We have all read the weekly headlines of widespread cybersecurity breaches since the onset of COVID-19, from Bill Gates to our neighbor down the street. Cybersecurity attacks have roughly quadrupled since the pandemic with the average cost per breach to a business at $3.92 million... and climbing. Even if a company has a VPN, its data is still at risk. With the majority of the workforce teleworking, it is becoming much harder for senior business leaders to ignore IT security.

Protecting your information doesn’t have to be overwhelming or expensive and business leaders can put certain steps in place to help their companies and employees thrive whether working in the office or remotely.

 

Here are the top seven factors business leaders need to know today to educate themselves, avoid common mistakes, and reduce the intimidation factor of talking tech.

 

1.    Perform a thorough assessment of what elements of your business are most vulnerable to a cybersecurity breach. Are you able to articulate your network security measures around ransomware, hacks, attacks, and internal threats to your leadership team to minimize business risk?

 

2.    Have a cybersecurity road map of where you are and where you need to go to optimize security measures and minimize pitfalls. Much like taking a long road trip, it's important to have the car thoroughly checked out and have a detailed travel plan so the trip is as enjoyable as it is successful. Assessing your cybersecurity plan will allow you to focus on the direction of the company without running into major roadblocks along the way.

 

3.    Pay attention to industry threats you have seen or heard about that could specifically compromise your IT security. Cybersecurity threats have ballooned across all industries since the pandemic and will continue to increase as more workers work from home. How do you use this intel to be proactive?

 

4.    Gain knowledge around advancements in cyber technology that present either opportunities or gaps in your program. Cutting-edge protection does not need to be expensive. Our firm is an expert at customizing a suite of services to match your needs and budget.

 

5.    Put the appropriate security measures in place to ensure that your employees can work safely from home. The latest massive Twitter breach that affected global business titans proved how working from home can provide fertile ground for hackers. Are there some obstacles that you could address to help you secure your teleworking culture?

 

6.    Communicate security awareness training to all levels of your organization to heighten your cybersecurity IQ. This pandemic will be with us for the foreseeable future and it is important to instill the appropriate level of security awareness company-wide to maximize business results. MIS Alliance offers a Security Awareness Training program to help you and your employees stay ahead of the cybersecurity curve.

 

7.    Have a cyber response plan and practice it. From the top-down, all members need to feel comfortable addressing a cybersecurity incident so you can effectively manage it should a cyberattack occur.

 

As we navigate through an ever-changing world, we are here to help you save time and money for a safer tomorrow.