Stay Ahead of Hackers: 10 Cybersecurity Resolutions for the New Year

Cybersecurity risks and trends can change annually as technology continues to advance at an alarming rate. As such, organizations must reassess their data protection practices at the start of each new year and make achievable cybersecurity resolutions to help protect themselves from costly breaches. Here are 10 resolutions your company can implement to ensure you don’t become the victim of a cybercrime:

1. Provide Security Training.

Cybercriminals are using artificial intelligence (AI) to launch faster, larger attacks. Your employees are the first line of defense. One click on a malicious link can bypass even the best security tools. Train staff to detect threats, avoid risky sites, secure devices, limit oversharing, follow company policies (e.g., multi-person approval for funds transfer), and report suspicious activity. Awareness is key to preventing costly breaches.

2. Install Strong Antivirus Software and Keep It Updated.

Using strong antivirus software is one of the most effective ways to protect your company’s data. Be sure to conduct thorough research to choose software that’s best for your company’s needs. Once installed, antivirus programs should also be kept up to date.

3. Instill Safe Web Browsing Practices.

Deceptive and malicious websites can easily infect your company’s network, often leading to more serious cyberattacks. To protect your organization, employees should be trained on proper web usage and instructed to only interact with secure websites. Consider blocking known threats and potentially malicious web pages outright.

4. Create Strong Password Policies.

According to NordPass, some of the most popular—and quickly hacked—passwords at work and at home remain 123456, 123456789, password, and qwerty123. Effective password management protects the integrity, availability and confidentiality of your organization’s data. Create a password policy that specifies your organization’s password requirements, including length and the use of special characters. This policy should require employees to change their passwords regularly and avoid using the same password for multiple accounts.

5. Use Multifactor Authentication (MFA).

While complex passwords can help deter cybercriminals, they can still be cracked. To further prevent cybercriminals from gaining access to employee accounts, MFA is key. MFA adds a layer of security that can allow your company to protect against compromised credentials. Through this method, users must confirm their identities by providing extra information (e.g., a phone number or unique security code) when attempting to access corporate applications, networks and servers.

6. Conduct Vulnerability Assessments.

The best way to evaluate your company’s data exposures is through vulnerability assessments. Using simulated attacks and stress tests, vulnerability assessments can help you uncover entry points into your IT infrastructure. Following these assessments, cybersecurity experts will compile their findings and provide your company with recommendations for improving network and data safeguards.

7. Patch Systems Regularly and Keep Them Updated.

A common way cybercriminals can gain entry into your company’s systems is by exploiting software vulnerabilities. To prevent this, it’s critical that you update applications, operating systems, security software and firmware regularly

8. Back Up Your Data.

If your system is compromised, it’s important to keep backup files and store them offline and offsite, if possible. Failing to do so can result in losing critical business or proprietary data.

9. Understand Phishing Threats and How To Respond.

In broad terms, phishing is a method cyber criminals use to gather personal information. In these scams, phishers send emails (or text messages, in the case of smishing) that direct users to fraudulent websites, asking victims to provide sensitive information. These emails and websites are designed to look legitimate and trick individuals into giving credit card numbers, account numbers, passwords, usernames or other sensitive information. Phishing is becoming more sophisticated by the day, and it’s more important than ever to understand the different types of attacks, how to identify them and preventive measures you can implement to keep your organization safe. As such, it’s critical to train employees on common phishing scams and other cybersecurity concerns. Provide real-world examples during training to help them understand what to look for.

10. Create an Incident Response Plan.

Most organizations have some form of data protection in place. While these protections are critical for minimizing the damages caused by a breach, they don’t provide clear action steps following an attack. That’s where cyber incident response plans can help. While cybersecurity programs help secure an organization’s digital assets, cyber incident response plans provide clear steps for companies to follow when a cyber event occurs. Response plans allow organizations to notify impacted customers and partners quickly and efficiently, limiting financial and reputational damages.

Bonus Resolution: Know What To Do After a Cyberattack.

Download our Cyber Claims Do’s and Don’ts tip sheet for important recommendations that could protect your organization’s finances and reputation and strengthen your insurance claim if your organization becomes the victim of a significant cyberattack.

For additional cyber risk management guidance and insurance solutions, contact Hylant today.

Related Reading: What Is Cyber Insurance?

The above information does not constitute advice. Always contact your insurance broker or trusted advisor for insurance-related questions.