In today’s digital age, businesses are dependent on the internet. From internal communication amongst employees to fielding queries from customers and processing payments and payroll, the web is a crucial part of conducting business in the 21st century.

As helpful as the internet is, it comes with numerous inherent risks. Cyber-attacks can result in sensitive customer data or trade secrets being stolen, not to mention financial losses and reputational damage. All businesses that use the internet, regardless of size, need to establish a cybersecurity program if they don’t already have one, and if they do, update and improve it on a regular basis.

What is a cybersecurity program?

A cybersecurity program is an established set of protocols that your business will use to identify and prevent threats, as well as respond to and recover from a data breach, a malware attack, or other type of cyber incident. All employees need to be familiar with the plan and should be educated on safe browsing, proper email practices, and the risks to daily operations and their livelihoods should a worst-case scenario occur.

How to Create a Cybersecurity Program

1. Conduct a Risk Assessment - The first step to establishing a cybersecurity program is to identify what threats your business faces and what vulnerabilities you have.
2. Create an Incident Response Plan - An incident response plan will prepare your organization for a worst-case scenario. The plan should include how your organization will detect, contain and recover from threats. Things change such as new hardware and software which is why it’s important to test the plan on a regular basis and make any necessary adjustments.
3. Train Employees - Your plan will only work if employees follow the protocols. Make sure all new hires are up to speed on your cybersecurity protocols, and hold regularly scheduled training sessions for all employees. Once a year is not enough, you should be training at least quarterly..
4. 4. Safeguard Sensitive Data – Implement need-to know- practices regarding who should have access to what data, and if possible, use encryption to protect your data.
5. Mandate Multi-Factor Authentication – MFA is a critical step in protecting your data, your clients, and your employees from unauthorized access.
6. Have a Backup Method - One of the best ways to protect your data is to regularly back it up to an offsite or cloud-based system, and if possible, create immutable backups that cannot be modified. Be sure to test the restoration process.
7. Be on the Lookout - Use cybersecurity tools to continuously monitor your systems for threats.
8. Stay Up to Date - Be aware of emerging trends and new regulatory requirements.
9. Look for Ways to Improve - Cybercriminals are always coming up with creative new ways to exploit businesses and steal data. That’s why it’s important to regularly conduct risk assessments, security audits and penetration testing to look for vulnerabilities.

Outsourcing Cybersecurity Needs

Working with a professional cybersecurity firm like JANUS, allows you to focus more on running your business and leave your business’ cybersecurity to the experts.  

In business since 1988, JANUS offers a full range of high-quality cybersecurity, privacy, and regulatory compliance services at affordable costs. Contact us today and see why 2,100+ organizations trust JANUS to help them improve their cybersecurity posture and limit their risks.

CONTACT JANUS ASSOCIATES

With over 35 years of experience, JANUS Associates is well-equipped to assist you in achieving your security, privacy, and compliance objectives.

Contact us today to discover how we can help safeguard your organization from data breaches and ensure a secure digital environment for everyone involved.