Cybersecurity is not a one-size-fits-all

As lovely and convenient as it would be, cybersecurity is not a one size fits all. Every kind of business has its unique challenges and vulnerabilities, and there are so many types of threats that a single cybersecurity solution will just not be enough. You need to have a robust security posture throughout your organization.

Security has to be embedded in the overall mindset of your organization. At every level, cybersecurity has to be taken seriously.

The following considerations affect how you should approach cybersecurity.

Cybersecurity for startups vs. enterprises

Startups, small businesses, and medium-sized businesses are targeted by countless cyber-attacks simply because they are plentiful and have weak security – the easy-to-get small fry. Statistics show that 81% of successful phishing attacks occur against small and medium-sized businesses.

It’s natural that startups don’t have mature cybersecurity defenses, but there are still cheaper scans that can be done by third parties. Investigate what relatively simple plans you can implement, such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) for password safety and basic cyber awareness training.

Meanwhile, enterprises will have large board meetings to handle cybersecurity questions, which no longer focus on basic needs like is a port secure. It may involve issues like “will this lower stock prices”? Enterprises often opt into special enterprise-level security planning to better reduce their cyber risks.

STARTUPS, YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF CYBERSECURITY STRATEGIES IN SMALL BUSINESSES BELOW.

Industry prioritization

No company can black out all its vulnerabilities. It would cost so much money and resources, turning the actual business unsustainable. Not worth the cost.

What companies need to do is prioritize based on what industry they operate in, what digital assets need to be protected, and what threatens them the most. If you handle confidential medical information, you need to ensure you meet HIPAA compliance. If you work in the insurance or banking sector, you would have to comply with different regulations. Cybersecurity software is the only one that reaches the minimum requirements and needs of every single industry.

Penetration testing

In an ideal world, every organization should do penetration testing at some point. You employ ethical hackers to find out what is lacking in your cyber defenses.

The earlier you do pen testing, the easier you can patch problems out because your application isn’t too complex. You can also help you land important deals with enterprises that don’t want to work with companies with weak cybersecurity postures.

Meanwhile, the longer you wait, the more you might have to re-architect your entire system to fix a small issue. Every software bandaid fix only causes worse problems later down the line.

Penetration test alternatives

If you do not want to or cannot afford to invest in penetration testing and ethical hacking yet, you can also schedule alternatives. A bug bounty program or web application scan can help you prepare more cost-effectively by having a third party test your software for you. This includes using dynamic application security tools that look for common vulnerabilities such as cross-site scripting, SQL injection, and more.

Some companies believe that they can delay their penetration testing and other cybersecurity measures while they’re still starting out. However, customers and clients are more cyber-aware than ever. Even your first business interaction could involve the other party asking you, “what happens if you get attacked by a cybercriminal?” If you can’t give a solid answer on how you can maintain operations or recuperate, you may lose out on valuable business and networking opportunities.

Cybersecurity for remote work

The influx of remote workers due to the global pandemic seems to be here to stay. Working from home has resulted in many conveniences but also has plenty of pitfalls. It is critical to ask yourself the question: how can you make sure your assets are secured and your networks protected?

Cybersecurity for cloud computing

Cloud infrastructure has brought incredible benefits and value to the world. Unfortunately, the way data is transferred means cloud computing can expose your organization to severe cyber threats. You might encounter elevated privilege where there shouldn't be any other kinds of configuration vulnerabilities in those cloud services.

Cybersecurity for SaaS

Every company uses SaaS throughout its departments to facilitate operations. Often, you’ll end up with hundreds, not thousands, of SaaS, some useful and innovative, others redundant. How do you keep every single one of them compliant with your cybersecurity expectations?

It is essential to be aware of every software your company workers are using so you know which ones open you up to vulnerabilities. Listing the SaaS used out can help you save time and mitigate risks in the long run.