Think of the high-profile security breaches in the last couple of years – The list of names includes Zoom, Microsoft, Estee Lauder, PhotoSquared, Facebook, and Nintendo. There has been a steady streak of cyberattacks on businesses, and hackers don’t seem to discriminate on any ground. Small businesses are particularly at risk, considering that they don’t spend enough on cybersecurity measures and practices. While there is no sure way of staying immune to breaches and attacks, addressing security concerns does help. In this post, we are discussing the best ways to manage such concerns in 2021.
Make cybersecurity training a top priority
No matter whether yours is a small startup or a large corporate firm, it is important to spend on cybersecurity – Not just once, but periodically and frequently. Cybersecurity should be a shared effort within an organization, and considering that employees are on the frontline of defense, they need to know all risks and concerns. From phishing simulations to showing the various social engineering tactics used by hackers, every step counts. If your company isn’t sure of how to train people on cybersecurity, get experts onboard.
Focus on passwords and authentication
Weak passwords remain a serious concern. Make sure that your employees follow the basics, such as –
- Strong passphrases, with at least 16 characters.
- Use of special characters and numbers
- Protecting passwords with a password management tool
- Changing passwords frequently
- Avoiding any personal information in passwords
In addition to the above, passwords shouldn’t be repeated.
Coming to authentication, it is wise to think beyond a strong password. Consider using multifactor authentication where possible. Adding a security question, asking for a onetime password, or getting biometric details can help.
Check for an Identity & Access management suite
Managing access rights, especially that of privileged users, is critical. For any resource, only limited people should have access as they need. An Identity & Access management suite can be really handy in monitoring and keeping tabs on access rights. Ensure that the management has clear control on how these rights are added, removed, and updated in real time. As for privileged users, it is best to limit their number, and they should be prompted to go through a second or third layer of authentication.
Finally, make sure that you have the expertise required to handle cybersecurity concerns within the organization. That may mean having a dedicated IT team to look into incidents and manage different risks.
