6 Benefits of Cyber ​​Security - Defense Against Cyber ​​Attacks (2023)

As a business leader, the need to search for the next competitive advantage has always come with the keys to the front office. Today, one of those advantages can come in a surprising form: cybersecurity.

On the surface, the issue of cybersecurity can only be seen as a defensive position. Or even a “wait and see” tactic, with organizations adopting updated technologies or external expertise after the fact, incident by incident.

This has been particularly true for small and medium-sized businesses, many of which find the cost of proactive cybersecurity too high. Or they may find their operation simply too small for cybercriminals to target. But as the world now knows, this is not the case:43% of cyberattacks target small businesses, but only 14% are prepared to defend themselves. And, in the end, this resulted in significant blows to his bottom line and his reputation.

So, as customers become more aware of the impact of cybersecurity threats on their own data, thebusiness benefits cyber securitythey are focusing. Seasoned leaders are making cybersecurity a priority not only to helpmitigate risks,but alsoincrease brand trust, ensure compliance, increase productivity- untilspark innovation. All of this can help separate a business from the rest.

Main focuses of cybersecurity today

The sudden shift to remote work has taken the world by storm. Now more connected devices from more locations have created a continuous expansionattack surfacefor cybercriminals to exploit. Therefore, the need to protect computers, mobile devices, servers and the cloud is greater than ever, from all endpoints to wherever sensitive data travels.

A complete strategy for businesses of any size includes multiple levels of protection using a variety of products from different sources. in a recentCyber ​​Security FAQ Postwe cover the differenttypes of cybersecuritycompanies implement to mitigate cyber threats, includingnetwork security.

Network security, broadly speaking, refers to the layers of technologies, devices, and processes designed to protect your network and vital data from breaches, intrusions, and other threats.

A networkfirewallthat it can control traffic based on security settings and permissions is usually at the top of every list. But because an attack can occur at any layer, a robust approach must address additional key elements in the network, including:

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  • Hardware:Secure employee devices to ensure they are safe to use and pose minimal risk in the event of theft or compromise. Restrict access to routers and cabling. And keep all hardware up to date. Outdated hardware may not be compatible with the latest software security updates and may also inhibit your computer's response to cyberattacks.
  • Software:Install antivirus and antispyware software to protect against many types of malware that can compromise your network. Update all software and applications as soon as the latest version is available to add new features, fix known bugs, and update security.
  • Security processes:Minimize the exposure of your network to unauthorized access by adopting company-wide policies and procedures. Include the use of a virtual private network (VPN) and secure file sharing with encrypted files in transit and at rest. Create reports and mitigation processes in the event of a data breach, and be sure to consider your data backup plan as well.
  • Access:Take a zero-trust approach, assuming malicious actors are actively trying to break into your system. Authenticate every access request and enable multi-factor authentication in addition to username and password to verify who is accessing accounts.
  • Training:Implement cybersecurity training so internal teams understand their role in device security, network responsibilities, and how to detect signs of malicious activity.

Benefits of investing in cybersecurity

At its core, cybersecurity is about managing risk. But leaders who see the opportunities beyond simply preventing data breaches and mitigating cyber threats can begin to realize the full potential and benefits that cybersecurity can bring to a business.

1. Protection against external threats

Millions of cyber threats are created each year and at great cost to businesses, exceeding$1 trillion by 2020solo.

Although launched primarily for financial gain, the motives behind cyberattacks can be as varied as the perpetrators themselves. Whether they are cybercriminals, hacktivists, or industrial spies, the common thread these criminals share is how agile, sophisticated, and stealthy their attacks are becoming.

However,a strong cybersecurity postureAccounting for regularly updated software can help organizations detect and respond to exploited methods, devices, and entry points, including:

    • IoT devices
    • Attacks on remote and cloud services
    • fileless attacks
    • Artificial intelligence
    • Supply chain attacks
    • Social engineering
    • Malware
    • Man-in-the-middle (MitM)
    • denial of service
    • Domain name system attack
    • sql injection
    • Advanced Persistent Threats (ATPs)
    • zero day feats

For a deeper dive into the sources and types of emerging threats facing businesses, check out our recent post onMain cybersecurity threats today.

