Processes, Policies and Procedures to Safeguard your Business from Cyber Threats

Cyberattacks are not only becoming more frequent but also more sophisticated, posing a significant threat to businesses of all sizes.

It is crucial now, more than ever, to prioritise the security of your business and safeguard both your proprietary information and your customers' data. With the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, it's imperative to stay one step ahead and implement robust measures to mitigate risks. At Sharp, we understand the gravity of this issue, which is why we continuously strive to develop proactive defences and security-first features for your business, including in your office's multifunction printers. Rest assured that with our comprehensive approach to cybersecurity, your business will be well-equipped to combat the escalating wave of cyberattacks.

This blog explores effective processes, policies and proven methods to safeguard your business from potential cyber threats, ensuring the utmost protection for your valuable data and ensuring the trust of your customers.

Achieving the Right Balance Between Minimal Security and Going Overboard

There is a balance between minimising the risk of an attack without incurring unnecessary expenses and adopting impractical solutions. Education plays a pivotal role in maintaining this balance. By educating your users, you empower them with the knowledge to survive a cyberattack and mitigate its potential impact. This comprehensive defence strategy encompasses hardware, software, and human behaviour, with the human element being particularly pivotal. Ultimately, while cyber criminals may attempt to infiltrate your systems through infected emails, it is the user's actions that determine whether or not a cyberattack occurs.

Therefore, our focus should be on the human-centric aspect of cybersecurity. The good news is that working with people is cost-effective compared to investing in sophisticated and expensive technologies. It all begins with the user, followed by the implementation of best practices, adherence to international standards, and the establishment of security policies, procedures, and processes in both software and hardware. Once this perfect combination of hardware, software, and human behaviour is achieved, your business can rest assured knowing it is safe from cyber threats.

The Key to Ensuring Your Business is Protected from Cyberattacks Lies in Educating Your Teams and Staff to be Vigilant

This shared responsibility extends to users, managers, and directors within your company. It is crucial for everyone to participate in an awareness program that addresses the risks of cyber threats and provides the necessary training to prevent potential attacks. This education should cover topics such as email security, safe browsing habits, and the identification of malicious websites. Additionally, if you are an employee who receives an email and accidentally clicks on a suspicious link, it is essential to report this incident to your managers. By being honest and upfront about any potential threats, you can prevent significant damage and potentially save the business from the consequences of a cyberattack. Remember, timely detection and effective response are key in addressing cyber intrusions.

The Future of Password Security: Transitioning to a Passwordless Era

To protect your business from cyberattacks, it's crucial to implement a zero-trust policy and carefully manage access privileges. In the past, we have seen instances where employees change roles but still retain credentials on the system, leaving room for potential attacks. By adopting a zero-trust policy, you can ensure that privileges are granted based on the minimum necessary level, and centrally manage and verify user credentials. In addition to this, it is essential to go beyond traditional authentication methods and implement multi-factor authentication. This includes utilising biometrics, something you know (like a password), and something you have (such as a token). By combining these factors and adhering to the principle of least privilege, you can significantly reduce the risk of attackers exploiting internal identities within your organisation.

Why You Should Consider Multi-factor Authentication

Relying solely on passwords for authentication can be a major vulnerability for your business. If a password is compromised in the office or if it is used across multiple platforms, the risk of unauthorised access becomes significantly higher. For instance, if you use the same password for LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, there is a good chance that you are also using it for more sensitive accounts like your banking system or work-related platforms. As humans, it's natural for us to prefer using the same password for convenience, but this practice is highly discouraged. That's why implementing triple or double factor authentication is crucial. It significantly reduces the likelihood of one compromised password compromising other applications and ensures greater security for your business and its data.

Discover the Best Practice for Patching Your Servers

In your security policy, it is crucial to include a section on patch management. Whenever a zero-day attack is not yet discovered, a patch is typically released. This patch must be applied, but it is essential to verify that it is a genuine security patch from the provider, such as Microsoft, and not from any other source. Using unauthorised patches can open the door to cyberattacks. Conducting regular audits every three months is important to identify any vulnerabilities, and maintaining communication with your technology providers is necessary to ensure that authentic security patches are promptly applied in your production environment and any other critical business functions.

Finding the Right Balance Between Security and Convenience is a Challenge.

As you increase security measures, it can sometimes lead to more inconvenience. Take the example of arriving home - if you have multiple keys, you need to use each one to access your home, which is safe but can be inconvenient, especially in bad weather when you want to get inside quickly. However, with proper user training, you can minimise this inconvenience and make your security measures more effective.

Similarly, implementing robust cybersecurity measures for your business may initially seem like a hassle. It could involve complex password requirements, regular software updates, and additional authentication steps. However, by investing in proper training and education for your employees, you can streamline these processes and make them a seamless part of your daily operations. Just like learning the most efficient way to unlock your front door, your employees can be taught the best practices for navigating through security measures without sacrificing productivity. By providing comprehensive training, your team will gain the knowledge and skills needed to effectively navigate potential cybersecurity threats and protect your business and customer data.

Stay ahead of the evolving threat landscape and safeguard your business with Sharp's proactive security-first features. Get in touch with us today and let us help you fortify your defences and protect both your data and your customers' information.