Cybersecurity

It seems like the news is always telling us about a new data breach that has leaked the information of millions of people. This is a huge problem for individuals and enterprises alike. Here’s why every enterprise needs a robust cybersecurity strategy.

Digital Assets Need Protection 

Security a few decades ago looked a lot different than it does today. While there will always be threats to physical property, the security landscape is now far more complex than ever before. And it appears that things will only continue heading in this direction.

Digitization has been the major driver in this transition. Before, it was pretty easy to tell if something had been stolen. It would simply not be in the place you left it. Or, you would show up to your office or store and there had been a clear break-in. This is no longer true thanks to the shadiness associated with data breaches and hacking.

Cybersecurity threats often aren’t even detected for a long time. A recent study from IBM found an average of 206 days for how long it takes businesses to recognize a breach. That’s almost seven months of being in the dark. During that time, the guilty parties can be potentially using that extracted data for all kinds of bad things. Digital assets need a full array of protection. End of story.

Being Unprepared Can Lead to Disaster

Fighting off cybercrime is all about being ready for it. There’s no way hackers and scammers are going to play nice with you. It’s essential enterprises line up all their defenses to keep attacks at bay.

All enterprises should have an IT team dedicated to making sure networks and digital assets are always protected and running smoothly. But this isn’t going to be enough in all cases. Many enterprises find they can’t keep up even when employing a solid IT department. This is why security as a service is becoming an increasingly attractive play for enterprises.

Enterprises are comfortable outsourcing cloud computing or on-site security needs to third-party providers. In the same vein, using a cybersecurity service provider can help enterprises tighten up their networks. There’s an inherent benefit to working with experts in a field. They’re going to know what to look for and be able to quickly identify threats that have afflicted others.

Threats Aren’t One-Dimensional

Some enterprises, or smaller organizations, might be tempted to set up some basic cybersecurity measures, wipe their hands, and call it a day. This is a recipe for disaster.

Cyber threats aren’t one-dimensional. They’re increasing in complexity, capability, and effectiveness. This can be exhibited in the fact that practically all cyberattacks involve some level of social engineering. Essentially, there’s a point where an employee or other human actor needs to be involved and make a mistake in order for the attack to succeed.

Enterprises need to take this with the utmost seriousness. It’s imperative to train employees about the dangers of spear phishing and other common attacks. Without proper and continuing education, no enterprise can stay safe from threats.

Related : 15 Online Free Tools to Scan Website Security Vulnerabilities & Malware

Your Reputation Is on the Line

Ultimately, the reputation of an enterprise is directly tied into how it acts before, during, and after a cyberattack. Organizations that have had massive public snafus in this arena have paid a price for it—both financially and in terms of public trust.

Image is essential to an enterprise. No one wants to work with a brand that’s seen as unfavorable, or one that was in some way responsible for damaging people’s lives. Furthermore, people won’t want to do business with you if they think you’re going to let someone steal their data.

Reputation is inexorably linked to the enterprise. Building a robust cybersecurity roadmap can help maintain that reputation. No matter the enterprise or the industry, it’s key all digital assets are kept secure.