2. Protection against insider threats

The weakest link in the cybersecurity chain is still the human factor. Anyaccidental, negligente,the directmalicious,Insider threats can come from current or former employees, external vendors, or even trusted partners.

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Additionally, the exponential growth of remote work, personal devices used for business applications, and even IoT devices in remote environments can help these kinds of threats go unnoticed until it's too late.

But with proactive network monitoring and managed access, threat detection and response can reduce costly incidents. Additionally, providing consistent, up-to-date training can help turn your people's current risk into the cybersecurity solution scope you need.

3. Compliance with regulations

In response to the increase in cyber threats and sensitive data exposure facing businesses today, many regulatory bodies are establishing standards to help protect organizations and their customers. Some of these regulatory standards include GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DDS, and SOX, to name a few.

For industries that still remain lightly regulated, there is an opportunity for companies to invest in cybersecurity and see compliance as more than an obligation.

In fact, according to an expert in privacy and cybersecurity lawJamal Hartenstein, leaders could address cybersecurity in regulatory compliance as "a competitive advantage, getting ahead of industry competition before underregulated industries become regulated."

4. Increased productivity

Viruses and other cyberattacks can slow down networks and personal devices, making it virtually impossible for employees to work. For the websites to work. And for the business to work.

By implementing a variety of cybersecurity measures, such as enhanced firewalls, virus scanning, and automated backups, you can dramatically reduce breaches and the downtime required to remediate the breach. Education and training can also help guide employees in identifying potential email phishing scams, suspicious links, and other nefarious criminal attempts.

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5. Cost and value savings

In accordance withHiscox Cyber ​​Readiness Report 2021, the average cost of a single cyberattack for a small business in the US is $25,612. Considering the fact that only around40% of SMEs operate profitably— Data loss and the cost to recover it, downtime to restart operations, and hefty fines can be a heavy price to pay.

As cyber attacks become more sophisticated and complex by the day, it is important to weigh the cost of dealing with an attack against the value of taking preventative action. By reducing risk, you put your business in a better position to respond to, win back, and keep existing customers happy—a far more cost-effective option than attracting new customers.

6. Trust and reputation of the brand

Perhaps the biggest argument for the benefits of cybersecurity in business is the reputation it garners. and keep

One of the most important factors in business growth is customer retention. Maintaining brand loyalty through a strong cybersecurity posture is critical for today's customers and the shortest path to repeat business, referrals, and higher ticket purchases.

It also opens the door for potential future ventures and expansion by helping growers get on the sourcing list with larger organizations as part of their supply chain, who are only as strong as their weakest link. In accordance withNational Institute of Information Technology (NIST), the factors that enable low-cost interoperability and rapid innovation also increase the risk of compromise. With so many high-profile cyber breaches in the past two years, the largest companies are taking a closer look at the cybersecurity practices of third-party vendors.

Start with a cybersecurity audit

The fact is, as cyber threats evolve, so do cybersecurity solutions. But knowing where you are today can help guide you to where you will go tomorrow.

common cyber security audit, you get a complete and independent analysis of your current cybersecurity posture. You can identify vulnerabilities, expose weaknesses and high-risk practices, mitigate the risk of attacks, and continue to build trust with your key stakeholders and customers.

Once issues are identified, strategic measures can be implemented to increase real-time visibility into your network and devices and improve your team's ability to react if a breach occurs.

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Stay safe, secure and ready to succeed

When viewed through the lens of spending alone, the full suite of business benefits that cybersecurity can deliver may not be immediately apparent.

But the fact is that cybersecurity is no longer considered a line more than simply part of the business. It goes beyond being an IT problem. An effective cybersecurity strategy is a growth strategy, a superior launching pad for innovation, and a point of differentiation from the competition.

While there's no way to be 100% safe from cyberattacks, a proactive approach to improving your strategy shows a commitment to your customers, your data, and your reputation.

Reduce risk, protect valuable data, and assess your current cybersecurity posture. Connect with Dean Dorton for acyber security assessmenthoy.

And for more information and analysis on cybersecurity trends and solutions, subscribe to our blog.

FAQs

What are the 5 benefits of using cyber security? ›

Benefits of managing cybersecurity?
  • Protect networks and data from unauthorized access.
  • Improved information security and business continuity management.
  • Improved stakeholder confidence in your information security arrangements.
  • Improved company credentials with the correct security controls in place.

