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Cyber hygiene is the foundation of a secure IT environment. That’s why Elevity always includes this first line of defense when creating a client IT strategy roadmap.
In case you are wondering exactly what cyber hygiene is and what cyber hygiene best practices can do, here’s a short definition:
Cyber hygiene is a set of regular actions that are designed to help maintain the health of your organization’s networks and data from lurking cyberthreats.
As a Managed Solutions Architect, I’ve helped guide a number of Midwestern small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs) from a variety of market sectors navigate complex security practices. Using Elevity’s straightforward approach, we create cybersecurity strategies designed to secure everyday business operations.
Our team understands that every individual organization needs a tailored IT strategy geared toward their market sector and business goals. However, there are common best practices that we encourage every client to follow.
Here are 10 of our most recommended cyber hygiene best practices:
- Determine Your Organizational Cyber Risk & Risk Tolerance Level
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Employee Cybersecurity Awareness Training
- IT Management Tools for Proactive Monitoring & Automated Security Updates
- Managed Security Services
- Single Sign-On Services
- Secure Remote Work Practices
- Cybersecurity Response Plan
- Cybersecurity Insurance
- Regular Reviews of Cybersecurity Posture & IT Policies
These best practices are often combined with additional methods into a cybersecurity roadmap designed to lead organizations toward their business goals.
Determine Your Organizational Cyber Risk & Risk Tolerance Level
Today, modern businesses have a variety of devices and resources connected to the internet, and each of these connections presents a various amount of cyber risk. That’s why it’s important to understand your unique organizational IT security needs and determine what your cyber risk tolerance level is.
To effectively manage your organization's cyber risk, it's essential to conduct regular reviews of hardware and software, implement firmware management practices, establish employee protocols and configure network monitoring alerts. Since each organization faces unique cyber risks, their levels of risk tolerance will also vary.
For example, organizations that store personal customer data on file need to adhere to industry data security practices. Healthcare and insurance companies, for example, must follow HIPAA and schools must follow FERPA guidelines.
Knowing your organization’s cyber risk and risk tolerance level is the first step toward risk mitigation and improved cyber hygiene.
Free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment: Determine Your Cyber Risk Score
Multi-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication has become the default practice for organizations to adequately protect their data because of its effectiveness in restricting unwanted access to software applications, data and network infrastructure.
Effective for end users of all types (e.g., employees, customers, etc.), multi-factor authentication requires a user to confirm their identity in order to authenticate themselves when logging into an application or establishing network access. For example, a site may ask for a username and password, then send a code via text or email that the user must input for additional verification.
This method was previously termed two-factor authentication. However, as cybersecurity has evolved, the term “multi-factor authentication” has become more prevalent as it describes a process that can be tailored to address an organization’s unique cyber risk needs.
Employee Cybersecurity Awareness Training
Educating employees on how to avoid security risks or becoming a victim of identity theft is a critical best practice. Often, employees are your first line of defense against email based threats like phishing and spoofing scams. Empower them with the knowledge to pause, consider, verify if they receive a suspicious email. Everyone needs to be vigilant and ready to thwart incoming cyberthreats in their tracks.
IT Management Tools for Proactive Monitoring & Automated Security Updates
Being prepared to defend against cyberthreats means having effective IT management and cybersecurity tools in place. These tools provide automation for the installation of automated operating system patches, security updates, software updates and provide monitoring and reporting against the desired compliance and security postures.
Managed Security Services
Managed Security Services such as firewalls, Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Managed Detection and Response (MDR), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) and Security Operations Center (SOC) work together to strengthen your organization’s defenses. These tools are used to collect, analyze and correlate data by proactively monitoring for anomalies within your IT environment, including cloud services, alerting security engineers within a Security Operation Center (SOC) for appropriate action.
Single Sign-On Services
A Single Sign-on Service (SSO) is a method of Identity and Access Management (IAM) allowing users to access multiple websites and applications (CRM, Microsoft® 365, ERP, etc.) with just one set of login credentials. SSO and IAM can also provide organizations with a streamlined approach to user access simplifying user administration and network security.
Secure Remote Work Practices
Remote and hybrid work arrangements remain key factors in driving employee satisfaction and productivity and employees working remotely need a secure way to log into their employer’s resources. Remote access tools like Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), Remote Desktop Services (RDS) and Virtual Private Networking (VPN) are excellent tools that promote better cyber hygiene practices. For example, these tools allow an authorized user to securely connect to an organization’s networks and access data remotely through an internet connection.
Cybersecurity Response Plan
Proactive planning is essential for maintaining strong cyber hygiene. This involves developing a comprehensive cybersecurity response plan to address potential data breaches, cyber incidents, service disruptions, or hardware failures. This plan should outline a multi-layered approach with the necessary resources to guide the organization back to normal business operations.
Cybersecurity Insurance
Cybersecurity insurance plays a vital role in protecting organizations, particularly in high-risk industries like healthcare and finance, against the financial and operational impacts of cyberattacks. As the threat landscape evolves, so do the requirements for securing this type of coverage. Insurers now expect businesses to implement robust cybersecurity measures, such as regular risk assessments, network monitoring, data encryption, and employee training. By adhering to these best practices, organizations can not only qualify for coverage but also minimize their expose to potential threats, ensuring greater resilience against cyber incidents.
Regular Reviews of Cybersecurity Posture and IT Policies
Implementing strong cyber hygiene best practices is an important first step in strengthening your organization’s defenses. However, it’s equally essential to regularly assess and measure the effectiveness of your tools and protocols, while staying alert to emerging threats. Regular reviews of IT policies, including those related to data storage, security, and password management, ensure that your defenses remain robust and up-to-date.
Where Do I Start?
Conducting an organizational cyber risk assessment is a great start. This will give you a clearer picture of what you have and any gaps that need to be addressed.
While you could conduct an assessment on your own, a better alternative is to contact the experts at Elevity for an introductory consultation. You’ll gain a clearer understanding of your organization’s needs and be better equipped to determine if our comprehensive Technology360 analysis is the right fit.
