Regardless of industry, nearly every business relies on technology to help run day-to-day operations. However, with greater reliance also comes greater risk of security and hacking through these same solutions.
In fact, a whopping 91 of companies surveyed in Verizon’s 2016 Data Breach Investigations report cited at least one IT security incident that year affecting their business.
The threat of cyberattack is particularly prevalent for organizations that can’t monitor their company infrastructure to even know if they’re being attacked, says Paul Sems, Blue Technologies Smart Solutions General Manager, in an interview with Smart Business Magazine.
In an article for Smart Business’ January edition, Sems recommends businesses take the following 4 steps to mitigate cyber vulnerabilities that could potentially expose their sensitive information to attack:
1. Identify your security goals
Before creating any strategy, you should first establish your goals and objectives as a baseline. Ask yourself: What company assets and information are most critical to protect, and what are you trying to protect against?
“A company that holds health care information, for example, might consider protecting that its No. 1 priority,” Sems says.
2. Assess your current infrastructure
After identifying your goals, you then have to define where your business currently stands and what vulnerabilities may exist before you can decide where to go and how. Sems recommends bringing in a third-party expert to conduct a thorough assessment of your current infrastructure.
“It’s difficult to have the time and resources to run an assessment of your technology risks,” Sems says. “It takes more than installing a firewall and antivirus software, particularly as companies are challenged to secure many types of operating systems with more personal device use at work. That’s why organizations may need a third-party specialist to gather the right data.”
3. Create a security roadmap
Once your current standing is defined and any risks disclosed, your technology partner can turn that knowledge into actionable items to ensure your business is as secure as possible. This road map will bridge the gap between your current standing and your goals, Sems says. He says the process boils down to asking:
“What is the company going to do to start solving these problems, and how should that
plan be rationalized and ranked in order to maximize the benefits?”
4. Execute your strategy
With your strategic road map laid out, it’s time to execute – making sure to add governance and monitoring tools to ensure your company is moving closer toward its goals. Sems again recommends working with your third-party expert to help you continually monitor and adjust your security policies.
“It sounds silly to say, ‘I won’t hire a contractor to build my house. I can go to Home Depot and get what I need,’ but that’s what people say about their security: ‘I don’t need an expert to secure our information. I can go to Amazon and buy a firewall,’” Sems says. “It may be true, but it’s not the best way. It’s not as efficient and effective.”
Request a free business assessment today to uncover your cyber vulnerabilities
Not sure where your infrastructure currently stands – or where to start in tightening up any security holes?
Contact a Blue Technologies expert today at (216) 271-4800 for a free assessment of your organization’s current IT environment, and to learn more about how working with a managed services partner can enhance the security of your organization.
