Protecting Businesses from Cybersecurity Outages

In a digital world that has more cyber threats then ever before, businesses must be vigilant in protecting their operations from these cybersecurity threats. Recent outages, such as the one experienced by CrowdStrike, highlight the importance of robust cybersecurity measures. Here are some steps that’s businesses can take to safeguard their systems and ensure continuity:

Diversify

Relying on a single cybersecurity provider can leave a business vulnerable to outages and gaps in their security posture. Diversifying cybersecurity tools is crucial. Consider integrating solutions with overlapping layers of protection like Sentinel One, which offers AI-driven endpoint protection, penetration testing, and vulnerability scanning are powerful tools for automated protection.

Maintain

Outdated software can be a gateway for cyberattacks. Regularly updating and patching systems helps close these gaps. Automated update solutions can simplify this process and ensure no critical patches are missed. Consider Remote Management Monitoring (RMM) & Mobile Device Management (MDM) solutions to help automate these tasks for your endpoints and mobile devices. This will also give you the opportunity to test the patches in a more controlled manor to prevent mass outages within your environment. Implement Multi Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification before granting access. This reduces the risk of unauthorized access, even if passwords are compromised. (Identity Access Management) IAM goes a step further by providing a platform for organizations to provide centralized identity based single sign-on and authentication capabilities.

Educate

Human error is a leading cause of cybersecurity breaches. Regular training sessions on recognizing phishing attempts and safe internet practices can significantly reduce this risk. Tools like KnowBe4 provide extensive security awareness training and user testing while also providing comprehensive reports management can use to make informed decisions about the state of internal security awareness.

Backup

Scanned and threat free backups are essential for recovery in case of a ransomware attack or data loss. This should not only cover vital corporate data but also key systems infrastructure such as internal service and application hosting servers. Employing both cloud-based and physical backups ensures data can be restored quickly and efficiently while maintaining offsite retention requirements.

Develop

Having a clear incident response plan can minimize damage and recovery time during a cyber event. This plan should outline steps for containment, eradication, and recovery, as well as communication protocols. Leverage and Enhance

Whether your business has a dedicated IT staff or not, managed security service providers (MSSPs) can offer continuous monitoring and management of security systems. Providers like BAASS Caribbean specialize in tailoring these services to fit the unique needs allowing your business to blend your internal IT team with the support, knowledge, and expertise of BAASS. It allows your business the flexibility to decide which IT services to keep in house and which would be better suited for outsourcing. By implementing these measures and staying informed about the latest cybersecurity trends and threats, businesses can better protect themselves from disruptions and ensure their operations remain secure.

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