According to security experts, private and public sector organizations are usually an easy target for cyber attacks. And unless organizations get the basics right, they will keep falling prey to battling fraudsters, ransomware rings, or nation-state hackers. In times like these, it is crucial to make sure that Organizations shore up their basic defenses, like using Multi-Factor Authentication [MFA], and as soon as they suspect an incident, they must take it seriously and act quickly.
Several Organizations have long implemented the Multi-Factor Authentication [MFA] and a Security Incident Response Plan. They have also continued to actively improve any defenses that may have been lagging. And yet, organizations that support critical infrastructure still lag behind when it comes to the security basics.
Before the advent of Artificial Intelligence [AI] and Machine Learning [ML], security experts have been warning that the basics too often get overlooked. But still, cybersecurity has remained partially a story of organizations continually tackling new problems, just to leave them half-finished and move to a new one. Usually, organizations are hyper-obsessed with the latest technology and get caught up in just about whatever the industry is selling. But the truth is that organizations are still failing to get the basics right.
In 2011, the Australian Signals Directorate published the top four (4) information security mitigation strategies which are considered by many experts as the best place to start.
Organizations in the financial, defense, government, and oil & gas sectors are the most likely targets for cyber attacks.
Even the best prevention in the world cannot guarantee that an organization will not get breached. To identify exactly what all organizations should be doing to survive a data breach, organizations should learn how to build a Data Breach Response Playbook or a Security Incident Response Plan. The single most important factor is to set up everything, ahead of time, get buy-in from all levels of the Organization, including the Board, and then practice the Playbook.
Top 10 Basic Defenses against Security Breach
Chief Information Security Officers (CISOs), especially in government agencies, aerospace and defense sectors, should conduct a 4-week review to shore up defenses, resilience of the basics and they must ensure that they can get back up and running after a successful attack.
Here’s a four-week “Security Sprint” of Top 10 items that organizations should focus on as per Attorney Chris Pierson, CEO of cybersecurity firm Blackcloak.
These are some of the low-hanging fruits that can help prevent a successful cyber attack without introducing too much friction. Most organizations can achieve them in four weeks and successfully create a better balance between protection and recovery. But this 4-week target cannot begin counting down until organizations have put a Plan in place!
Neumetric, a cyber security services, consulting & products organization, can help you reduce your security cost without compromising your security posture. Our years of in-depth experience in handling security for organizations of all sizes & in multiple industries make it easier for us to quickly execute cost-cutting activities that do not bring value to you, while you continue focusing on the business objectives of the Organization.