10 Good Cybersecurity Practices Every Company Should Follow

Cybersecurity, also known as information security, is essential today, as it is practically impossible to find a company that doesn’t rely entirely on the internet to perform its work.

It is crucial because all the material produced online by the company and other devices must be handled with care. After all, a significant portion of this data includes sensitive information, whether intellectual property or financial data.

But here’s the important part: how can you and your company update your cybersecurity methods? How can you implement it effectively?

We’ve prepared a list of 10 essential steps to understand what cybersecurity is and how to help in daily operations. Check it out!

Why is cybersecurity so important?

Now that you have a better understanding of what cybersecurity is, let’s explore why this topic is so important.

If you’re not yet familiar with the subject, don’t hesitate to check out our guide on digital security. There, you can clear up all your doubts with a quick and highly informative read.

Continuing, cybersecurity is fundamental in organizations today because they deal daily with a vast amount of information from their clients and users.

Especially considering that much of this data is sensitive information, such as personal details or other types of data for which unauthorized access or exposure can have negative consequences.

With the increasingly sophisticated and dangerous landscape of cyberattacks, companies and organizations need to take truly effective measures regarding their cybersecurity.

Proof of this is in the numbers: according to a study by Chainalysis, an English platform that tracks cryptocurrency usage in crime, data breaches increased by 311% in 2020, with around $350 million paid to criminals.

Reinforce Your Cybersecurity in 10 Steps

The effectiveness of a cybersecurity strategy primarily depends on the coordination of efforts within the information and technology system, in collaboration with the rest of the organization.

To help you, dear reader, avoid such situations, we propose 10 best practices for cybersecurity for companies, outlining ideas on what can be done to prevent problems arising from misuse of technology or to aid in protection against cyber threats.

1. Assess the Current Situation and Develop a Plan Are there weaknesses in the organization? Make them evident.Map where your data and assets are located, what protections you have, the effectiveness of your security solutions, and your company’s readiness to defend itself.Organize your resources to create a clear cybersecurity plan that includes policies and access levels, as well as what to do in case of a breach.Identify containment steps and what will be necessary to resolve the incident and move forward.
2. Establish an Internal Information Security Policy or Regulation This regulation should clearly define the rights and duties of employees, their responsibilities, access limits to company information, and the use of this information inside and outside the workplace.It should also emphasize the confidentiality of obtained information, penalties for rule violations, and mechanisms for controlling and monitoring the company’s technological apparatus.
3. Simplify Management Those who are not yet familiar with a cybersecurity system may be confused at first. Therefore, simplifying means optimizing the implementation of the plan.Consolidate functions, segments, and environments into a single architecture. By doing so, you can build successful operations and smooth policy coordination across network segments.
4. Incorporate Biometric Verification Tools that use fingerprint, voice, or facial recognition for user system verification are excellent options.Biometric identification is one of the best cybersecurity practices since no two individuals have the same biometric traits. If an employee accesses unauthorized information, it can be identified through biometrics.
5. Multi-Factor Authentication? It Works and Should Be Applied! It may seem basic and ineffective, but this cybersecurity practice helps protect confidential data by adding an extra layer of protection.Even if a malicious actor has your password, they will still need a second or even a third factor of authentication, such as a security token, your phone, fingerprint, or voice.As an added benefit, it also allows you to distinguish between users of shared accounts, improving access control.
6. Encrypt Sensitive Information Establish a hierarchical encryption system to ensure that only specific departments access the necessary information in their workflow.Employees not involved in this workflow will not have access to critical data, thus reducing vulnerability.
7. Pay Attention to Remote Access Remote access is a necessary part of business but can also be a weak point for data security.Create secure remote access procedures using encrypted connections with well-configured authentication and authorization. Also, pay attention to the processes for creating and revoking access.
8. Be Cautious and Inform Your Team About Phishing Frequently, well-intentioned employees inadvertently help perpetrators by providing them with a way into your system.Attackers use phishing techniques, such as spam emails and phone calls, to gather information about employees, obtain credentials, or infect systems with malware.Therefore, companies should have a properly configured spam filter to block the most obvious threats. It is also essential to educate employees about popular phishing techniques and the best ways to handle them.
9. Manage IoT Security IoT devices have gained popularity recently, but managing access to confidential data is challenging. Security cameras, smart locks, doorbells, heating systems, and office equipment are vital parts of the business network.You can protect your company from cybersecurity threats by ensuring data encryption at rest and in transit. Conduct penetration tests to understand the real risks and plan your security strategy accordingly, ensuring proper authentication.
10. It Is Every Employee’s Duty to Report Any Security or Data Protection Incident To ensure all employees understand the importance of the topic, it is necessary not only to train them but also to make them aware that any incident must be reported to the information security team.

This way, any situation that could improperly expose company, team, or client data can be resolved quickly and efficiently.

Moreover, in the case of personal data breaches, reporting an incident is not just a good internal practice. It is a requirement under the General Data Protection Law (LGPD) when it could cause significant risk or harm to data subjects.

Cybersecurity in Brazil

With the application and constant use of the General Data Protection Law, cybersecurity in Brazil is based on values such as respect for privacy, ensuring fundamental rights to inviolability of intimacy, honor, image, and private life.

In other words, the legislation covers the processing of data by natural or legal persons, public or private, and includes a wide range of operations carried out manually or digitally. This applies to anyone within our country.

Therefore, discussing cybersecurity and how to use it practically and efficiently to ensure the internal protection of the company and clients is more necessary than ever.

Don’t remain exposed online; stay updated and protect your business!

Have you stopped and assessed the level of cybersecurity in your organization or even for your clients?

Today, it is crucial to stay updated and aware of this type of problem, which is increasingly prevalent in our daily lives.

Vulnerability is a recurring issue, as technology evolves rapidly. Attack methods and invasions become more sophisticated at the same pace, sometimes making them difficult to track.

However, by adopting good cybersecurity practices like those mentioned in this article, you will be off to a great start!

Invest in Your Company’s Security with BugHunt!

Investing in your organization’s cybersecurity doesn’t have to be a daunting task! In a simple, effective, and practical manner, you can ensure the safety of your team and clients.

To do this, just become a BugHunt partner! Our specialists work meticulously and constantly analyze your company’s systems to identify potential vulnerabilities, anticipating possible cyberattacks.

Now that you understand the basics of cybersecurity and how you can intervene to protect your organization, get in touch with us! BugHunt can help.

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