Numerous studies and reports on cybersecurity practices, recent cyberattacks, and hacking attempts, are alarming to say the least. Cybersecurity is not something that can be taken lightly. Smaller companies are at a greater risk in all probability, because they don’t spend as much as on cybersecurity, and hackers know that they wouldn’t be chased for long. Recovering from losses and brand reputational damage is harder for small businesses. Reports, including one from SIA in collaboration with Wall Street Journal, also talks of increasing malware attacks. You can check out cyber security course in Bangalore to learn more.

How can your company stay ahead of hackers? In this post, we are discussing some critical aspects about cybersecurity, especially at a time when more employees are working from home.

Define your policies, plans and protocols

Unfortunately, many small companies and growing businesses don’t think of cybersecurity beyond compliance. They often do not consider the various concerns related to having clear policies, because without clear guidelines, you cannot expect real results. Enterprise security is a myth, unless everyone gets involved. Every executive, employee and team member working for the organization must know their role and responsibilities with regards to cybersecurity.

It is as important to have an incident response plan. Sometimes, despite the best efforts, a security breach may occur, and managers need to be aware of the steps to be followed. For instance, when to get things checked? Who should be informed? Is it necessary to inform regulatory authorities?

Create basic ground rules

1. Ask employees to create strong, long and complex passwords.
2. Change all default passwords right away.
3. Focus on updating all software & firmware to the latest version.
4. Update all operating systems.
5. Place all networked devices behind firewalls.
6. Where applicable, use network segmentation.
7. Consider recommending a password manager to employees.
8. Use multifactor authentication for selected accounts and resources.
9. Add lockout feature for preventing brute-force attacks.
10. Delete all unused apps and software, especially legacy software.

Not to forget, create backups and ensure that IT environments are tested and scanned regularly. Backups are necessary for restoring systems, and if your company doesn’t have BYOD plan in place, make sure to consult experts for that. Work-From-Home may become the new norm, and to ensure that employees work safely on their devices, recommend safe browsing practices.

Final word

Cybersecurity is a matter that needs continuous attention, and if your company doesn’t have a budget constant, consider hiring ethical hackers to hack into your critical systems and networks, to find security flaws. Apply for cyber security course in Hyderabad to know more.