The rapid proliferation of digital technologies offers businesses vast potential for expansion and innovation, but it also creates a host of new Security risks. As the growth in the number of connected devices continues to accelerate, one major challenge is determining the optimum level of security for certain types of data. Some assets require minimal protection while others may need more robust security measures.

Data breaches represent the most immediate need for effective enterprise data protection. Better protection means better compliance and reduced monetary losses and less risk of reputational damage. Improved security processes are also critical for emerging business priorities, including digital transformation, regulatory compliance, and privacy and reporting requirements.

While building an effective data protection strategy can be challenging, the effort can deliver immense business value on multiple levels. A robust data protection and privacy plan can help build and maintain stronger customer relationships, enhance brand value, and reduce the potential for non-compliance and its associated penalties. Whether through a targeted attack or an internal security lapse, businesses are at risk for potentially crippling loss of revenue through a single data breach.

Building a strong security foundation requires advanced tools and technology and an organizational culture that not only protects data and minimizes risk, but helps improve business agility, responsiveness, and transparency. It starts with a detailed assessment of your IT infrastructure and overall security requirements.

• Assessment: First, it’s essential that you build a solid understanding of your data, including how it is stored, how it is accessed, how critical it is to your business, and the potential risks if were lost or stolen. What types of data are most vital to your business? What is the level of confidentiality of the data you manage? What are your current methods of storage and will this change in the future? What are the protocols for data access? This insight will provide the framework for defining your security requirements and shaping a solution that strikes an optimum balance between data control, protection and access flexibility.
• Controls: The next step is to implement higher-level controls. These are enterprise data protection and security tools that will help protect data when it’s being accessed or used. Strong access control and user authentication methods help ensure only approved users can obtain access to your networks and data. Encryption is also critical to safeguard data and provide additional reinforcement barriers to network-based attacks.
• Monitoring: At the center of a proactive strategy is the ability to record events and execute actions based on those activities. This is where ongoing monitoring can help, providing important insights that can help safeguards against gaps in application and perimeter defenses by notifying you of issues before any serious damage occurs. Automated monitoring tools track data access and usage details and provide important insight into areas of risk and vulnerability, helping to improve the likelihood that a potential intrusion will be quickly identified.

Implementing the right technology is critical, but it’s not the whole solution. The users who interface with IT systems must also be educated and instructed in how to perform their tasks. And, the policies and procedures that define the actions must be properly designed and consistently enforced.

While there is no silver bullet to protect against all threats, new techniques and innovative approaches to blocking malware and securing endpoints can help safeguard your digital assets without hampering productivity or mobility.  Following some proven best practice measures can help protect against a barrage of new and emerging threats.

• Strengthen access controls: Once an access point is compromised, attackers will often reuse the password to gain access to other systems. Authentication will help obstruct these attempts no matter how the hacker gains access to the password.
• Utilize encryption: Encryption helps safeguards information in transit and on the endpoint devices, preventing attackers from copying or transferring that data. For even greater protection, consider full-disk encryption, which it encrypts the complete hard drive, safeguarding the data as well as the applications and operating system.
• Tighten controls: Application controls can help prevent prohibited users from launching or downloading applications on endpoint devices. They also help shield the network from possible security threats with their ability to block departing employees from access to critical business systems and applications.
• Use proactive scanning. Vulnerability scans provide reports on detected gaps in security and recommendations for security patches or vendor solutions. These reports describe the types of risks found and a potential cause for each area of vulnerability.
• Ensure business continuity. In the event of a disaster or security breach, you need to be able to recover quickly. Work with a qualified security expert to assess your current environment and develop a disaster recovery plan that safeguards infrastructure and data and protects against ongoing threats

• Monitor lifecycles. Network monitoring tools can help confirm the health of software and firmware throughout system startup, operation and during sensitive upgrade periods. Software updates and security patches should be delivered automatically by default.
• Implement advanced threat detection. Advanced detection techniques, including machine learning and analytical tools, can help identify irregularities and weaknesses in ways that aren’t possible with traditional network security These tools analyze that data in real time to correlate events and spot individual anomalies or patterns of behavior that may indicate a security breach.
• Define policies and procedures. Usage policies define what behaviors are and aren’t acceptable. Work with your internal team to define and implement policies and practices based on your usage preferences and requirements or mandates specific to your particular market.

As cybersecurity becomes more complex, many organizations lack the resources or knowledge they need to mount an effective defense. That’s where working with an experienced security expert can play a vital role, helping you define your business requirements, identify data priorities, and implement a security framework that aligns with your business goals.

The good news is that with the right mix of defensive measures, smart policies and sound technology planning, achieving a secure IT environment is possible. Establishing a secure and well-protected IT environment in today’s world requires a proactive approach—assessing vulnerabilities, updating technology and security defenses, and monitoring for vulnerabilities.

This is where additional proactive measures can prove critical, providing reinforcing layers of defense as part of a comprehensive security strategy.

• Create a culture in which people talk about security, and make security a clear priority. Teach users about secure online practices such as how to recognize potential threats and phishing attempt. Check their security awareness with in-house hacking attempts and interactive security activities.
• Simplify and streamline security with solutions that consolidate authentication, encryption and advanced threat protection into a single security suite. Compared with point tools, these integrated systems require a fraction of the IT resources required to maintain effective threat protection.
• Deploy updated anti-malware to help prevent malicious software such as ransomware and viruses from sneaking into your network, and make sure your anti-malware software is consistently updated with the latest definitions.
• Keeping patches current―make sure your practices include automated patching to help enforce policies and keep systems up to date and enforced with the latest software patching.

• Make backups of all your data and software on a storage device that is not attached to your network or computer. Confirm that all your backups are operating properly and test them on a regular basis to make sure they will perform when you need them.

Cybercriminals are constantly looking for new ways to break through your defenses, which reinforces the need to create a strong culture of security knowledge, awareness and responsiveness.

Every IT environment is different, and hackers are constantly refining their techniques. Therefore, it’s imperative that you stay up to date on the latest techniques and remain diligent in your effort to shield your business and safeguard your infrastructure from today’s relentless barrage of cyberattacks.

A comprehensive data protection and regulatory compliance strategy is no longer a flexible option, but rather a must-have plan for businesses of all sizes. Although building an effective IT security framework is a long-term process, businesses cannot afford to wait. Plans are being developed today, and proactive organizations are already taking action now to help ensure their IT environment is ready to safely and securely support the rapid proliferation of connected infrastructure and devices.

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