Every day, the media report on new cyber attacks. Criminals attack companies' systems, often causing major financial damage. How can a company's infrastructure be better protected while cyber criminals are constantly finding new ways to attack? Here are 5 tips on how to strengthen your IT protection and minimize risks.
There is not one single entry way for cybercriminals. Incorrectly configured cloud systems, shadow IT, unprotected emails, outdated applications, expired certificates and much more provide a broad attack surface. At the same time, digitalization is causing a steady expansion of the corporate infrastructure. The overview of vulnerabilities is quickly lost. One-time penetration tests are hardly a remedy, as the risk situation evolves daily and pentest results quickly become outdated. So how can a company be sustainably protected?
To prevent major security gaps from occurring in the first place, functioning defense systems should protect your IT infrastructure. Make sure your firewalls are up to date and, if necessary, strengthened by an intrusion detection system so you can track attacks in detail. Regulated access control also ensures that information is not more tangible than it needs to be. When it comes to your data, weigh who needs to be able to access it and how easily. Sensitive data such as company secrets must be, compared to your business card design, protected to the maximum.
There is no such thing as one hundred percent security against cyber attacks. However, the threat risks can be significantly reduced. With continuous IT security monitoring, for example, you can keep an eye on your IT protection and take targeted action to eliminate potential weaknesses.
Protecting your business is not limited to the technical level. Other factors, such as the level of knowledge of your employees about possible threats, can also significantly influence your risk status. Carelessly clicked phishing emails or insecure passwords often make it far too easy for cybercriminals. But your employees don't have to become IT specialists. Partners of LocateRisk, such as the CSX Academy, offer automated solutions tailored to the safety training of employees. We will be happy to refer you to the right contact person if needed.
Accesses are easier to crack if there is only one security level. That's why more and more companies are turning to what is known as multi-factor authentication. Here, identity is confirmed by checking at least two access paths. If employees want to log into the cloud system, for example, they not only have to identify themselves with a password, but may also have to enter a code from an authentication app on their smartphone. With Authenticator apps, e.g. from Authy, Google or Microsoftin addition, multiple applications can be stored so that users do not lose track of them, but the IT protection of your company increases significantly .
The threat situation evolves continually. Attackers are constantly finding new security gaps and exploiting them ever more quickly. For this reason, those responsible should regularly inform themselves about new developments and use monitoring solutions that enable them to continuously monitor the IT infrastructure. For a more intensive exchange, it is worthwhile to visit trade fairs for IT security, such as it-sa or secIT. The BSI (German Federal Office for Information Security) provides information online via various channels on the subject of basic IT protection and makes information material available so that you can also delve further into topics you are already familiar with. Quite apart from the security precautions, you need to be prepared for an emergency. Make sure that your responsible IT personnel and service providers are always available in the event of an emergency. A business continuity management contingency plan is also elementary in order to be able to return to day-to-day business as quickly as possible and without major loss of revenue.
So much for the tips on IT protection. But where do you start? As a first step, we recommend getting a picture of the current IT security situation. To do this, simply request a free analysis using the form below. We will use the assessment to show you how your IT security is doing and, if you wish, put you in touch with partners who can help you optimize it.
Identify and reduce your cyber risks through a comparable and understandable overview of your IT security. Let our experts advise you and find out how LocateRisk can help you solve your cyber risks.
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