Don't play the blame game - take control of your cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity is a crucial topic in the digital age. It's a topic we can't ignore. And most of us are highly affected as cybersecurity cuts through several areas, such as asset inventories, data protection, secure configuration, account management, audit logs, vulnerability scanning, trading, and pen testing.
And while you don't expect to be attacked online, security breaches can happen anytime and anywhere. It could be you as an individual or your organization that falls victim to the attack, but the question is, who is to blame?
According to Scott Schlimmer, Trava's cyber risk specialist, blaming someone isn't the solution. Instead, organizations need to be proactive in strengthening their cybersecurity posture and reducing their risk. In this blog post, we will dive deep into the world of cybersecurity, including common cyber risks and how to configure your cloud safely.
Why Do People Find Cybersecurity Intimidating?
Many people find cybersecurity intimidating because it can be overwhelming to understand its complex nature. What's more, cybersecurity encompasses many areas. This makes it difficult for people to understand and address all the security concerns.
This also means that cybersecurity professionals have a role to play. They need to make it easy for people to understand the terms that might confuse individuals, for example, asset inventories and audit logs.
Cybersecurity professionals also must assess a company's security posture and create a plan to strengthen security and reduce the risk for their customers. Their customers don't need to do the heavy lifting to know what's secured and what's not.
Common Cyber Risks That Come With Cloud Platforms
Cloud computing is a widely used technology. It helps individuals and organizations store and share data. However, it comes with significant risks, such as account management, insecure APIs, and misconfigurations.
The first risk, account management, means that only the right people should access your cloud. If unauthorized people can access your account, it means they can easily steal your data and use it however they wish to use it. This means you need to ensure your passwords are well-secured and are with the right people.
The second risk, insecure APIs, is how external resources connect to your cloud. If your API is insecure, it'll create a vulnerability that hackers can exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. It'll allow hackers to intercept and modify data transmitted through the API. It'll also give way for hackers to flood the API with requests overwhelming the system and disrupting your service.
Lastly, misconfigurations such as wrong permissions and not enabling the right security options are also common cloud risks. Misconfigurations usually occur due to a lack of understanding of security best practices, human error, or inadequate management of cloud resources.
How to Configure Your Cloud Safely; Three Must-Do Steps
You can opt to use a multifactor authentication which will require users to provide two or more authentication factors before they can access their accounts. This will significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access.
You can also opt to encrypt your data at rest and in transit to prevent unauthorized access. Use encryption keys that are managed and stored securely to ensure that your data is protected.
What's more, ensure your cloud provider updates their systems frequently to patch any vulnerabilities. You can ask them if they're using automated patch management tools to simplify this process and if the patches are applied consistently.
Don't Play The Blame Game; Take Control of Your Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is an important part of your overall work as an individual or an organization. And to top it up, you must take proactive steps to prevent security breaches and reduce cybersecurity risks. Blaming someone isn't a solution to a security breach. Rather, focus on strengthening your security posture and reducing the risk of an attack.
The first step should be to understand the common cyber risks you're likely to face and how you can configure your cloud safely. At Trava, we have all the expertise and tools to protect you and your business. Don't wait until it's too late! Schedule a demo. Your security is our top priority!
