Who would have imagined that even global enterprises with superior security protection could fall victim to brutal hacking? The recent past has seen a dramatic rise in the rate and severity of hacking attacks.
eBay went down in a torrent of embarrassment as hackers plundered the company’s data arsenal. The loot included the personal records of more than 230 million users, compromising physical addresses, phone numbers, usernames, and passwords.
American media conglomerate Sony Pictures Entertainment had two major attacks in three years: PlayStation in 2011, and Sony films in late 2014. Both security breaches caused significant financial losses. The Sony Films breach resulted in the unauthorized release of five films and privileged information related to Sony employees and company secrets, a security lapse that knocked out Sony’s already dwindling ego.
In an environment where every organization is a potential target, a solid security strategy is the first line of defense for business survival. Here are best practices that help beef up security:
Address threats from all attack vectors
A cyber-attack can be targeted at any layer across the network – data, application, hardware, servers, or the network as a whole. Equally scary, criminals work around the clock to exploit holes in every vector. A centralized attack management tool that works across multiple devices and locations can be one of the best ways to ward off attacks.
Protect the human link
If not properly protected, the human link could indeed be the weakest link in the chain. Modern business leaders believe that banning certain behaviors, or the use of certain devices may be counterproductive. An alternative approach is a people-oriented security policy founded on the rights and corresponding responsibilities of individuals. This human-centric principle motivates safe behavior through constant training, education, and reinforcement such that if trust is lost, rights are lost, too.
Make security a part of the workflow cycle
The workflow cycle in any organization covers three basic areas – technical, business, and social. Business leaders need to have a 360-degree view of the whole cycle so that the required security protection within each and every phase is put in place.
Use Encryption
Encrypting information that passes through the network is the final defense against malicious access. It’s also a first line of defense for orgnizations communicating through the Web. Encryption can be implemented at any level or combination of levels within the network, such as the file, application, database, e-mail, and network levels.
Don’t scrimp on security
Cutting corners to save money is a dangerous move for IT decision-makers. A meager security budget buys one result – an incomplete and vulnerable security system that is an easy target for security crackers.
Remain aware of emerging threats
The speed of technology change has allowed cybercriminals to grow in sophistication. Business stakeholders must remain aware of emerging threats and communicate related information with government agencies and other companies.
Test and implement updates
Ever-changing technology makes it crucial for business leaders to test the effectiveness of their security defense systems. Testing and implementation of security offers a good opportunity to replace outmoded security solutions.
Security threats constantly change constantly. Contact eXemplify Group today for solid advice on security solutions that best fit your business.