Cybersecurity and Managing the Risks

According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report in February of 2019, web attacks have risen by 56%, and 4,800 websites are compromised with formjacking code each month. Enterprise ransomware is up by 12%, and mobile ransomware is up by 33%. Supplychain attacks have risen by 78%, and the percentage of users hit with malicious email – spam, phishing, and malware – continued to trend up in 2018.

Simply put, our businesses are under attack.

Our ability to assess our weaknesses and minimize those threats cannot be underestimated. The issue lies in the fact that many organizations are overwhelmed. Even the ones who have a strong internal IT staff are still under-resourced to find all of their gaps, and their ability to fill those gaps, once they’re found, is challenged. Talent is hard to find in this market, and in some cases, they see the gaps but don’t fully understand the real vulnerability those holes represent.

Without a real strategy for managing these weaknesses, organizations are left with an Achilles’ heel. And, if a breach occurs, who will bear the responsibility?

“We thought we were protected, but we never tested it.”

Protecting your organization begins with shedding light on the areas where there are cracks within your systems. This starts by conducting a third-party Gap Analysis. Like a home inspection, this involves completing a top-to-bottom inspection of your networks, systems, and facilities to uncover any areas where you are exposed. Knowing where to look and what questions to ask is critical. These can include:

    • Business Interruption: What is the financial risk associated with a breach that causes our networks to be down for multiple days?
    • Litigation Liability: Are we covered for a breach caused by one of our sub-contractors or vendors?
    • Ransomware Costs/Extortion: Are we adequately protected against ransomware or extortion?
    • Data Restoration: Do we have the systems in place to quickly and efficiently restore data at a moment’s notice?

Once a gap analysis is completed, and areas of vulnerability have been uncovered, the next step involves being educated as to the available options, and which solutions best meet your needs. In many organizations, the current labor shortage has left businesses understaffed, and expertise is in short supply. Understanding what comes next after a Gap Analysis, and which solutions will fill the gaps most effectively, can be difficult. Sometimes the most challenging question is, “Where do we go from here?” Having a resource that can educate you as to the gaps and your best options for remediation is key.

Remediation is the next step in the process. Having gone through the Gap Analysis and evaluating the best solutions, it’s time to begin filling the gaps. This is not an “all-at-once” endeavor. It needs to be a strategic process, where the most significant threats are mitigated first, and then less precarious hazards are addressed after. One-by-one, each gap should be resolved over time, thus strengthening your overall cybersecurity.

Then, once the remediations are completed, each should be tested. Remember this statement from earlier in the post, “We thought we were protected, but we never tested it.”? Testing is the final, most important step in the process. Redhatting allows for a physical security analysis, and Penetration Testing allows for simulated hacking to be done. In both cases, the goal is to ensure that vulnerabilities have been uncovered and fully addressed.

Cybersecurity is an ongoing, long-term endeavor. At no point will you ever be done dealing with cybersecurity, and the threats continue to evolve and change. But, by giving your cybersecurity needs the attention they deserve, you can help create the following outcomes:

    • Avoiding a breach
    • Mitigating the damage if there is a breach
    • Decreasing incidents
    • Maintaining compliance in required areas
    • Increasing the maturity of your risk profile

At OneNet Global, we are thoroughly equipped to guide you through every stage. We’re experts in the cybersecurity space, and our Managed Cyber Security services can not only help you walk through a Gap Assessment, Redhatting, and Penetration Testing, but we’re also here to help as you enter the remediation phase, from providing education to a complete list of solutions.

Your cybersecurity needs are not going away. In fact, as attacks evolve and shift, your exposure is becoming greater. We’re here to help make sure that when an attack comes, and it will, you’re ready.

Connect with us today to discuss your needs and where we can help protect your business.