Essential Elements of Comprehensive Cyber Security

Why Every Business Needs Comprehensive Cyber Security Solutions Now More Than Ever 

Cyber security is not just a buzzword; it’s an essential investment for businesses in the face of evolving cyber security threats, one more so than Small and Medium Sized Businesses (SMBs). Recent statistics indicate that cyber threats are not only real but are targeting Small and Medium Sized Businesses as they are the ones most likely to not have a comprehensive cyber security solution in place. 

The Stark Reality of Cyber Threats 

- 1 in 5 Small Businesses will experience a cyber breach this year. 

- 81% of all breaches impact Small and Medium Sized Businesses. 

- Cyber Attacks on UK Businesses increased from 2.39 million in 2022 to 7.78 million in 2023.

- More than 50% of UK businesses said that they had experienced some form of cyber attack in 2023.

- A whopping 97% of these attacks could be averted if businesses were armed with modern Cyber Security Solutions. 

Given these stats, it is clear that having a comprehensive cyber security solution in place to protect your business against these evolving threats is not an option, it’s a necessity!  

What are the key pillars of a Comprehensive Cyber Security Solution? 

Security Health Check:  

Just as personal health check-ups are vital for our well-being, cyber security health checks are crucial for your business’s well-being. This process identifies vulnerabilities and weak points in your cyber security, ensuring that these can be addressed before malicious threat actors can exploit them. Regular health checks keep your business aligned with evolving cyber security standards and offer peace of mind that your assets are protected from the latest cyber threats. 

Email Security:  

Email is an essential communication tool for businesses; however, the human element of email makes it a favourite entry point for attackers. Phishing scams, malware, and social engineering attacks are just a few of the methods used to infiltrate unprotected email systems. By fortifying email security, businesses can prevent data breaches, financial losses, and reputational damage that often result from human error or compromised email accounts. 

Security Training:  

Even the best security software can be rendered ineffective by human error. Regular training educates employees on the latest threats and safe online behaviours. A well-informed team acts as an added layer of defence, reducing the chance of security breaches through human error. 

Advanced Endpoint Detection & Response:  

Traditional anti-virus solutions are only 50%-70% effective against modern cyber security threats. Advanced Endpoint Detection & Response monitors systems in real-time using Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technologies, identifying and countering threats that traditional anti-virus misses. This includes zero-day attacks, ransomware, and more. 

Dark Web Monitoring:  

The dark web is a dangerous place, filled with marketplaces for the sale and exchange of stolen data. By monitoring the Dark Web, businesses can identify if their data has been leaked, allowing them to take proactive measures like resetting compromised passwords or alerting affected stakeholders to potential data breaches. 

Password Policies:  

Passwords and user accounts are the keys to your business's digital kingdom. Weak or reused passwords provide easy access to hackers. Implementing strong password policies and practices, such as high minimum lengths and complexities (including the use of Upper & Lower Case, Numbers and Special Characters) ensures that these keys are not easily guessed or cracked. Enforcing regular password changes and multi-factor authentication can also significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access. 

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA):  

Even the strongest Passwords alone are no longer enough to secure your online accounts, especially with the rise in cyber attacks, data loss and the sale of this information on the dark web. Multi-Factor Authentication ensures that even if a password is compromised, unauthorised users can't access your sensitive personal or business accounts without this second verification step. Multi-Factor Authentication is achieved in a number of ways including text messages, authentication apps, password managers, or biometric data, adding an extra layer of security such as a physical security key.  

Please note that not all Multi-Factor Authentication is considered 100% secure, text message verification for example is known to be prone to SIM-Swap Hijack attack, a method by which attackers use social engineering attacks to trick your network provider into swapping your number to a SIM under their control in order to intercept SMS verification 

Patch Management:  

Outdated software is often filled with vulnerabilities which hackers use to exploit. Regular patch management ensures that all software—including operating systems and third-party applications—is updated with the latest security patches when they become available. This eliminates known vulnerabilities and protects businesses from many potential breaches that could have been easily avoided. 

SIEM/Log Management:  

SIEM (Security Incident and Event Management) provides real-time analysis of security alerts generated by applications and network hardware. It helps businesses detect patterns or anomalies that might indicate a security threat, ensuring immediate response to potential breaches. Moreover, it aids in regulatory compliance by maintaining a secure record of all log data. 

Web Gateway Security:  

As businesses increasingly rely on the internet, web gateway security acts as a security checkpoint, scrutinising incoming and outgoing internet traffic. Identifying and blocking malicious websites, downloads, and phishing attempts, ensuring that online threats are stopped at the door. 

Security Operations Centre (SOC): 

Employing a full-time Cyber Security team is not always an option for Small and Medium Sized Businesses, so why not use ours? Our Security Operations Centre is like having your own team of Cyber Security professionals always looking after your business security. They not only protect against known threats, but they also hunt out new threats that could cause your business harm. 

Mobile Device Security:  

With the rise of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) culture and remote working, personal mobile devices are increasingly being used to access your business infrastructure. These devices, if not secured, can be gateways for cyber threats against your business. Implementing mobile device security ensures that these potential weak links are fortified. 

Firewall:  

Think of a firewall as a digital security guard for your business, monitoring and deciding which traffic can enter or leave a network and blocking the rest at the door. A robust firewall prevents malicious entities from entering your business, keeping your digital assets secure. 

Encryption:  

If a hacker manages to intercept your data or gain access to your business devices, could they read the information? Encryption ensures that this data remains unreadable. Encrypting data at rest and in transit (such as via email) ensures that even in the event of a data breach, the intercepted or stolen information is useless to the attacker. 

Backup Policies:  

From hardware failures to ransomware attacks, data loss can be catastrophic. Having a robust backup policy ensures that business operations can continue even after a disaster. By following the 3-2-1 backup method (3 total copies of your data, 1 primary copy, 1 on-site backup on a different medium and 1 off-site backup), businesses safeguard their critical data from a multitude of threats, ensuring that they can easily restore their data and continue to operate. 

SaaS Alerts: 

As businesses around the world continue to embrace cloud adoption through cloud computing solutions, replacing costly physical infrastructure with cost effective and scalable cloud solutions, use software as a service solutions (such as Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, Salesforce, Dropbox and many others) cyber criminals are similarly altering their attack vectors. Recent reports, such as the annual Verizon Data Breach Report, shows that "identity compromise" now accounts for 81% of all data breaches globally. With businesses managing multiple cloud based services, and software as a service (SaaS) applications, securing accounts user identities has never been more important. That is where our SaaS Alerts platform comes in, it offers a proactive and intelligent way to monitor and protect your business's most valuable asset: it's data.

TwentyFour can help keep your business Cyber Secure 

Incorporating these elements into a comprehensive cyber security solution ensures businesses are not just reactive to cyber security, but proactive in their approach to the digital threats they may face in the future. In a world where cyber threats are continuously evolving, staying ahead of these threats with a comprehensive security solution. 

If you would like to discuss your Cyber Security health check with us, Contact Us and we can work with your business to get you Cyber Secure.