Cyber attacks are not a matter of “if,” but “when” they will occur. To make things more complicated, the threats to cybersecurity are continually changing. Staying ahead of the game is a challenge.

So, what can you do?

Make cybersecurity a priority. Identify the weak spots and address them. Maintain a secure firewall and keep antivirus solutions active. Maintaining up-to-date hardware and software is essential to the security of your organization’s network, servers, devices, data, and customers.

Establish a culture of cybersecurity awareness and risk management. Create an attitude of we’re-in-this-together, rather than the idea that cybersecurity strictly belongs to the security team. Encourage the concept that every employee owns a piece of the security network. Incorporate a security mentality from leadership to entry-level employees. Include what to be aware of and how to respond in your standard training procedures. Reward employees who “do it right.”

Designate an appropriate amount of your budget for cybersecurity, including prevention training. Remember, employees, vendors, clients or anyone who has access to your IT-related systems can inadvertently be your biggest threat; whether they are a victim of phishing, have a moment of forgetfulness, or simply use easy to crack passwords. Include response training. Incident response and recovery depend on planning and preparation for incident management.

Implement cyber hygiene best practices. These are the pillars that maintain a stable cybersecurity system.

• Create multiple layers of security and backup.
• Maintain matching levels between system and software patches and utilize a monitoring suite of tools can alert administrators when systems fail or there’s a security breach.
• Implement multi-factor authentication. Strong passwords are crucial. Adding a layer of security via multi-factor authentication significantly reduces the chance of a breach.
• Utilize Encryption, specific algorithms that secure electronic data in a manner that prevents the data from being accessed and utilized by an unauthorized person.
• Adopt a policy of least privilege — only allowing employees access to the information and programs necessary for their jobs.

Cyber risk management is essential for every business. It’s better by far to manage the risk and strengthen your protection than to deal with the aftermath of a breach.

Hiring the right professionals helps. At Springborn Staffing, we provide best-in-class personnel solutions for employers. After all, we’re Maine’s leading direct hire and temporary staffing agency. Contact us today.