With more than 2,000 cyberattacks happening daily in the United States, the time to secure your business with a solid cybersecurity plan is now. Companies have several options for implementing effective cybersecurity measures. We’ve included a foolproof plan to make your IT platform and processes as resilient as possible.
Companies like Managed Services Partners, LLC, serving the greater Indianapolis area, have partnered with Arctic Wolf and other third-party providers to deliver maximum protection for their clients. We highly recommend consulting with a Managed Services Provider (MSP) team member to ensure you implement the best cybersecurity solution for your organization.
Cybersecurity Steps for Businesses
1. Assess and Understand Risks
- Inventory IT assets: Computers, servers, mobile devices, cloud services, third-party software.
- Classify sensitive data: Customer data, financial records, employee details, intellectual property.
- Risk assessment: Identify what’s most valuable and what’s most vulnerable.
2. Establish Strong Access Management
- Role-based access control (RBAC): Only provide employees access to what they need.
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Especially for email, admin tools, and cloud platforms.
- Employee offboarding process: Immediately revoke access when staff members leave.
3. Secure Your Infrastructure
- Firewall and endpoint protection: Apply firewalls, antivirus, and anti-malware tools to all endpoints.
- Patch and update systems regularly: Automate software updates when possible.
- Secure your Wi-Fi: Use strong encryption (e.g., WPA3) and change default router credentials.
4. Protect Business Data
- Data encryption: Use encryption for both storage (at rest) and transmission (in transit).
- Regular backups: Automate backups, store them off-site or in the cloud, and test recovery procedures.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Prevent unauthorized data transfers or leaks.
5. Employee Training and Awareness
- Mandatory cybersecurity training: Teach employees how to identify phishing attempts, scams, and risky behavior.
- Simulated phishing attacks: Continuously test and train employees.
- Cyber hygiene tips: Lock screens, avoid public Wi-Fi, and use secure passwords.
6. Develop Security Policies
- Acceptable Use Policy (AUP): Define what employees can and cannot do with company devices and networks.
- Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) Policy: Require security protocols for personal devices used for work.
- Incident Response Plan (IRP): Assign roles and outline steps to take during a cybersecurity incident.
7. Continuous Monitoring and Detection
- Use monitoring tools (e.g., SIEM): Track network activity and flag anomalies.
- Log management: Maintain and review logs of access, system changes, and security events.
- External scans and penetration testing: Test your defenses at least once a year.
8. Incident Response and Recovery
- Create and document an IRP: Include communication plans, containment, and recovery steps.
- Assign a response team: Designate internal staff or partner with a managed security provider.
- Post-incident review: Analyze what happened, what worked, and how to improve.
9. Audit, Test, and Improve
- Regular security audits: Conduct internal or external reviews of your security posture.
- Vulnerability scans: Identify flaws before attackers do.
- Compliance checks: Align with standards like ISO 27001, NIST, HIPAA, or PCI DSS.
We cannot stress enough how important cybersecurity is in today’s IT planning process. Billions of dollars are lost to cybercriminals every year in the United States alone. Contact a Managed Services Partner team member today and get started on a cybersecurity plan that could save your business thousands of dollars in lost time and revenue.
Managed Services Partners, LLC offers cybersecurity, connection management, and infrastructure management. Our mission is to provide clients with leading-edge IT solutions supported by the best customer service in the industry.
Get ahead of cyber threats—request your free cybersecurity assessment today and take the first step toward peace of mind.