all times.
4) No Incident Response Plan
Creating an incident response plan is another key aspect to limiting the impact of a cybersecurity incident. However, many businesses fail to take these precautions due to a lack of planning. An IT service provider can create an incident response plan for a wide range of scenarios. A business continuity plan can play an important role in limiting the negative impact of a cyber attack by training employees on how to best respond to different situations.
5) Outdated Software
Software for your business can quickly become outdated before you even realize it. Turning on automatic software updates is a necessity in keeping everything up to date. A managed service provider will also check to ensure everything is updated, as cybercriminals are always looking at ways to take advantage of software vulnerabilities.
6) Lack of Employee Training
Cybersecurity incidents often happen due to employees. Sometimes a worker will accidentally click on a link in an email or visit an unsafe website. An employee may even fall victim to social engineering schemes. Educating your team on how to recognize potential cyber threats is a necessity in today’s digital work environment.
Closing Thoughts
Cybersecurity incidents will only continue to rise in the workplace due to the lucrative nature of these attacks. Looking at different ways to boost IT security is essential in reducing downtime and avoiding data breaches. Understanding how to avoid these common errors can help your business stay proactive and avoid becoming a victim of a cyber attack.
