Think your data is safe? Are you comfortable with the security plans you’ve put into place? A recent study shows you might want to think twice about your approach to security.
Statistics show that the majority of businesses typically employ between 4 to 8 security measures, with the average hovering around 5.8. Yet based on the data, the more security measures being used, the more of a target the organization becomes.
This, of course, could be dependent on a variety of things, including:
- Organizations that are attacked may attach additional security features in response.
- Using multiple security measures make the security plan more complex, requiring additional corroboration for updates.
- More features can lead to a greater sense of false security, which causes you to let your guard down when you need it most.
Security is an ongoing, ever-present, ever-changing problem. No matter what niche you’re in, having a workable plan in place is the only way to ensure your data, products, and other assets are fully protected.
Create your new and improved security plan by:
Analyzing your security needs
You can’t protect what you haven’t assessed for risk. Before you start designing and implementing your approach to security, you need a thorough understanding of what you already have in place, and where your weaknesses are.
Get to know your business better. This is where having additional resources available to you can help. Ask questions like:
- What data needs protection?
- How is the data accessed?
- What remote channels are in use?
- How does compliance impact my security?
As you get to know your practice better, you’ll be able to look at security both from present and future needs. Be sure to think through worse-case scenarios to establish realistic protocol.
Create the plan
With an understanding of your organization's security needs in place, you’re ready to create policies and procedures that will help keep you safe. This is a working document. This is why statistics from above exist. So many businesses create a “design it once” plan and add to it rather than adjust it over time. This is where weaknesses develop.
Your security plan should constantly be changing as new technology is introduced and unknown risks develop. It should also provide guidelines to every employee, and be available whenever they need it. Training is an integral part of a well-designed security plan.
Develop incident response strategies
It’s not if your practice is breached, but when. The organizations with a strategy in place will recover quicker than those that leave it to chance.
Start by outlining your response and have a clear strategy for employees to follow.
- How should you prepare for potential incidents?
- How do you report and follow breaches?
- Who handles incident reports?
- How can you learn from breaches, and implement action items to prevent future risks?
The more thorough you are with your plan now, the quicker you’ll handle anything that comes your way.
Implement your security plan
As you move your security plan into action, keep in mind that there will be questions along the way. This is how your team learns. You can learn as much from errors as you can from good security practices. Encourage employees to report what they find along the way, learning they can trust the process without feeling threatened by potential problems.
Cybercriminals are savvy, and often get through even the most secure blocks. Your employees will only cooperate and work hard to keep data safe if they feel they are a part of the bigger system. Keep it simple, and keeping your practice safe from potential problems will be easier.
Ask for help
No matter how well you’ve created and implemented your security plan, there’s always room for improvement. Partnering with security experts can ensure your team, systems, and data remain safe and secure.
What questions do you have about ensuring your security plan is running optimally?
For IT Strategy, Cloud Conversion, or Help Desk Services reach out to us at Silver Linings Technology 360-450-4759.
