Important Cybersecurity Strategies for SMEs

Cybersecurity strategies are a must for every organization. Even small and medium-sized businesses should have a cybersecurity strategy. It is very difficult to stay up-to-date with cybersecurity as the threat landscape is changing with time. Cyber threats are going to evolve with time. Thus, you should ensure that your cybersecurity strategy is evolving with time. SMBs can protect their business by following the best practices and strong frameworks. In this article, we are going to share some important cybersecurity strategies for SMBs.

1. Vulnerability assessment solution

You should first check the vulnerabilities that are present in your network. This will help you in getting a clear picture of your network. If you have an in-house security team, then they can perform a vulnerability assessment for you. There are various MSSPs that can also help you in this process. Experienced MSSPs like Bleuwire can help you in scanning your systems, networks, websites, connected devices, and other entry points. More than 75% of organizations consider vulnerability testing as one of the best practices.

2. Review your controls and practices

Most companies start by resolving their vulnerabilities. This is a great step as it will help you in dealing with the vulnerabilities present in your network. However, you should also change the process that led to these vulnerabilities. You can’t protect your network by applying temporary fixes only.

Make sure that you are reviewing your current operations and practices. This will help you in finding flaws that are present in your existing processes. You can give an overall risk rating to your processes. It will also help you in making a detailed assessment. You should focus on implementing the best practices and controls. This will deliver a strong foundation to your organization. Risk management should be an important part of your strategy.

3. Promote a CISO

You should have at least one person in your organization that can help you in creating your cybersecurity strategy. Most companies have a Chief Information Security officer. You should invest in hiring security professionals, certifications, and training. This will ensure that your IT professionals can protect your business from new attacks.

According to a report from Gartner, more than 25% of SMBs don’t have access to security professionals. If you don’t have access to a dedicated IT security team, then you should consider working with an MSSP. Experienced MSSPs like Bleuwire can help you in solving this problem. They will help you in implementing your cybersecurity strategy. Thus, you don’t need to worry about hiring an internal IT security team for your business.

They will keep up-to-date with the best cybersecurity practices. Good MSSPs have access to a large team of security professionals. These IT security professionals are always keeping up with the latest threat landscape. They will provide valuable insights to your company. Thus, you can always stay up-to-date with the current threat landscape.

4. End-user training

Employee training can help you in protecting your business from cybercrime. It is considered one of the best methods to protect your business. Hackers will mostly use social engineering for attacking your business. They will use social engineering for exploiting your staff. Security awareness training will help you in educating your staff about cyber threats. It will help your employees in identifying the attacks. They will also know what to do after they have detected the attack.

You should do a simulated phishing exercise for training your employees. This will help you in training your employees. If your employees are falling for the phishing attempts, then you should train them again. Educational modules will help you in teaching your employees about different security options and threats. Test and quizzes will ensure that the training is effective. Advanced reporting will help you in determining the level of risk that your organization is facing.

You can implement the best security tools but still, your organization can get hacked. Your employees can click on a phishing link that will lead to a data breach. It is very important to protect your business from threats like data breaches, spyware, and ransomware. According to a report from Verizon, more than 90% of network breaches actually occur due to user error. Thus, you should focus on the end-user training.

5. Multi-factor authentication

MFA is another security strategy that can help you in protecting your business. It will help you in protecting your business from hacked passwords. If attackers steal your employee’s password, then they need to verify their identity first. They can’t access your data and applications until they have verified their identity.

MFA solutions will provide an additional layer of security to your business. It will help you in containing sensitive information. These solutions have existed for a long time. However, they have recently become popular. Almost every business is now using enterprise-grade MFA solutions for protecting their business.

MFA will prevent attackers from using social engineering and brute force attacks. You can use fingerprint, security code, or software on your smartphone as a second method for checking identity.

6. Firewall security

You should focus on protecting your internal networks from attackers. This can be done by installing a firewall and antivirus software. However, there is a difference between having the best tools and having the bare minimum tools. You should look for tools that are robust enough to protect your large network.

Make sure that you are using enterprise-grade antivirus solutions. These solutions will help you in protecting sensitive data, operating environments, emails, and applications. There are various endpoint security software solutions available in the market. Make sure that you are reviewing your security requirements. This will help you in finding the perfect solution for your business.

Firewalls prevent unauthorized or unwanted access to devices and networks. There are various vendors for firewalls. However, you should look for a next-generation firewall. The next-generation firewall will provide advanced features to your business. It will help you in protecting your network from attackers. You will have access to features like intrusion prevention, ransomware protection, privacy tools, and website filtering.

Conclusion

These are some important cybersecurity strategies that can help you in protecting your business. You need access to a good IT security team for implementing these solutions. If you don’t have access to a good IT security team, then you should consider working with a good MSSP. Experienced MSSPs like Bleuwire can help you in protecting your business from attackers. They will help you in implementing the best security strategies. Thus, you don’t need to worry about hiring security professionals. You will get access to a large IT security team. If you need more information regarding IT security services, then you can contact Bleuwire.

Contact us today to learn about Bleuwire™  services and solutions in how we can help your business.