Are you wondering how to improve cybersecurity at your organization? While 96% of CEOs say that cybersecurity is essential to their growth and stability as a company, the majority believe that they do not have an effective cybersecurity strategy in place and are concerned about their ability to withstand common cybersecurity attacks.
Basic measures like secure passwords and firewalls are essential, but they aren’t enough on their own. Businesses must delve into advanced cybersecurity techniques to stay ahead of increasingly sophisticated threats. In this article, we’ll share cybersecurity tips and techniques that are a must-read for anyone who wants to improve cybersecurity in a company they own or work at.
1. Implement Zero Trust Architecture (ZTA)
The Zero Trust model operates on the principle of “never trust, always verify.” Unlike traditional network security models that implicitly trust internal network traffic, Zero Trust assumes that every user and device, both inside and outside the network, could potentially be compromised.
To implement this highly effective cybersecurity strategy, segment your network into micro-perimeters and continuously monitor traffic between these segments. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) and enforce strict least-privilege access controls and monitor all devices and endpoints for suspicious activities.
Adopting Zero Trust significantly reduces the attack surface and limits lateral movement within the network, improving cybersecurity in a company by preventing both external and internal breaches.
2. Advanced Threat Detection with Behavioral Analytics
Traditional signature-based antivirus programs are reactive, only responding to known threats. To improve cybersecurity, companies should shift towards behavioral analytics. This approach uses machine learning to identify abnormal patterns of behavior within the network, indicating potential threats, such as a compromised account or malicious insiders.
Deploy Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools that utilize AI to track behavior across all devices and integrate Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) systems that can process and analyze large volumes of data to spot anomalies in real-time.
Ask your cybersecurity team to set up automated responses to mitigate threats once they are identified, such as disabling compromised accounts or isolating infected machines.
Behavioral analytics is critical for detecting novel threats and can stop an attack even before a signature-based system can recognize it.
3. Data Destruction for Sensitive Information
A key cybersecurity tip that is often overlooked is proper data destruction. Sensitive company data, when left unsecured or improperly destroyed, becomes a prime target for hackers. Destroying old or unused data in a way that it cannot be recovered is crucial for long-term cybersecurity.
Make sure that any data destruction third party strictly adheres to standards like NIST SP 800-88 for media sanitization, ensuring that all hard drives, SSDs, and other media are wiped, degaussed, or physically destroyed.
A device like the MediaVise® Dual Sanitizer for HDD and SSD degaussing, followed by crushing, meets the Purge level of sanitization, ensuring that no residual data remains. We recommend deploying solutions like the MediaDice® All Media Disintegrator for comprehensive destruction, shredding media down to 10mm x 10mm or smaller particles, making it virtually impossible to recover data.
This ensures that outdated or unneeded information doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
4. Regular Vulnerability Assessments and Penetration Testing
To proactively secure your systems, regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing (pen testing) are essential. These exercises mimic real-world attacks to identify potential weaknesses in the network and infrastructure before a hacker can exploit them.
Schedule periodic vulnerability scans using advanced tools that look for common exploits and security holes and hire third-party security experts to conduct penetration tests, simulating attacks to assess the company’s defenses.
After testing, prioritize the remediation of critical vulnerabilities based on their risk level and potential impact.
By regularly identifying and addressing vulnerabilities, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of a successful cyberattack and strengthen your overall cybersecurity posture.
5. Encrypt Sensitive Data Everywhere
Encryption is one of the most effective cybersecurity techniques to safeguard sensitive information. Whether data is in transit, at rest, or being processed, encryption ensures that even if it is intercepted or accessed without authorization, it remains unreadable.
Employ end-to-end encryption for all communication platforms, whether email, chat, or file-sharing systems, and encrypt all sensitive data stored on databases, both on-premises and in the cloud.
Use strong, industry-standard encryption algorithms such as AES-256 for data storage.
Encryption protects sensitive data, ensuring that even in the event of a breach, attackers cannot easily exploit or monetize stolen information. Remember – even encrypted data can be recovered if a device isn’t properly disposed of at the end of its lifespan. Obsolete technology should always be disposed of according to NIST guidelines.
Protect Your Company’s Future With Data Destruction Solutions
Cybersecurity is an ongoing challenge that requires a multi-layered approach to protect your company’s data, infrastructure, and reputation. By adopting these advanced strategies—from Zero Trust Architecture to effective data destruction solutions—your organization can stay one step ahead of cybercriminals. Investing in technology and services from Phiston can further bolster your defense by ensuring that sensitive data is completely destroyed, leaving no room for recovery.
By following these tips and continuously improving your cybersecurity strategy, you’ll position your company as a resilient entity in the face of evolving cyber threats. Browse our best solutions to ensure your sensitive data is protected now!
