With the number of cyber attacks increasing, we've gathered 5 crucial cyber trends that every leader should be aware of to safeguard against data breaches.
Data breaches threaten every business, no matter the size. It is crucial to understand the latest news and trends in cybersecurity in order to protect your business from potential breaches. We understand that it can be hard to keep up with the ever-changing IT world. Hackers are constantly developing new techniques so having an expert on your side can help to keep you safe.
According to a new government survey, cybercrime costs approximately £27 billion per annum with over 83% of companies being subject to phishing attacks last year. This is a major issue for all businesses so it’s essential that you educate yourself and your workers on how to stay safe online.
We’re experts when it comes to cyber security. To help you protect your business against the wave of cyber hackers, we have gathered 5 crucial trends to be aware of and some key questions you should be asking yourself.
Zero Trust Security
“Never Trust, Always verify” is the mantra for zero trust security. This architecture involves verifying every action that is conducted within your system, regardless of where it comes from. Both internal and external accounts will be locked until verified.
This approach is a great way to minimise the chance of unauthorised access thanks to its strict identity verification process.
There are many different pieces of software that can be used to implement zero trust in your business. Most of these can easily be installed to each device in your organisation like any other anti-virus software. However, they provide extra security features such as application allowlisting, ringfencing, network control, elevation control and storage control.
Questions to ask: How is the organisation ensuring that every form of access to your devices and network is authenticated, authorised, and continuously validated? Are there software, devices and users that have access that is not required?
Cyber Essentials
Cyber Essentials is a certification that helps to protect your organisation from common cyber threats. This can help to enhance your cybersecurity posture and organisations credibility. Additionally, the Cyber Essentials Plus certification is a technical audit that can further show your commitment to carrying out extra verification.
The Cyber Essentials Scheme is a government-backed, industry-supported certification which allows businesses to demonstrate that they have implemented essential security controls. Customers, investors and stakeholders are looking for companies they can trust. Ensuring that your data is secure can help build confidence among those who work with you.
Question to ask: Are we adhering to and maintaining the basic guidelines within Cyber Essentials?
Is Anti-Virus Enough?
Cyber threats are becoming more and more technical. Traditional anti-virus solutions are no longer enough to protect your data. Modern security measures need to be able to address the many different threat types that are emerging.
A layered approach is now the best way to protect your organisation from cyber threats. These layers can include email security, security awareness training or managed detection and response (MDR).
Question to ask: What security tools we are using and are these sufficient in reducing our risk to an acceptable level?
Secure Remote Working
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, remote/hybrid working became the new normal for many. In fact, 58% of workers in the UK prefer working in a hybrid model and don’t want to return to onsite working.
With this shift to remote working, securing your organisations data is more important than ever. Remote working brings different cyber risks and challenges to manage however choosing the right policies and tools can help to protect your business.
With staff dispersed in different locations, it removes all oversight of how workers handle data. Ensuring that all staff members are trained and understand their responsibilities is crucial to avoid data breaches. Secure remote working solutions such as VPNs, firewalls, and securing your cloud hosted solutions (e.g. Microsoft 365), can help keep your remote workforce securely connected.
Question to ask: What measures have we implemented to secure data and communications for our remote workers?
Managing Mobile Devices
There is no denying the importance of mobile devices in today’s organisations. Although they bring great benefits, they can also pose significant security risks if not managed properly.
Many businesses fail to realise that mobile security could be their weakest link. It only takes one phone to be hacked for a cybercriminal to gain access to an entire network. Mobile users spend on average 80% of their time outside the protected corporate network as they can access the internet from wherever they are. This leaves them vulnerable to a host of cyber-attacks.
Ensuring that these devices are properly secured can help to protect sensitive data from theft or loss. We always recommend strengthening security settings on each mobile, enabling automatic updates and always remaining cautious when connecting to public networks. For enhanced management and businesses with a large number of devices it is worth considering a mobile device management solution to reduce the work load required but also ensuring strong security.
Question to ask: How are we managing and protecting data that is accessed and stored on mobile devices?
Stay Safe With Morgan & Morgan
Keeping all of these factors in mind can help to reduce your risk associated with cybersecurity whilst also benefiting your businesses reputation and it can even reduce insurance premiums!
We hope that this information will help you to stay informed and up-to-date with all the latest cybersecurity trends. For more support with your cyber protection, get in touch with a member of our team.
