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Cybersecurity Checklist:
Security Best Practices 2023
From being a hastily introduced, short-term only response to an unprecedented global event, remote working continues to be widely followed by companies worldwide and looks set to remain so even after the pandemic eventually blows over. Even companies that were traditionally skeptical about remote working have seen the benefits while surveys have shown that workers prefer it continues, at least on a part-time basis. However, there is one major cloud hanging over remote working - cybersecurity threats.
As organizations moved to what were inevitably less secure remote working environments, cyberattacks have skyrocketed across the world and are still a major concern for companies of all sizes. If remote working is to remain a feature of working life, it is important that robust cybersecurity processes and practices are adopted.
To help you review your cybersecurity preparedness, we have put together a detailed checklist that offers a step-by-step guide to help you proactively prevent malicious threats.
With endpoints scattered across multiple remote locations, gaining full visibility into an organization’s entire IT infrastructure is a major challenge for companies during this time. Also, security blind spots are created with unsecured home networks. You need a powerful remote monitoring and management tool to have a complete view of your IT and keep tabs on how things are operating.
Antivirus software is a key part of your defense. Ensure you have a modern, centrally- managed antivirus solution designed to cope with current threats. Such a solution will update and scan devices regularly, automatically taking appropriate action when a threat is discovered. Centralized reporting will also help identify security weaknesses and help direct appropriate training. This can be supplemented by other tools that can monitor the Dark Web for example, to help understand if user credentials have been compromised.
VPNs allow employees to securely access their corporate networks from anywhere. By encrypting your communication, you can prevent users from eavesdropping on your Wi-Fi network. Always make sure that your VPN is configured properly by disabling split-tunneling to prevent employees from accessing the Internet while connected to your sensitive corporate information.
Even your VPN is vulnerable to unknown threats. Your VPN clients as well as other software in your network must be patched regularly without fail. Patching must be done instantly as soon as security updates are available. This process can be automated with the help of a powerful patching tool.
With this transition to remote working, the traditional ways of using tools and accessing technology are slowly fading away. In this scenario, you need to make sure that your employees have the right SaaS tools to perform their day-to-day tasks. For instance, tools like Trello for project management, Slack for communication, etc., are making life much simpler for employees by allowing them to work beyond the confines of an office cubicle.
You need a comprehensive backup strategy that includes all endpoints in your network. With mounting cyberthreats across the globe, your data is no longer secure on your users’ endpoints. A study by Webroot has estimated that nearly 74 percent of employees do not back up their data.1 This is a scary statistic for businesses heavily reliant on their data. A well-developed backup strategy is a must for organizations of all sizes.
Multi-factor authentication prevents unauthorized access to your valuable business data. Important business accounts and their passwords are always vulnerable to brute-force attacks, and it is extremely important to add extra layers of security by incorporating multi-factor authentication.
The cybersecurity risk landscape has changed considerably since the start of this pandemic. In times like these, it is extremely critical to stay up to date with all the security threats looming over your network. A cybersecurity risk assessment that exposes the vulnerabilities in your system is essential to take key business decisions in your organization.
With remote working, it has become increasingly common for employees to use their personal devices for official tasks. Even worse, the family members, including children, of your employee may use the work computers at times. You need to create a strong IT appropriate use policy that details what the company-supplied equipment can and cannot be used for as well as the restrictions on accessing company resources via personal devices. By strictly enforcing this, you can mitigate the risk of malware infecting the corporate environment in the first place.
Organizations need to implement the principle of least privilege to make sure employees and other stakeholders have only the bare minimum privileges required to complete their tasks. For instance, a programmer working on marketing software doesn't need access to the financial records of a company. By restricting his/her access within the marketing department, you can prevent unauthorized access to your financial records and enforce better security.
Did you know that 54 percent of employees regularly click links in emails from unknown senders? 2 Remote working employees must be provided with periodic training on how to identify common security threats and the different ways by which they can secure themselves. Simulated phishing attack emails sent from the IT dept are very effective at reinforcing awareness about the dangers of such attacks. Training should also cover topics such as secure Wi-Fi usage, creating strong passwords, storing information in personal devices, file sharing tools, usage of social media, etc.
Sources
1 & 2. COVID-19 Clicks: How Phishing Capitalized on a Global Crisis