Let’s be honest. Hackers are lazy opportunists.
They’re looking for the easiest way to kidnap and hold your IT infrastructure and data for ransom.
One of their favorite, and most well-known, methods is to slip into your system by fooling your staff into opening their phishing emails or clicking on malicious links.
However, they also employ lesser-known tactics such as targeting old, poorly tracked assets such as cell phones and laptops, that are still connected to your network.
Sounds like a complete waste of time, right? Why would they target old hardware?
Because most of the time, these older devices are still connected to your network but have not been updated with the latest software and OS releases. This means bad actors can exploit existing, known security vulnerabilities to get in and wreak havoc.
The bad news is that hackers’ have an endless, ever-changing supply of tricks to get in and exploit your IT systems. The good news is that you are learning how to build out a security program to prevent you from becoming their latest victims.
In the previous email, you learned what foundational tools to use to protect your “perimeter.” The next step is implementing the tactics you need to increase your awareness.
This is accomplished via these four tactics:
- Email Filtering
- Web Filtering
- Asset Management
- Continuous Scanning
Email and web filtering are highly effective at increasing awareness around what types of cyber threats are hitting your team’s email boxes and internet browsers so you can better prevent them.
Asset management requires you to track and rigorously update software on all your devices regardless of use until they are scrubbed and removed from your network.
The final awareness tactic is to implement a continuous scanning protocol or tool that monitors your networks, devices and data for vulnerabilities caused by poor configurations, patch management failures or malicious activities. It’s proactive approaches enables you to plan for new cyber threats on the horizon.
If you’d like to learn more about each of these security awareness tools, please click here.
Or if you would like more in-depth information on where to invest your cybersecurity dollars, please fill out the form on this page. You’ll receive a free copy of my chapter, What is a Security Framework?, from the book On Thin Ice to help guide you.
Lastly, if you have any questions or comments, please know that I’m only one click away.
