The consequences of a cyber attack are certainly not to be underestimated. The average data breach costs roughly $8.19 million, which, given the fragile economy in this current pandemic, could cause a business to go under.
Depending on the nature of the attack, the business lost from it, the governing penalties applied due to failing regulation, this cost can go even higher for some businesses. But just being aware of this risk isn’t enough—more and more business owners are looking to be actively prepared to defend it.
To that end, here’s how you can recognize the cybersecurity shortfalls in their business and repair them:
1. Get a Risk Assessment
The most effective method of discovering cybersecurity shortfalls in your business is getting an IT risk assessment that outlines weaknesses in your systems and the risks those weaknesses pose.
These comprehensive analyses look over the entire IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, and networks, to see which factors could potentially do damage to a business or risk the data it holds. During an assessment, threats are found and ranked based on level of risk, which can help your IT team find out which changes and protections are of the highest priority.
Make Sure Every Aspect of Your Infrastructure is Analyzed
When it comes to implementing a risk assessment, it’s essential that it is designed to cover all bases. Every aspect of the business’s IT scope must be analyzed. This includes permission levels, password use, authentication methods, and policies and procedures.
Only with this all-encompassing look can your team find vulnerabilities quickly and patch them based on their priority. End-users cannot always see the vulnerabilities of a system, nor notice when they have been breached, meaning that back-end assessments are crucial.
2. Implement Solutions to Mitigate Risks
Once you have had a comprehensive assessment performed, a cybersecurity expert can help you identify and implement solutions to mitigate cybersecurity risks and prevent data theft. They will help you work from highest to lowest priority to ensure the greatest threats are mitigated first.
Other risks your provider can help you mitigate include data loss due to emergencies, downtime, and more. By working with an IT professional to implement unique solutions according to your business needs, you can not only enhance cybersecurity but also reduce costs associated with power outages, natural disasters, and other unforeseen circumstances.
3. Establish Continual System Monitoring
Beyond the IT risk assessment, a Managed Service Provider can ensure that threats are detected and patched as soon as possible by establishing 24/7 system monitoring.
Round-the-clock monitoring means that any new weaknesses or zero-day vulnerabilities that crop up in your systems can be immediately detected and dealt with. Many MSPs also offer 24/7 remote support through their online ticketing systems, meaning that if serious issues occur in the middle of the night or on a holiday, you can still get the support you need.
4. Continue to Get Regular Assessments and Improve Your Systems
It is an error to think that a single IT risk assessment is enough to ensure that your business remains protected over the years. The landscape of cybersecurity is ever-evolving, with hackers constantly developing new methods to exploit weaknesses. As a result, a business’s cybersecurity approach must also be constantly evolving.
For that reason, IT risk assessments must be carried out on a regular basis. Working with a Managed Service Provider, your business can determine how frequently they should be checking for new vulnerabilities and what to do to patch them.
With these steps, business owners can implement the proactive approach to cybersecurity they need in today’s dangerous digital landscape. Accessing the shortfalls, implementing the fixes, and constant monitoring against threats are a necessity in a time of growing threats.