Cyber crime continues to grow at an exponential rate and impacts businesses of all sizes from all industries. From end users to security executives, everyone in a business has a role in cyber attack prevention and the actions that everyone takes towards this cyber attack prevention – or doesn’t – can influence your response in the event of an attack. 

Keeping your business protected against cyber attacks can pose a challenge for businesses and knowing the best ways to implement cyber attack prevention isn’t always straightforward. Many business owners aren’t sure where to start when it comes to their cyber attack prevention protocol, or believe that certain steps are reserved for big businesses only. In reality, all businesses, no matter the size, should take specific steps to avoid falling victim to a cyber attack Here we look at 3 recommended practices for cyber attack prevention. 

 

Implement a Robust Cyber Security Policy

Cyber security policies act as a formal guide to measures used within your business in an attempt to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of your cyber security operations and cyber attack prevention strategy. Having a cyber security policy in place ensures that every member of your team is on the same page when it comes to your cyber security approach. In the event that a cyber attack or breach does occur, then having a proactive cyber security plan in place ensures that the right actions are taken. 

With cyber attack prevention, you may consider implementing a policy which consists of a single overarching policy, with additional policies designed for each subsequent department within your business. This then takes into account each department’s needs and can help you to increase your overall cyber security policy. 

 

Control Access To Sensitive Data

No matter the size of your business, it’s important to consider just how much access you are giving to employees when it comes to documents or spreadsheets. When building your cyber attack prevention strategy, look at just how much access different individuals need to certain data and information. If you grant employees access to data by default, then you risk giving them, as well as potential cyber criminals, the opportunity to view, edit and steal this data. 

Rather than giving everyone access to everything, operate instead by giving the least access required and granting higher levels when required. If access to sensitive data and information is not needed, then be sure to revoke access as part of your ongoing cyber attack prevention model to keep your employees and your business protected. 

 

Conduct Regular Cyber Attack Prevention and Cyber Security Audits

Whilst you can prepare for cyber attacks with a cyber attack prevention strategy and response plan, you, unfortunately, can’t remove the risk altogether. By conducting regular cyber security audits, you can review your levels of cyber protection, closely monitor systems and software and check your servers. 

By conducting regular cyber security audits as part of your cyber attack prevention strategy, you can then identify any potential vulnerabilities and look at how your strategy can overcome them in its current state, or consider whether changes need to be made. 

At CYFOR Secure, our cyber security audits are designed to further support your cyber attack prevention and cyber security defence plans. They are a valuable tool for businesses who haven’t yet or don’t regularly assess their internal and external cyber security risks, or measure their threat exposure. 

We specialise in providing cyber security audits and risk assessment services to businesses and recommend that you have a new cyber security audit conducted at least once a year. For more information on our cyber security audits or to speak to us more about cyber attack prevention, contact the CYFOR Secure team today!