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18 Jan The Start of the New Year is a Perfect Time to Review Your Data Security Plan
Due to the sophistication of today’s AI-generated mass email campaigns tricking even the most cautious people, the opportunity to be hit with a cyber-attack continues to expand, making businesses vulnerable to an attack at any time. The stakes are particularly high for companies in financial services, healthcare and other industries that process highly sensitive information. Here are five internal security measures worth implementing:
- Develop and maintain a comprehensive plan
Waiting until something happens to develop appropriate response procedures is a recipe for disaster. Business continuity and disaster recovery plans should be in place well in advance of an emergency. Once your plan has been created or updated, test it by bringing team members together to work through different emergency scenarios. Use a variety of exercises, from walkthroughs and simulation exercises to functional tests that give your staff firsthand experience reacting to scenarios in real time. The point is not to pass the test, but to identify any vulnerabilities in the program so corrective action can be taken before a real emergency.
- Train all staff on implementation of the plan
Employees with assigned emergency response or security roles should be trained on the company’s contingency plans when they receive their assignments and annually thereafter. Staff members who aren’t assigned security roles still require training in general security awareness. Base the company’s training on current, real-world situations and include phishing simulations to give staff practice in responding to security incidents. Lastly, familiarize the staff with mobile, bring your own device (BYOD), and other security policies.
- Ensure security controls fit the new work environment
If your company is relying on a hybrid work model, implementing robust endpoint protection and a VPN for remote access is essential. Conduct regular reviews of access privileges and suspend or terminate inactive user accounts. When establishing user privileges, grant only the minimum necessary and the least amount of privilege required to perform assigned duties to comply with applicable data privacy requirements.
Zero Trust must be your number one 2024 priority. Adopt effective technical safeguards for your IT systems, including proper malware protection, encryption, multi-factor authentication, intrusion detection systems (IDS), firewalls, and 24/7 network monitoring, using a layered approach.
- Track user activity
To detect and mitigate unauthorized access, log and review access to your organization’s IT systems, networks, and facilities. Anything that can be logged should be logged. If it hasn’t already been done, invest in automated log management tools so daily reviews of IDS, firewall, and system activity logs can be conducted without overtaxing the IT department.
- Check security protocols of third-party service providers and vendors
When evaluating suppliers, verify they have their own contingency plans in place and implement stringent controls if their employees will be accessing your networks, systems, or facilities. Check for suppliers who have validated their security programs through independent third-party certifications and attestations such as HITRUST, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, and SOC1 and SOC2 reporting.
With cybersecurity incidents and data breaches a continual threat, implementing a vigorous internal security program is critical to the health and vitality of your business. At DATAMATX, we make security our number one priority and are happy to offer your business professional expertise on developing and maintaining optimal security fitness.