Cyber Readiness: Is Your Business Prepared for the Next Cyberattack?
Cybercrimes are becoming more rampant worldwide as attacks like ransomware, malware, and phishing become everyday occurrences. With global cybercrime damage hitting a whopping $16 billion a day, it’s crucial for businesses to be cyber ready if they want to avoid financial fallout.
The good news? Getting your business cyber ready isn’t as hard as you might think. There are simple, proactive steps employers can take to boost cyber awareness and strengthen their defenses. Plus, the U.S. government’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) offers some solid cybersecurity best practices to guide you.
Let’s dive into how you can start protecting your business today by becoming cyber ready.
Top 3 Cyber Readiness Practices for Employers
1. Develop a Culture of Cyber Awareness
The best way to stay cyber ready is to create a workplace culture where cybersecurity is everyone’s business. When your employees are well-versed in spotting cyber threats, they can make smarter, safer decisions. Beyond basic training, keep your team updated on the latest cybercrime trends, so they know what new tricks hackers are using. You can even create a handy checklist of common cybercriminal tactics for employees to refer to when they’re unsure about an email or online communication.
2. Follow the NIST Checklist
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework is a great guide for reducing your risk of cyberattacks. It’s a voluntary set of best practices, but it’s packed with actionable steps. NIST’s framework is based on five key functions:
- Identify: Pinpoint the cyber risks and assets that need protection.
- Protect: Set up safety measures to safeguard sensitive data.
- Detect: Test your systems regularly to detect any cyber events.
- Respond: Have a response plan ready for when (not if) a cyberattack happens.
- Recover: Be prepared to restore disrupted services and notify the right people after an attack.
3. Perform Continuous Software Updates
Cyber readiness isn’t a one-and-done deal. To stay protected, you need to regularly update your systems and procedures. Automating updates is a great way to make sure your software stays current. You can also implement policies that require employees to change their passwords periodically. Every business is different, so tailor your updates and procedures to fit your unique needs and goals.
The Takeaway
Cybercrimes aren’t going away anytime soon—in fact, they’re expected to become even more frequent. So, is your business prepared? Now more than ever, businesses need to take proactive steps to protect themselves in the face of growing cyber threats.
If you’re not sure how your current cyber readiness measures up, Sawyer Solutions is here to help. We can assess your systems and guide you through the steps to becoming fully cyber ready.
Want to learn more about cyber readiness? Check out additional blogs in our resources section.