Cybersecurity is something that should be taken seriously by businesses of every shape and size in the UK. According to the Home Office’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey, around four in ten businesses and three in ten charities experienced a cyber attack over the course of twelve months.
The prevalence of reported attacks is greater in large businesses than smaller ones – but this might be almost entirely due to the fact that smaller ones aren’t as good at detecting them.
If you want to reduce your risk, then there are a few common vulnerabilities worth looking at.
You Store Valuable Customer Data
The most lucrative targets, from the perspective of many hackers, are those that store lots of customer data. The data can be easily sold on the dark web, and used to generate cash at the expense of the customers to whom it belongs.
If your business is found to have allowed a breach, through negligence or malice, then it might be held liable under the Data Protection Act 2018. Professional advice can help you to safeguard your reputation, and protect you against legal risk.
Prevention
All sensitive data should be encrypted, especially when it’s being sent from one location to another. Where data is stored on site, the system should be regularly audited, so that potential vulnerabilities can be spotted and corrected.
It’s also a good idea to stick to a principle of minimal storage. The less data you’re storing, the less legal and reputational risk you’ll be exposed to.
Weak or Outdated Security Systems
Cyber attacks are constantly evolving. As such, the means by which we respond to these attacks must evolve, too. When attackers spot an ageing system, they might also spot a range of exploitable vulnerabilities. Sometimes, in the case of a phishing attack, the vulnerability might take the form of the password itself.
Prevention
Operating systems, antivirus software, and passwords should all be regularly updated. The use of a password manager can make this much easier. Be sure to regularly test your own systems for weaknesses.
Lack of Staff Cybersecurity Training
Not every member of your team can be an expert in computing, or cybersecurity. But still, a little bit of basic training can go a long way. It might be that a little bit of basic instruction can make a given employee think twice before giving away a password.
Prevention
The best way to keep your team vigilant is to provide training on an ongoing basis. Sessions should take place at least twice a year, during which basic principles can be reinforced. These sessions might also be an opportunity to foment a culture of vigilance and reporting.
Remote Working Weak Spots
The practice of working from home, or from a cafe or public place, can introduce many vulnerabilities. This is especially so if personal devices are being used.
Prevention
Remote workers might be required to make use of Virtual Private Networks, firewalls, and other security software. All logins might be secured using multi-factor authentication, too – that way, a compromised password won’t spell disaster.
Valuable Intellectual Property or Trade Secrets
It isn’t just customer data that we need to concern ourselves with. The leaking of valuable trade secrets and proprietary designs can impose a significant cost on the business, especially if its commercial rivals later come into possession of that information.
Prevention
Role-based permissions can help to ensure that data is only shared with people who absolutely need it. Alerts and notifications might also be issued whenever data is being accessed from an unfamiliar source.
