Colocation: Cybersecurity: 6 Best Practices to Combat Cyber Threats

Any organization, big or small, can fall victim to cybercrime. From healthcare and education institutions to government organizations and banks, reports of cyber-attacks are coming from everywhere. So, it comes as no surprise that smart businesses are investing more in managed security service providers to keep their sensitive data safe and eliminate cybersecurity risks.

If you are in the same boat and are looking for ways to protect your company’s data in 2021, check out these proven cybersecurity best practices to prepare your business against potential data breaches and ensure business continuity.

1. Create an Insider Cybersecurity Threat Program

At its core, every modern cybersecurity strategy has an insider threat program. Employees having access to company information is dicey since devices can be damaged and information has the potential of being leaked.

If your company has sensitive data, and your reputation could be tarnished in the event of a data breach, having an insider threat program in place is critical. While it can be considered a low priority task and it does come with a cost, your managed security service provider should not delay in gaining the support of top management to craft policy across all departments.

2. Secure Traveling Employees and Remote Work Environments Against Cybersecurity Threats

Many corporate employees have a tendency of accessing their corporate networks through public/unsecured Wi-Fi networks while working remotely or traveling on work trips. In the corporate world, sacrificing security for convenience is simply unacceptable, and your employees must be aware of the enormous risks they are taking.

Make sure your managed security service provider offers education and training on the precautions that employees can take to avoid risks. For example, employees should avoid installing anti-malware programs. While they may think they’re helping, randomly installing an anti-malware program could possibly increase the risk of a breach.

3. Conduct Phishing Simulations

Phishing attacks are one of the most common forms of cyber-attacks today – they accounted for 22% of all data breaches in 2020. Conducting phishing simulations will train your employees on how to avoid downloading unknown files or clicking on malicious links.

By raising cybersecurity awareness among employees, these simulations help them understand the far-reaching impact of a phishing attack. It will help them learn about the latest tricks and give them a safe space to test their knowledge and ask questions.

4. Audit Privileged Access

Every respectable managed security service provider recommends reviewing the number of users who have privileged access to sensitive data of your business. Giving out privileged access is certainly a necessary risk, especially when there is a change of roles or staff. Make sure you regularly look at permissions, develop a system of auditing privileged access or adopt a system of rotating or temporary credentials.

5. Update Systems and Software for Best Cybersecurity Practices

Cybercrimes are ever-increasing, and a less-than-solid network will fall prey to it sooner or later. Make sure your company’s network is always protected by scheduling regular maintenance on hardware security and planning routine software updates.

6. Maintain Compliance

Not all organizations will need to do this, but if your data legally requires it, your programs (such as cybersecurity, for instance) will need to be in compliance with regulatory bodies such as HIPAA, ISAE, and PCI DSS.

VPLS: Your Most Trusted Managed Cybersecurity Service Provider

At VPLS, we offer comprehensive insider threat protection solutions that cover many of the latest cybersecurity strategies available today. Our broad functionality includes access control solutions, response tools, and extensive monitoring capabilities.

Fill out this contact form to learn more.