Any non-profit organization established business or start-up enterprise that does not take cybersecurity seriously in the information age is storing up trouble for itself. There are potentially business-critical outcomes that can occur in short order when cybersecurity is not sufficiently prioritized within a business.
According to Penetration Testing Services: “Knowing your vulnerabilities and how attackers might exploit them provides tremendous insight on how to improve your security posture.”
Unfortunately, most businesses do not have the technical know-how to protect themselves fully.
All of the necessary steps can be put in place, of course, with the right sort of outsourced expertise but what decision-makers need to take on board is that cybersecurity ought to be a top commercial priority along with sales and marketing and employee retention. Why is it so crucial?
Protect Your Enterprise From Attack
It is not just government departments around the globe that come under attack from cyber warfare or online criminal activity. At any passing moment, a stealthy piece of spyware could be monitoring your financial transactions ready to commit fraud. There again, you might be subject to a hack that leads to data loss prevention or even a ransom being demanded. Other forms of cyber threat include phishing scams and even the theft of intellectual property. Any of these types of attacks could put your company out of business or, at least, severely hamper it, so proactive measures ought to be put in place sooner rather than later. This is why many companies and organizations hire professional cybersecurity providers or request penetration testing services to help identify vulnerabilities in their systems.
Ensure Data Breaches Do Not Occur
As mentioned, data breaches can occur from malign attacks but this is not the only way they happen. Sometimes, simple user errors or negligence leads to private data classification falling into the wrong hands, for instance. You might even find your network is susceptible to a device being plugged in directly and lifting your data without even needing to bypass your firewall. As such, cybersecurity is as much about adjusting your company’s practices to make it more secure as it is about avoiding external threats.
Avoid Regulatory Failings
There are all sorts of regulations that companies of any size need to comply with if they are to handle and store data. This means any sort of record-keeping under most codes, not just sensitive data, such as payment information. In the EU, GDPR rules are fairly well-known nowadays but they are far from the only regulatory code across the world. Operating online may mean you need to work within multiple foreign regulatory frameworks as well as your local one. Bear in mind that failures can lead to big fines being levied against offending companies.
Adopt an Information Security Management System That’s Fit For Purpose
Ultimately, understanding cybersecurity properly is not about taking a few discrete measures, such as setting a new password on your firm’s router or running anti-malware software, important though these measures are. In the end, it comes down to operating in a systematic manner that covers all aspects of cybersecurity. This is why organizations that take it seriously will usually implement a thorough information security management system (ISMS) that deals with their current vulnerabilities while also addressing their future security needs.
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