What are the benefits of cyber protection? ›

Benefits of cyber security

With cyber security, companies have peace of mind that unauthorized access to their network or data is protected. Both end users, organizations and their employees benefit. It isn't just detection that cybersecurity strengthens, it's also mitigation and response.

Why is it important to protect against cyber attacks? ›

Cyberattacks are malicious attempts to access or damage a computer or network system. Cyberattacks can lead to the loss of money or the theft of personal, financial and medical information. These attacks can damage your reputation and safety.

What is the best defense against cybersecurity attacks? ›

4 Things You Can do to See Yourself in Cyber
  • Implement multi-factor authentication on your accounts and make it significantly less likely you'll get hacked.
  • Update your software. ...
  • Think before you click. ...
  • Use strong passwords, and ideally a password manager to generate and store unique passwords.

What 3 things does cybersecurity protect? ›

Cyber security can be described as the collective methods, technologies, and processes to help protect the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of computer systems, networks and data, against cyber-attacks or unauthorized access.

What are the 7 types of cyber security? ›

It can be divided into seven main pillars:
  • Network Security. Most attacks occur over the network, and network security solutions are designed to identify and block these attacks. ...
  • Cloud Security. ...
  • Endpoint Security. ...
  • Mobile Security. ...
  • IoT Security. ...
  • Application Security. ...
  • Zero Trust.

What are the 5 reasons why cybersecurity is important now more than ever? ›

Top 5 reasons why cybersecurity is important
  • Increasing cybercrimes. Whether you're a small or a large company, a cyber-attack can affect you badly. ...
  • Use of more IoT devices. ...
  • Increasing technology usage. ...
  • The deep web and cryptocurrency. ...
  • Evolving ransomware.

What is cyber Defence and why is it essential? ›

Cybersecurity is the protection to defend internet-connected devices and services from malicious attacks by hackers, spammers, and cybercriminals.

Why is Cyber Safety 10 important? ›

Cyber safety is the safe and responsible use of information and communication technology. It is about keeping information safe and secure, but also about being responsible with that information, being respectful to other people online, and using good Internet etiquette.

What does cyber security protect answer? ›

Cyber security is the application of technologies, processes, and controls to protect systems, networks, programs, devices and data from cyber attacks. It aims to reduce the risk of cyber attacks and protect against the unauthorised exploitation of systems, networks, and technologies.

What is first line of defense in cyber security? ›

The visibility and traffic filtering that a firewall provides enables an organization to identify and block a large percentage of malicious traffic before it enters the network perimeter and can provide defense in depth.

What are the 3 other tips for defense against network attacks are? ›

How to Prevent Network Attacks
  • Install antivirus software. One of the first lines of defense against malware and other viruses is to install antivirus software on all devices connected to a network (Roach & Watts, 2021). ...
  • Create strong passwords. ...
  • Enforce security policies. ...
  • Use firewalls. ...
  • Monitor activity.

What are 5 ways we can be cyber safe? ›

8 Habits to Stay Cyber-Safe
  • Think twice before clicking on links or opening attachments. ...
  • Verify requests for private information. ...
  • Protect your passwords. ...
  • Protect your stuff! ...
  • Keep your devices, browsers, and apps up to date. ...
  • Back up critical files. ...
  • Delete sensitive information when it's no longer needed.

What are 10 good cybersecurity practices? ›

Top 10 Secure Computing Tips
  • Tip #1 - You are a target to hackers. ...
  • Tip #2 - Keep software up-to-date. ...
  • Tip #3 - Avoid Phishing scams - beware of suspicious emails and phone calls. ...
  • Tip #4 - Practice good password management. ...
  • Tip #5 - Be careful what you click. ...
  • Tip #6 - Never leave devices unattended.

What are the 10 ways of preventing cyber crime? ›

Top 10 Cyber Crime Prevention Tips
  • Top 10 Cyber Crime Prevention Tips. Cyber Crime is rampant! ...
  • Use Strong Passwords. ...
  • Secure your computer. ...
  • Block spyware attacks. ...
  • Be Social-Media Savvy. ...
  • Secure your Mobile Devices. ...
  • Protect your Data. ...
  • Secure your wireless network.

