Know and Maintain Your Information Systems Baseline

Previously, we discussed the importance of a network baseline and how to identify anomalous activity. Now, it is time to consider a baseline for your organization’s IT systems. NIST Cybersecurity Framework calls on organizations to create baselines for their IT systems that incorporate security principles like the concept of least functionality. 

Who are Your Users? Personnel and Asset Authentication to Reduce Cyber Risk

Each and every user and asset in your organization needs to be considered a unique identity in order to manage organizational risk appropriately. Employees perform different roles and may have differing levels of access based on these roles. Authentication ensures that employees only have access to the data and devices that are required to perform their jobs.

Patch Management: Stay Ahead by Planning Ahead

Hackers exploit the fact that many businesses do not update their software as often as they should. Zero-day exploits, ones that have not been discovered by the software developers yet, sound flashy and make for exciting news stories. However, it is easier to develop or use an exploit against a known vulnerability. If you lack proper patch and vulnerability management plans, you could be potentially giving cyber criminals free access to your data.

Stay Ahead of Risk: Making a Better Risk Assessment

The risk assessment process is more meaningful and effective when you understand the potential business impacts of a cybersecurity event and the likelihood of these events occurring. It is not possible to predict all potential cybersecurity attacks or vulnerabilities. However, if you identify the events that can have an impact on your company and prioritize your security efforts based on the likelihood of those events happening, your business will have a stronger cybersecurity posture.

Ensuring Accountability: Define Detection Roles and Responsibilities

Sound detection processes make a world of difference when it comes to making your organization more secure. Technical solutions ─ such as firewalls and antivirus software ─ take on much of the hard work, but it is also important to clearly define detection roles and responsibilities. Placing a named person with these clearly defined roles and responsibilities increases detection and process efficiency, and ensures accountability in case the process fails.