30 Mar Building a powerful cyber security arsenal – Key security measures
As we have explored previously in the blog series, cyber security should be a major concern to you and everyone within your organisation. We have explored some of the potential threats posed by cyber criminals and have also looked at ways in which to guard against each type of threat individually. Now we will take a look at some key security measures you can easily implement that will improve the levels of cyber security in your organisation exponentially.
Key security measures
Good password practice
In most organisations, security protocols are often rigorously observed at an administrative level but can be overlooked at lower levels. It is essential that you and your staff are individually taking steps to ensure that your business’s digital assets remain safe and secure. Account logins act as the doorman to your virtual landscape, so it’s vital your team practice good password management to avoid giving unscrupulous individuals unbridled access to your accounts and sensitive data.
Accounts can be impenetrable with passwords that are secure
Considering how often we use passwords in the modern world and how easy it is to produce one of quality, you would be surprised how often they aren’t up to scratch. The basics of making a password are as follows:
- Don’t use common number / letter sequences (1234, ABCD)
- Don’t use common words or phrases that mean something to you, or names of people and places you’re connected with in some way. (ManchesterUnitedFC123)
- The best passwords feature a random assortment of letters, numbers and other characters and have no meaning and no relevance to the user. (Ae4Fg4R3dy1)
Keep the following principles in mind when setting passwords to ensure that they are strong and give your accounts the best chance of remaining secure.
- Always – Use upper and lowercase letters. Any method of making the password as hard to work out as possible is a positive.
- The longer the better – If possible, make sure your password is over 10 characters long. Again, the longer it is the harder it is to work out, resulting in your systems benefitting from more security.
- Use multi-factor authentication where it is available – Having another step to the process can only make things more secure – the more barriers that the cyber criminal has to break down the less likely they are to succeed.
Although often neglected as an inconvenience, password security is THE frontline defence for your organisation and should be taken seriously.
Let’s take a look at another way of ensuring good cyber security in your business.
Good data backup
The frequency of cyber attacks has increased exponentially over recent years, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic – with everyone making a sudden transition to remote working without the correct education or tools – and the advancements in technology. With this in mind, it is integral to your business to have a good backup strategy in place in case all of your other efforts to guard your organisation fail.
The 3-2-1 backup rule
A good place to start is the 3-2-1 backup rule. This is where three copies of the data exist; two of which should be on separate storage media and one stored offsite (in the cloud, for example) for disaster recovery purposes. Holding three copies of your data in different locations means you are guaranteed business continuity no matter the severity of the attack.
Data backup is not only relevant after a cyber attack but also in case of any unforeseen circumstances, a hardware failure, fire, or flood, for example. Having a plan to ensure data can be recovered quickly could save your business from certain doom.
Data backup
There are so many data options available on the market that this, along with fact that most businesses need a tailored approach specifically designed for them, makes it hard to summarise how to perform a comprehensive data backup. Below are a few ‘musts’ for when it comes to data backup no matter your individual requirements.
- Backup everything – Storage is cheaper than ever, so, instead of picking and choosing individual documents, you should back them all up.
- Store in as many places as you can manage – Don’t be afraid to store data in more than three locations – just make sure you keep track of where everything is.
- Take advantage of the many benefits of Cloud storage – The Cloud can act as a cost-effective, convenient, and easily accessible storage option. It is ideal for disaster recovery in the event of a serious incident, such as an office fire.
Taking this advice on board will set your organisation up for a cyber secure future and allow you to focus your attention on more pressing matters.
Cyber security guaranteed with Varatech
Our team of experts will implement and maintain the cyber security of your business. Security is not a luxury but an essential part of protecting any business in the digital age, and that is why we take a security-first approach. We will educate your employees to guarantee they are doing their part to guard the security of your organisation; we go above and beyond in helping our clients and their teams get much more value from their technology by providing knowledge and training. We guarantee that our clients always come first, with a straightforward approach that provides a strong relationship between our team and yours. Contact us now and find out how we can help your business.
