Cybersecurity best practices and tips for your business
Whether you run a large corporation or a small business, the need to stay ahead of potential threats and reduce risk exposure is more essential than ever. But how can businesses achieve this? In this article, we explore some of the most effective cybersecurity best practises and tips to help safeguard your organisation. Keep reading to discover how you can build a strong defense against cyberattacks.
Let’s start with some eye-opening statistics – according to Check Point Research, in Q2 2024, organisations faced an average of 1,636 cyberattacks per week, representing a staggering 30% increase year-over-year.
This dramatic rise in cyber threats underscores the critical importance of cybersecurity for every business and highlights the need to stay ahead of potential threats and risks.
What cybersecurity measures should every business implement?
Looking at more statistics, it’s clear that cyber threats are on the rise across the board. In 2023, there was a 72% increase in data breaches compared to 2021, and the average cost of a data breach in 2024 reached $4.88 million.
These figures illustrate why cybersecurity is fundamental for every business, regardless of its size or industry.
So, what are the most important cybersecurity measures every business should adopt?
First and foremost, deploying a robust firewall and antivirus software is essential to shield your network and devices from unauthorised access and malicious attacks. These basic protections act as your first line of defence, blocking unwanted traffic and identifying harmful viruses, malware, or ransomware that may attempt to infiltrate your systems.
Second, keeping all software, systems, and devices up to date is non-negotiable. Cybercriminals often exploit known vulnerabilities in outdated software. Regular updates and security patches close these vulnerabilities, making it harder for attackers to breach your systems. Enable automatic updates wherever possible or establish a strict schedule for manual updates.
Next, employee training plays a crucial role. Human error remains one of the top causes of security breaches, and even the most sophisticated technical solutions can be undermined by simple mistakes, like clicking on a phishing link. Educating your staff on best practices, such as recognising phishing attempts, creating strong passwords, and following secure processes, can significantly reduce your organisation’s risk profile.
Finally, adopting a multi-layered security approach ensures that, even if one defence is breached, others can act as a fallback to protect critical assets. These fundamental steps lay the groundwork for a safer and more resilient business.
Top 10 cybersecurity best practices and tips for business
Ready to act? To help you get started, we’ve complied a list of top 10 best cybersecurity practices and tips that can help your business strengthen its defences and avoid becoming another statistic.
Keep all systems and applications up to date
Software development doesn’t end once a program is released. Developers continue to refine their work, fixing bugs, adding new features, and – importantly – addressing security vulnerabilities.
Regularly updating your software, systems, and applications is essential to patching weaknesses that cybercriminals can exploit. Outdated software is one of the easiest entry points for attackers, so enable automatic updates or create a manual update schedule to ensure everything remains current. Delaying updates even by a few days can leave your systems exposed to attack.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Passwords alone are no longer enough to protect sensitive accounts and systems. Attackers are increasingly sophisticated in breaking password defences through techniques like brute force attacks, credential stuffing, and phishing schemes. To counter this, implement Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).
MFA requires users to verify their identity through at least two means, such as a password combined with a code sent to their phone, a fingerprint scan, or an authentication app. This extra layer of security makes it much more difficult for unauthorised users to gain access, even if they manage to obtain login credentials.
Ensure frequent data backups and testing
Regularly backing up your data is one of the most effective ways to protect against data loss, particularly in the event of a ransomware attack. Ransomware can encrypt your files and lock you out of your systems, demanding payment for their release.
A recent backup allows you to restore your data without paying the ransom. It’s important to store backups in a secure, separate location – preferably offline or in a cloud with strong encryption. Testing your backups periodically is just as crucial; many businesses discover too late that their backup files are corrupted or incomplete. Ensure that restoration processes work as expected to minimise downtime in a worst-case scenario.
Conduct cybersecurity audits to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities
A proactive approach is critical to staying ahead of cyber threats. Regular cybersecurity audits allow businesses to identify potential weaknesses in their systems, processes, and infrastructure.
