Hacked off? Here’s the Solution to Ensuring Data Security

A new survey conducted by security and systems management company Tanium indicates that 40% of businesses feel more exposed to cyber attacks than ever before – and there is good reason for it. The truth is it’s easier than ever for someone to become a hacker and with GDPR just around the corner, it is vital to make sure your organisation is bullet-proof.

Hacking spree

These days, hackers don’t necessarily need any formal training to intercept supposedly secure systems, meaning that most novices can turn criminal. There are now tools available that offer even the most unskilled person a way to automatically locate and compromise vulnerable internet-connected devices. The more-skilled hacker is also becoming harder to combat.It’s clear that cyber security is weighing heavy on the minds of business-makers – so what is the solution?

“Approximately one in five enterprise users have passwords that are weak or shared, putting their organisation at risk of a cyber attack”

Simple steps

To begin with, just putting a few simple precautions in place can make a huge difference. Strong passwords, two-factor authentication, antivirus, and backups are just a few simple steps that can be taken to better protect yourself from cyber attacks. Surprisingly, even high-profile breaches and malware infections suggest that some of this most basic advice is infrequently followed.Weak passwords, for example, are still a common, major risk. According to a new report from security firm Preempt, approximately one in five enterprise users have passwords that are weak or shared, putting their organisation at risk of a cyber attack. The report also claimed that an average of 19% of enterprise professionals use poor quality passwords or shared passwords that make their accounts ‘easily compromised’.Of course, when protecting highly sensitive data, more is needed when it comes to securing your assets. So, what next?

“Most hackers use brute force, or guess at random keys until the right one is found”

Threat assessment

The level of threat to your organisation needs to be established. If you don’t assess the risks, then they cannot be properly managed. This comprises identifying internal and external systems that are both critical to your processes; or that process, store, or transmit legally protected or sensitive data. You will want to make sure that you are aware of the ways in which a hacker can gain entry to your system and you can do this by identifying points of weakness.At SCC, we create a Cyber Threat Assessment Report for businesses, which is divided into three sections – security and threat prevention, user productivity and network utilisation and performance. This gives you an unmatched insight into your current security posture and network activity.

Encrypt data

Data encryption – where data is translated into another form or code – protects digital data confidentiality. Most hackers use brute force, or guess at random keys until the right one is found. Therefore, the length of the key is important, as the longer the key, the longer it takes to crack.

Choose a security partner

The right partner, that offers the best solutions, can help monitor your network and identify threats so you can anticipate and respond in the most effective way. You need a partner that understands various drivers, such as budget, risk tolerance and compliance requirements, and that can support you with different delivery models.At SCC, our service offers an intelligence-led approach to protecting information, intellectual property and valuable assets. Our service is powered by IBM QRadar, rated by international analysts as one of the world’s best security analytics platforms. Key benefits include a single solution for event and data flow log management and a reduction in the cost of security monitoring and risk management.Don’t wait to take action, take your first steps today.