5 Ways to Improve Your Business Cybersecurity Posture

It isn’t surprising at all that the need for a strong security posture is a must-have for most organizations today.

Considering the impact of COVID-19 and digitalization, people are using their phones for almost everything now, and companies are becoming more vulnerable thanks to the increased use of technologies in their business processes.

While we see a huge change in the tech field, hackers also develop new tactics to continue threatening companies, and the number of ransomware attacks is growing. Even though some companies aren’t applying any strengthened measures to protect their business, these attacks can have harrowing financial effects on small, medium, and large organizations.

Because improving cybersecurity protections is now vital in most businesses, companies should always stay informed about changes in the industry and apply the latest practices to ensure they are protected enough. It’s always best to be proactive rather than resolve issues when the attack has already happened. 

We created this article to show you what security posture is, what it should protect against, and describe the most effective ways to strengthen it. 

What is Security Posture?

Security posture is a term used to describe an organization’s strength of protection over its data, systems (hardware and software), and networks. Simply put, security posture means your organization’s vulnerability to potential attacks or data breaches. Another vital point that also relates to cybersecurity is how your company reacts in case of an attack or breach. 

What Should a Strong Security Posture Protect You From?

If you want to develop a strong security posture, you need to know what you do to protect your company from attacks. Even though attacks and breaches are often considered malicious acts from an unknown party, they sometimes happen unintentionally and within your organization. 

Data Breach

Data breaches take place when sensitive, confidential, and/or personal data is viewed or shared without authorization. Some cases of data breaches are intentional, where a target’s vulnerabilities within the company or email phishing. And data breaches can occur within your company when a piece of hardware containing sensitive data is lost or, in other cases when access permissions are given to the wrong employee.  

Cyberattack

In contrast to data breaches, all cyberattacks are committed with deliberate ill intent. They usually occur when a company’s computer network is targeted to disable, disturb, and control stolen data or software. These attacks are carried out by external parties (hackers, criminal groups) or also by untrusted people within the organization (disgruntled employees, freelance workers, etc.). 

Vulnerabilities and Threats

Breaches and attacks come to mind when the company has a vulnerable cybersecurity policy. However, the development of a stronger security policy can also make the company face potential vulnerabilities and threats. 

That is because the development of the proper security system requires new software and technologies, which are not always as safe as they should be. And it becomes especially dangerous in case of a lack of knowledge of the tech team responsible for installing all these tools. 

5 Steps to Strengthen Your Security Posture

Conduct Regular Security Posture Assessments

Knowing what your policies and cybersecurity measures at your organization are can greatly help you in both – preventing attacks and resolving them. As we mentioned earlier, it is always easier to stay proactive. While it will certainly take time for you to explore your initial assessment, it will save you time and finances in the long run. And it is also recommended to hire specialists who can help you explore your company’s vulnerabilities and accurately assess your risks.

Consistently Monitor Software for Vulnerabilities

Even if your risks have been estimated and prioritized, it is essential to continue to keep an eye on your company’s vulnerabilities. That is because vulnerabilities may change in seriousness as shifts occur in a company’s software usage and as new technologies are used. 

In addition, new vulnerabilities can occur at any point in our ever-changing ecosystem. Therefore, experts recommend consistently monitoring networks and systems while also using penetration tests as an extra measure for your organization’s safety.

Analyse Gaps & Use Security Measures to Cover Them

Building security posture is a tricky task that takes time and resources. However, it can be done quicker if you know your gaps and how to cover them with the proper tools. For example, you can use kong WAF to monitor any malicious traffic and openappsec as a trusted web app security tool. Security controls are essential for every organization as they help to maintain a high level of data protection while also reducing resources required from the team.

Even if you are confident in the security controls you already have, it is vital to consistently check your security controls with the goal of finding gaps. Once gaps are identified, it is best to look for tools and security measures you can use to strengthen these weak points. In addition, analyzing gaps in your security posture greatly helps stay proactive and protect your organization from cyber-attacks and data breaches. 

Define Who Owns Risks and Assign People to Tasks

As we mentioned, there are many reasons for threats and data breaches, which can be internal and external. On average, a US data breach can cost about $8 million. And keeping that in mind can help you avoid internal accidents. Therefore, ensure you know what department and employees have access to your sensitive data. Define roles in the organizations and assign people to specific tasks so only they can work on them. It is also crucial for your team to know roles as it greatly reduces the chances of unwanted access.

In addition, specific employees should be tasked with owning and monitoring each risk. This will make it twice easier for each risk and vulnerability to be constantly monitored without hiring any new cybersecurity teams and having a clear picture of your security posture at every moment.

Define Key Security Metrics

The last but also very important way to strengthen your security posture is to select a few metrics to paint a picture of the current threat landscape. No need to go deep into technical issues; use these metrics to establish a baseline for security posture and overall company wellness. It is also vital to note that your C-level leaders and investors would happily see cybersecurity improvements over time. Let’s explore metrics you can include:

• Vulnerability patch response times; 
• Incident rates; 
• Severity and complexity of incidents; 
• The time needed for remediation; 
• The overall volume of data your company operates daily;
• Etc.

Final Thoughts

Cyber Security will be essential in 2023, and its meaning will only grow in upcoming years. Companies of all sizes should invest in proper security posture to protect their sensitive data and customers.

Knowing the tips we mentioned in this article can help you strengthen your cybersecurity without breaking the bank.

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