By now you know that building up your cyber security is just as important as building up your cash flow. Both are essential to your success, but while most businesses keep an eye on the financials, they tend to think cybersecurity is something they can set and forget. Unfortunately, cybercriminals are constantly coming up with new methods of attack and the security you had in place yesterday may not be sufficient today.
Instead of reacting to breaches and taking on the costs of downtime, lost files and destroyed trust, a periodic security assessment can identify blind spots that place you at risk. Once you know about these problems, you’re able to proactively setup adequate protection before cyber criminals strike.
Regulations change - Are you affected?
Many industries are kept to strict government regulations around the way they store, process and protect data. Their operating license depends on staying as secure as possible. Most all regulations require regular security assessments but they may vary in scope and time-frame. As regulations change, so do the security assessment requirements. You can imagine how much stricter they are now compared to just 5 years ago. Regular security assessments can ensure your business is meeting the relevant regulations, diving deep to be certain you’re safe.
Security patches and updates are vital
It’s easy to fall behind on your security patches, after all, it seems like there’s a new update every week and each one takes precious time to apply. The current popular trend, is for cyber criminals to target any business running late, and it’s basically easy pickings for them. If you’re unpatched where it counts, it’s like inviting them in. A security assessment can help determine where you're weak and what to shore up to prevent the possibility of a breach.
Viruses are always evolving
Just like the human variety, computer viruses are nothing to welcome into your workplace. They’re constantly evolving to skip past anti-virus scans and do damage in new and interesting ways. Cyber criminals know people are more aware of the traditional infection methods like downloading an attachment or inserting an infected USB, so they’re getting more and more creative. A security assessment shouldn’t just include ticking that you have the latest anti-virus, but include identifying where you’ve had the most breach attempts and where your biggest vulnerabilities are. This type of precise awareness has a lasting impact on reducing your risks.
Your business may have changed
As your business has grown over the years (or shorter if you’ve experienced a recent surge), your entire setup has changed. More employees, expanded remote access, additional vendors, supplementary locations...the list really is endless. With each change has come a new risk, particularly if your security hasn't been updated to follow these changes. It might be that your password policies haven’t been updated since you began, or that you still have an old voicemail system even though phones are within easy reach of customers. This is perhaps one of the most useful areas a security assessment can help with, as you and your employees are accustomed to the business working in a certain way, whether that way leads to risk or not.
Acting on your knew knowledge
Once the assessment has been completed, it's time to act on it's findings. A robust assessment report will not only show where you need improvement but should give you a solid overview of all security aspects. You’ll also know exactly what you’ve done well and where your security strengths lie. Employees will see how much you value security, which helps to create a stable culture, and you’ll be able to report your commitment to customers, confirming they’re making the right choice by doing business with you.
Want to book a professional security assessment for your business?