Cybersecurity Steps That Every Business Should Follow

Every day, a battle wages on the internet between hackers and cybersecurity. As black hatters develop new methods for hacking, such as targeting the Internet of Things (IoT) with botnet kits and the increase in “zero-day” exploits, cybersecurity companies are in a race to develop systems to counter every evolving attack.

So what cybersecurity steps can every business take to make sure they have the latest protections against hackers and other means of exploitation penetrating corporate defences?

IoT Protection

IoT refers to devices linked to the Internet. Think smartphones, smartwatches, digital cameras, notepads, computers and more. Hackers target these more vulnerable devices as a way to gain access to an organization’s network and its data. It’s easier than trying to attack the system through a head-on attempt to hack the firewall and other defences. Once inside a device, cybercriminals can use it to gain information which ultimately gives them access to the larger corporate network.

Companies are especially vulnerable to this if they allow employees to BYOD (bring your own device) to use for work. As opposed to secured company devices, businesses find it much harder to track private device data movements easily. Employee-owned devices serve multiple purposes because they are used for personal reasons as well as for business. This can mean exposure to social media accounts, apps downloaded from online stores and may lead to data breaches that penetrate a company’s firewalls and other defences.

AI and Machine Learning Software

Cybersecurity programs are written by software coders. Every innovation or adjustment made to the code is inserted manually. Programs can identify and report problems, but they don’t have the computing power to adjust themselves.

However, with advancements in AI and machine learning, programs now can be written to be self-learning and capable of making on-the-fly alterations to code to provide hacker and malware protections. That means shrinking the window between problems arising and solutions being created.

Only a couple of years ago this technology was out-of-reach in terms of cost and computing power for smaller companies. But now cutting-edge cybersecurity development is being offered at rates that meet small business budgets. You can choose from cloud computing services or cybersecurity providers that already have proven AI systems in place.

Cloud Computing Data Storage

Cloud computing refers to using an Internet or third-party locale-based solution for storing a company’s data. Today it is being used by companies both large and small. Cloud computing providers have the technological resources, storage, and security protections that typically are not available to the average small and growing business. That’s what makes them so appealing.

Using a cloud computing service for data storage such as Azure security protects a company’s online assets by decentralizing data and creating multiple redundancies to prevent attacks.

No doubt, the landscape of the Internet will continue to evolve and staying ahead of cybercriminals is in a company or organization’s best interests. No hospital should be held to ransom because its patient data records are compromised. No pipelines should be shut down by a ransomware attack. And yet these types of occurrences seem to be happening with increasing regularity. That’s why it’s vital for businesses and organizations to stay informed about cybersecurity steps they can take to make sure best practices are in place.