These audits involve evaluating your current security measures, testing your defences, and scanning for vulnerabilities.
By conducting audits regularly, you can identify gaps before they are exploited by attackers and take the necessary steps to fix them. Working with a third-party cybersecurity expert such as Future Processing can provide an unbiased assessment and ensure that your business is fully compliant with industry standards.
Develop and regularly update an incident response plan for potential cyberattacks
No business is completely immune to cyberattacks. That’s why it’s vital to have a well-documented cyber incident response plan.
This plan should outline the steps to take when a security breach occurs, including communication protocols, containment strategies, and recovery procedures.
Having a clear plan in place will help your team respond quickly and effectively, minimising damage. The response plan should be reviewed and updated regularly to address new threats and emerging attack vectors. Conducting regular drills or simulations will help ensure your team is well-prepared to act swiftly in the event of a real attack.
Educate staff on recognising phishing and other cybersecurity threats
Human error is a leading cause of cyber breaches. Phishing attacks, in particular, target employees with fraudulent emails designed to trick them into revealing sensitive information or clicking on malicious links.
Regularly training your staff to recognise these threats is crucial. Encourage them to be cautious with unsolicited emails, check the sender’s address carefully, and avoid clicking on links or downloading attachments from unfamiliar sources.
Training should also cover how to securely handle data, create strong passwords, and report potential security incidents. A vigilant and well-informed workforce is one of the most effective tools in your cybersecurity arsenal.
Read more about the human factor in cybersecurity:
- The human factor in cybersecurity: the greatest challenge. Part I
- The human factor in cybersecurity: the greatest challenge. Part 2
Data encryption – protect sensitive data
Encryption is one of the most effective ways to protect sensitive data, whether it’s at rest (stored on a server or device) or in transit (being transferred over a network).
Encrypting files, communications, and databases ensures that even if an attacker gains access to your data, they won’t be able to read or use it without the decryption key. This is especially important for protecting customer information, financial records, intellectual property, and other critical assets. Ensure that strong encryption methods are used throughout your organisation to minimise the risk of data exposure and security threats.
Implement tools to prevent unauthorised data transfer
Preventing the unauthorised transfer of sensitive data is critical to maintaining data integrity and confidentiality. Data Loss Prevention (DLP) tools monitor and control the movement of sensitive data, whether through email, file transfers, or uploads to cloud services.
These tools help ensure that proprietary or confidential information is not shared accidentally or maliciously, preventing data breaches and leaks. DLP systems can also be configured to block unauthorised attempts to access or transfer sensitive files, adding an extra layer of protection.
Restrict access based on roles
Not everyone in your organisation needs access to all systems, applications, or data. By implementing role-based access control (RBAC), you can ensure that employees only have access to the information and resources necessary to perform their job.
This minimises the risk of internal data breaches, accidental data exposure, or unauthorised access to critical systems. RBAC can also help limit the potential impact of a security breach by containing the exposure to a smaller subset of your data.
Protect physical access to IT infrastructure
While digital security often takes center stage, physical security meaning access to your IT infrastructure is just as important. Servers, data centres, and other critical hardware should be protected with strict access controls, such as keycards, security cameras, and biometric authentication.
Limit physical access to only authorised personnel to reduce the risk of tampering, theft, or sabotage. In addition, securing workstations and mobile devices is vital, particularly in a hybrid or remote work environment where employees may access sensitive information outside the office.
Boost your cybersecurity strategy with Future Processing!
If you’re ready to strengthen your cybersecurity posture or want to ensure your existing security measures are sufficient, consider boosting your strategy with Future Processing.
Our team of cybersecurity experts is dedicated to helping businesses stay ahead of ever-evolving threats. We offer tailored solutions, from comprehensive security audits and data protection strategies to incident response planning. By partnering with Future Processing, you’ll have access to cutting-edge technologies and industry-leading best practices, ensuring your systems, data, and networks are fully protected against potential risks.
Take your cybersecurity to the next level and safeguard your business with Future Processing as your trusted partner. Contact us now and let’s talk!