Cybersecurity is a major concern for any modern organization. With the rise of cyber threats, it is crucial to have a deep understanding and apply key cybersecurity concepts to protect against these threats. This post aims to provide you with insights on common cybersecurity attacks, good cyber hygiene, and effective strategies to protect your organization.
Understanding the common types of cyber attacks can help you to better prepare and defend your organization. These include:
Just like maintaining good personal hygiene is essential for your health, good cyber hygiene is crucial for the health of your organization. It includes practices like:
Good cyber hygiene requires strong password controls. The average user has to remember between 3 to 19 passwords to log into over 170+ sites. Hence, using weak and shared passwords can lead to security issues. If one site is hacked, your password can be exposed on other sites. It's advisable to use a password manager to create and use truly random complex passwords.
Checking if your passwords have been compromised is also crucial. Websites like Password Strength Checker and Have I Been Pwned can help you check if your passwords have been compromised.
Implementing a defense-in-depth strategy can help protect your organization from multiple layers of cyber threats. This strategy includes:
It's crucial to have a plan of action in case a cyber attack occurs. This includes:
Having clear internal and external communication plans can help your organization respond effectively during a cyber attack. An internal communication plan should include regular training for employees on how to recognize phishing emails and other common attack methods. An external communication plan should outline how to communicate with customers and the public during a cyber attack. Remember, it's important to have these plans prepared in advance.
As the CFO of Brew, Drew Adamek puts it, “I prefer simple over complicated and, rather than thinking about a particular event, think about the impact.” It's important to think about the potential impact of a cyber attack on your organization and prepare accordingly.