What are the 6 types of security? ›

What are the 6 types of security infrastructure systems?
  • Access Controls. The act of restricting access to sensitive data or systems enables your enterprise to mitigate the potential risks associated with data exposure. ...
  • Application Security. ...
  • Behavioral Analytics. ...
  • Firewalls. ...
  • Virtual Private Networks. ...
  • Wireless Security.
Feb 22, 2022

What are the 8 main cyber security threats? ›

8 Common Cybersecurity Threats and How to Prevent Them
  • 1) Ransomware. ...
  • 2) Social Engineering/Phishing. ...
  • 3) Unpatched Systems and Misconfigurations. ...
  • 4) Credential Stuffing. ...
  • 5) Password Cracking Attacks. ...
  • 6) Man-in-the-Middle Attacks. ...
  • 7) Denial-of-Service Attacks. ...
  • 8) Drive-by Download Attacks.
Nov 10, 2022

What are the 3 impacts of cyber security attacks? ›

A successful cyber attack can cause major damage to your business. It can affect your bottom line, as well as your business' standing and consumer trust. The impact of a security breach can be broadly divided into three categories: financial, reputational and legal.

What is the most important thing in cyber security? ›

End-user protection is one of the most important aspects of cybersecurity. The easiest entry point is the end user, no matter how sophisticated the underlying infrastructure is. All software and hardware used by end users must be scanned for malicious threats at regular intervals.

What are the four 4 main purposes and features of cyber security principles? ›

The cyber security principles
  • Govern: Identifying and managing security risks.
  • Protect: Implementing controls to reduce security risks.
  • Detect: Detecting and understanding cyber security events to identify cyber security incidents.
  • Respond: Responding to and recovering from cyber security incidents.
Jun 16, 2022

What are the 3 principles of cyber defense? ›

The CIA triad refers to an information security model made up of the three main components: confidentiality, integrity and availability. Each component represents a fundamental objective of information security.

What is cyber Defence strategy? ›

The strategy details how Defence will combat cyber threats and ensure its capabilities are secure against attacks from adversaries. It presents the path to a cyber resilient Defence and the principles to maintain a strong cyber security posture in a shifting strategic environment.

Why security is most important? ›

Security in the workplace keeps your employees and physical offices safe from harm. Your workplace security strategy should defend your business's critical data and information from hackers and other cyber security threats. It also keeps you compliant with updated laws and regulations in your country or region.

What are the 5 essential elements of cyber security? ›

Various elements of cyber security are given below:

Network Security. Disaster Recovery Planning. Operational Security. End-user Security.

What are the 5 C's of cyber security? ›

The five C's of cyber security are five areas that are of significant importance to all organizations. They are change, compliance, cost, continuity, and coverage. The top priority of organizations all over is having security protective of their digital and physical assets.

What are the 6 elements in secure? ›

This graphic depicting the 6 atomic elements of Information Security as defined by Donn B. Parker. Which are: Confidentiality, Possession or Control, Integrity, Authenticity, Availability, Utility.

What are the six pillars of security? ›

The Six Pillars
  • Data Governance.
  • Data Classification.
  • Data Discovery.
  • Data Access.
  • Data Handling.
  • Data Protection.
Oct 31, 2017

What are the 6 phases in a cyber incident response plan? ›

Many organisations use NIST's Computer Security Incident Handling Guide as the basis of their incident response plan. It contains six phases: preparation, identification, containment, eradication, recovery and lessons learned.

What are the 8 personality traits to succeed in cybersecurity? ›

The eight traits the company said are indicative of a successful career in cybersecurity are modesty, altruism, composure, scientific, inquisitive, skeptical, responsive, and diligent. "Traditional recruiting practices often overlook personality and focus on education, experience and a set of hard skills.

Videos

1. Auditing and Controlling Cybersecurity Risks
(Smith School of Business)
2. What Makes Israel So Good at Hacking?
(Cyberspatial)
3. Reality of working in Cyber Security | Pros and Cons
(UnixGuy | Cyber Security Career )
4. The Cyber Kill Chain
(Sunny Classroom)
5. Cyber Threats and Cyber Security
(Kips Learner's Channel)
6. Cybersecurity 101 | What Is Cybersecurity and How it Works
(Dr Eric Cole)

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