Almost every week we hear about a new data breach story in the media. From large corporations to government agencies, it seems no one is truly secure.
Organizations from all industries are taking note of these threats and want to know if they are at risk and what they can do to strengthen their security posture.
Cyber security for your business can seem overwhelming for many executives, but it doesn’t have to be. These three tips will assist in developing a cyber security strategy that fits your organization:
1. Think Non-Technical
The number one thing to understand about your organization’s cyber security is that it is not just a technical concern. While technology plays a major role in securing data, human error is one of the leading causes of data breaches. It’s important to include your employees in your security roadmap by properly educating them on the threats of a breach and how they can help safeguard data. Policies are also key to keeping data secure. Many organizations have guidelines on how to transfer data and who it can be shared with, but few have these guidelines outlined in a formal policy. It is important to have all policies written and acknowledged by your employees in order to ensure everyone has the information needed to keep your organization secure.
2. Undergo an Assessment
The next step to determining what needs to be done to safeguard your organization’s information is to assess current areas of weakness. Technical assessments will help identify vulnerabilities within the network, while policy and employee assessments focus on identifying which non-technical areas need to be addressed. The bulk of vulnerabilities found from an assessment can be remediated within a few weeks and require very few resources. The other findings may require a more long-term strategy. Regardless of the findings, an assessment will provide insight into your current security posture and will allow you to build a roadmap to becoming a more secure organization.
For ideas on how to get started assessing your organization’s cyber security ecosystem, take a look at our Assessment Checklist.
3. Include Representatives from IT and Operations
Since cyber security is not solely a technical issue, it’s important to have both technical and non-technical stakeholders included in your security strategy. By involving representatives from IT and business operations, you ensure that the plan you develop satisfies both areas’ needs. Every department should have a role and a specific responsibility in your cyber security strategy. It only takes one weak link to give way to a breach, so allowing both technical and non-technical representatives to collaborate together will help create a united front against hackers.
Keeping these three tips in mind, you can start to build a cyber security strategy that incorporates all of the components within an organization. The most important takeaway is that cyber security is a team effort that requires all employees to be on board.
For a deeper conversation on developing your own cyber security strategy, feel free to reach out.
