Organizations all over the world continue to shift to the digital world. This is because online tools make it easier to store data, automate tasks and improve workplace efficiency. However, with the good also comes the bad. Technology has also exposed companies to cybersecurity threats that put them at risk.

 

Nearly three out of four companies were victims of a phishing attack almost two years ago, which cost over $14 million annually to repair. You wouldn’t want to be in the same position where you lose most of what you make online. Therefore, investing in good cybersecurity keeps you safe and protects your assets at all times. A detailed plan will cover all essential aspects of your network, from protecting data to warding off any unruly attacks. So, to get started and build a good plan, here’s what you need to do:

1. Learn About Cybersecurity

Before you look into building a cyber plan, you need to know cybersecurity. Cybercriminals don’t care if you’re a small or a large business – as long as you have a functional one, they have their eyes on you. Hackers have managed to close 3 in 5 small to medium businesses after a series of successful cyberattacks in 2021 alone, such as launching viruses and ransomware. Therefore, deepening your understanding of cybersecurity helps you cope with having a target on your back.

 

You should quickly sign up for a cybersecurity master’s program to get the necessary knowledge and experience online. A well-crafted online course will help you build your command over cloud computing, data privacy, and even security architecture while fitting in with your schedule. So, when you design a plan, you will be aware of what components should go into your security plan. Ultimately, you can launch your cybersecurity infrastructure and protect your business.

2. Catalog Your Valuable Digital Property

The digital asset management market size will reach up to $5million by 2023. This explains why cybercriminals want to access your digital property. Therefore, you should compile a list of your company’s digital assets to know what to protect. Your cybersecurity architecture will fall apart if you manage to shield everything but your digital valuables.

 

Common examples of assets include company systems, databases, and trade secrets. In recent times cryptocurrency has become a digital asset; make sure you include that if your company owns it.

3. Conduct A Cyber Risk Analysis

Hackers have various ways of approaching you. These cybercriminals may cause a data leak, send ransomware, launch malware, cause a denial of service, or phish for sensitive information. Over 90% of malware gets delivered by email, while ransomware attacks have increased by 300% over the last four years. Conducting a risk analysis can help you gain valuable insight into what areas of your digital assets are under the most threat.

 

You do a risk analysis using risk assessment tools such as automated questionnaires and security ratings to pick up security gaps that you will need to fix. For example, if you are at risk of getting a malware attack, you need to upgrade the company’s software, use a stronger password and be wary of unknown attachments and files.

4. Create A Cybersecurity Management Team

Your cybersecurity budget should be no more than 12% of your overall IT budget. You can create a good team of cybersecurity experts who will help you manage your database from this budget. You will need to get a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO), whether in person or online. A virtual CISO will be equally effective. They will be responsible for defining the parameters of your cybersecurity plan and can help you strategize and launch a successful one.

 

You will also need to get a security engineer to help you carry out penetration tests and a vulnerability assessment by generating a faux attack and observing how your security plan responds. You get to manage and maintain an appropriate security network that secures your database from all forms of a cyberattack with a good team, so make sure you hire team players.

5. Adopt Common Security Measures

While building a solid infrastructure, don’t forget to revisit the basics and update standard security measures. You may need to change all your company passwords into stronger ones with upper-case and lower-case letters, a random collection of special symbols, and numbers. Part of being a good company owner is keeping your employees in the loop of password management and confidentiality.

 

You may also need to control the access across your database. Your organization’s database is not for public use, which is why you need to restrict all unauthorized users. You may need to limit data that can get copied to save all sensitive information from getting circulated unnecessarily. Your firewall also requires attention. Make sure you use the latest firewall on an up-to-date operating system.

6. Have A Contingency Plan

Sometimes security breaches happen despite lucrative measures. In July of 2020, an unsecured server exposed the data of over 50,000 customers of Ancestry.com. This jeopardized consumer trust and cost a substantial amount to fix. You need to be realistic and accept that there is still a 1 in a 100 probability of an attack.

 

Therefore, having a backup plan such as a secondary firewall, shifting copies of the data manually, and enabling auto-lock over company servers is the only way you minimize the blow. Unless you are proactive, it can become difficult to save your company’s data from falling into the wrong hands. Once you manage to avert an attack, you may need to upgrade your security protocol.

Final Thoughts

Cybercrimes can be a nuisance, especially when your reputation is on the line. But, with a few effective measures, you can swerve around cyberattacks and keep your data safe. Therefore, don’t hold back from learning and implementing everything about cybersecurity. You may need to gather your cyber assets and construct a cyber infrastructure that protects these valuables adequately. It would help to run an analysis and gauge the risk level your company currently stands at, which will supercharge your efforts to build a resilient cybersecurity team.

 

Take advantage of cybersecurity protocols that are already commonly used to minimize risk further and prepare yourself for the worst. These measures may be enough to create a concrete security protocol that will allow you to focus more on your business and less on safety measures.