Building an effective cyber-security strategy

Dominik Birgelen at oneclick outlines some key considerations for businesses when they are planning their approach to information security

The global business environment is becoming increasingly complex and interconnected, compelling organisations to employ the latest technological innovations to secure their digital assets. Despite these efforts, cyber-security incidents pose a persistent threat, with nearly 20% of companies susceptible to data breaches at least once a month.

A robust cyber-security strategy is essential to safeguard IT operations and can play a key role in securing network infrastructure against emerging threats. Companies must prioritise including comprehensive strategies that encompass detection, response, and threat prevention. By conducting due diligence, and monitoring potential gaps and pain points, organisations can mitigate risks and enhance their cyber resilience. 

Relying on isolated, patched-together cyber-security solutions or individual employees can be one of the biggest security weaknesses. Instead, businesses should centralise comprehensive cyber-security strategies to maintain a controlled overview and management of the various resources, keep track of resource allocation and enable flexible adjustments without delay. 

Companies must implement holistic cyber-security strategies that outline resource and task priorities aligned with their business goals. The question is: how to establish an effective cyber-security strategy? There are a number of key elements that organisations can consider such as cyber-security training, advanced technology, and the right IT partner. 

Training: an essential element 

When developing an effective strategy, one must consider the strength of security awareness across the organisation. The UK government estimates that 95% of cyber-attacks succeed due to human error. To strengthen cyber-security, companies should empower their staff with appropriate training.

Training employees can help minimise risk and improve cyber-security by increasing awareness. Employees trained to identify potential cyber threats, such as phishing emails, social engineering attacks, malware, and ransomware, can enhance security postures. 

Businesses can utilise best-practice sessions, mock phishing trials, strong-password workshops, or discussions on new phishing trends to achieve increased cyber awareness. Effective training as part of cyber-security strategies can help businesses mitigate cyberattacks caused by human errors, future-proofing their overall security postures. 

Cloud and Zero Trust Architecture

A strategic implementation of cloud technology provides scalability and flexibility, enabling businesses to adapt to changing security needs effortlessly. Cloud solutions allow companies to leverage flexible infrastructure, ensuring that cyber-security measures evolve to match emerging threats. 

Cloud-based solutions such as Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) and Desktop-as-a-Service (DaaS) can play a vital role in enabling organisations to deal with cyberattacks. These solutions can provide additional security by storing data and applications in secure, centralised environments.

Centralised security management in cloud platforms enhances control, visibility, and the ability to respond rapidly to potential incidents. By rapidly switching to backup instances during a cyberattack, companies can minimise downtime and data loss, speeding up the recovery process.

In order to ensure overall security and enhance the effectiveness of security provided by cloud solutions, companies must implement Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA). ZTA is a security model that verifies every user and device attempting to access the network. ZTA assumes no inherent trust within a network, focusing on verifying every user and device attempting to access resources.

ZTA principles, which include multi-factor authentication, granular access controls, and continuous monitoring, enhance cyber-security defences and ensure data protection. Integrating ZTA into cyber-security strategies ensures consistent policy enforcement across devices and IT environments, improving compliance and resilience. 

Not only do ZTA-based solutions help organisations reduce the threat surface, but they also provide companies with more control and authentication capabilities.

Selecting the right IT partner 

While training and technology are critical, businesses can benefit from partnering with an experienced and reliable IT partner to maximise these elements. Outsourcing cyber-security allows organisations to leverage wider expertise cost-effectively and regularly monitor security postures to identify gaps and patch vulnerabilities. 

When selecting a partner, companies should consider the level of cloud expertise and compliance focus offered. A competent partner must align with specific compliance requirements, ensuring adherence to data protection regulations. The right vendor can seamlessly integrate key cyber-security components, such as employee training and ZTA, across all levels, along with modern, scalable, and secure digital workplaces.

Cyber vulnerabilities continue to evolve as threat actors discover new methods of attack and make their malicious attacks more sophisticated. As organisations prepare for their 2024 plans, they must constantly adapt their cyber-security to match the rapidly evolving threat landscape. By developing and regularly assessing their cyber-security strategies, businesses can mitigate potential threats and improve cyber strength.

With improved cyber-security, companies can focus on their growth without having to worry about the security of their IT assets.

Dominik Birgelen is CEO of oneclick

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