As the cyberlandscape continues to evolve, so do the methods of attack used by cybercriminals. And it isn’t just outsiders you have to worry about; insiders can be responsible for data breaches too. Given all the moving pieces, it’s no wonder the state of cybersecurity has become so serious.
10 Steps to Proactive Security offers recommendations for approaches to help keep your users safe and your stakeholders happy. Get a peek at the first three below:
- Shift the conversation to risk
Conversation around cybersecurity is often framed as a binary; you’re either secure or you’re not. News flash: there is no all or nothing in cybersecurity. We need to frame the discussion in terms of risk, and the levels of risk your business faces.
First things first: identify the risk. How damaging could a data breach be to your company’s bottom line or reputation? And this isn’t just a concern for big businesses; small businesses are targets for cybercriminals too. Where there is data, there is risk.
- Understand the environment and define the crown jewels
Once you’ve identified risk, you can define the most important things (and people) to protect; these are the “crown jewels,” if you will. This encompasses applications, systems, data, process, and access points—as well as employees. If hackers compromise your chief financial officer’s laptop, for instance, that could be devastating.
Heighten security around these items and regularly review security policies for them. You can’t secure everything, but you can help ensure that those items with the highest risk are thoroughly protected.
- Implement good cyberhygiene
Next, focus on the fundamentals; make sure your cyberhygiene is up to par. This is where you need to do things right—using the right technology, the right processes, and the right effort to improve security and reduce the risks you’ve identified.
It’s often the simplest
types of cybersecurity attacks that succeed, like a phishing attack or a malicious email download, so it’s important to remain vigilant with protections such as a strong antivirus, persistent patches, and frequent user access and permissions audits.
Want more moves for staying ahead of hackers? Get the rest in
10 Steps to Proactive Security. 
