Cybersecurity: Your Guide to Prepare Against Attacks

The dawn of the digital age promised enterprises unmatched growth and connectivity, a modern gold rush of opportunities. Yet, with these prospects came the specter of cyber threats, silently lurking and constantly evolving. Having seen businesses both big and small grapple with the aftermath of cyberattacks, we can’t stress enough the need for preparation and vigilance. This isn’t a doom-and-gloom message, but rather a call to arms in our digital age.

Download 10 Steps to Strengthen Your Cybersecurity 

Understanding Your Digital Footprint 

Every enterprise, regardless of its size, has a unique digital footprint. This footprint, composed of your online interactions, stored data, and the software tools you use, is what makes you both valuable and vulnerable.

• Start by mapping out your footprint. What data do you store and where? Complete an asset inventory (software and hardware inventory, i.e., CMDB). Perform an access review across all applications and decide who has access. When was access last audited and reviewed?
• Recognize that this footprint isn’t static; it expands with every new digital tool, application, or stored piece of data. Ensure your enterprise has performed a business impact analysis and knows what your critical applications are and where your critical data lives.

Building the Cyber Fort

Just as forts were built to protect against invaders, your enterprise needs robust defenses against cyber threats.

• Begin with the basics: strong, unique passwords and updated security software. It’s the digital equivalent of a fort’s walls and moat. Enable MFA (multi factor authentication) everywhere it can be. Perform vulnerability assessment and management, patch vulnerabilities quickly and know your supply chain and third-party vendor risks.
• Diversify your defense. It’s not just about having a firewall and just protecting the perimeter anymore; consider and implement other solutions such as intrusion detection and prevention systems (IDS and IPS), EDR (endpoint detection and response), NIDS (network intrusion detection systems), web application firewalls (WAF), etc.

The Human Element

Despite the digital nature of cyberattacks, humans often play an unintentional role in their success. We can be the weakest link, or we can be a line of defense.

• Invest in regular cybersecurity training for your staff. Equip them to recognize potential threats, from phishing emails to suspicious online behavior.
• Foster a culture of open communication. Employees should feel comfortable reporting potential threats or mistakes without fear of retribution.

Ready to Respond

Being defensive doesn’t mean being passive. An initiative-taking stance can make all the difference.

• Implement 24/7 monitoring such as through an MDR (managed, detection and response) service. In the digital realm, threats don’t operate on a 9-5 schedule. Consider a Security Orchestration, Automation and Response (SOAR) solution and look for ways to automate response and lesson alert fatigue.
• Develop a clear, rehearsed incident response plan. If a breach occurs, knowing your next steps can mitigate damage.

In conclusion, navigating the digital realm requires enterprises to be both explorers, eager to harness its vast potential, and guardians, ever vigilant against its threats. As you chart your company’s course through this landscape, remember that cybersecurity isn’t a destination but a journey, one that demands adaptability, commitment, and above all, preparation.

New Era Technology & SecureBlu Can Help! 

New Era’s SecureBlu portfolio of Security Services includes a Managed Detection and Response (MDR) service that maintains optimal security posture by continuously minimizing the attack surface and improving visibility via enhanced monitoring and response. If you are interested in learning more about how your organization can prevent, detect, and maintain threats through SecureBlu, please visit our MDR page for datasheets or email us at solutions@neweratech.com.