The threat of ransomware is on the rise, and more companies are falling victim to this invasive form of hacking. It isn’t only small businesses that can fall victim to these practices and some big names have been revealed to have been targeted, including the National Health Service in the UK. This goes to highlight the importance of having an up-to-date security plan that is distributed around your company. Whether you run a startup that employs three people or you run a multinational company employing thousands, it makes sense to put a plan in place and stick to it.
The problem that many companies face is that they create a plan and then let it grow stagnant. This is particularly risky as the digital landscape is always shifting. The threats from hackers are complex and always changing, and your security plan needs to be able to keep up with this. There may be parts of your plan that never change, but elements will need to be updated as and when the threat arises. For example, if your company adopts a new branch of mobile technology, your digital security plan will need to reflect this. Here are three important elements of a cyber security policy that are often overlooked.
React to change
It’s no longer enough to secure the four walls of your business as people come in and out with mobile devices all the time. Connecting to your company network from a compromised device puts you and your company network at risk. A virus can quickly spread around an internal network and wipe out the contents of multiple computers, which can be potentially disastrous for your company data. Similarly, taking a company device out of the building and connecting over an unsecured network increases the risk to mobile security. Having an up-to-date mobile security policy in place will ensure that everyone is clear about what is and what isn’t acceptable on a company device.
Save money
While this might seem counter intuitive, as there will be a cost associated with getting all of this in order, a cyber security plan can save you money in the long run. Losing track of customer data is a surefire way to lose the trust of present and future customers. If news of an online hack makes it out to the newspapers, this can quickly become a scandal and can leave your customers rushing to your competitors. It often takes consumers a long time to forget a data hack, as they will be left feeling that you don’t respect or protect their data. If you want customers to give you as much as an email address, you need to make it crystal clear that you will protect their data.
Learning from mistakes
Security breaches are often under reported because the company is concerned about the ramifications of letting the information get out. This secret shame can often compound the problem and allow hackers to continue getting away with it. The security policy should include details of previous breaches and how they occurred. This can help staff to learn from mistakes and provide transparency for future employees to learn from. If your company is part of a wider group, it makes sense to share the information with other branches so that they can protect themselves from similar attacks.
Disaster recovery plan
Knowing what to do in the event of a breach is essential as it can help to limit the damage. If one device is compromised, swift action can help to prevent the malware from spreading to every device on the same network. A disaster recovery plan will outline everything you need to know in the event of a cyber security breach. Everyone in the company should know where to find this and what to do in the event of an emergency.
In conclusion, while the threats may still be prevalent, there is a lot that can be done to mitigate the risks associated with cyber security threats. With careful planning and frequent updates, you can reduce the risk to your business and help to keep the long-term costs associated with security breaches down. While security breaches are on the rise, only the companies that are ready and prepared will be able to respond to the threats.
