How to improve cyber security: 10 quick & easy tips

Cybercrime in the UK is not going away. In fact, it’s growing at a staggering rate. Cybercrime costs the economy billions each year and it’s expected to surge by a further 15% in 2024. Digital transformation has revolutionised how businesses operate and interact with customers. The pitfall is that our reliance on digital technology exposes businesses to the growing threat of cyber-attacks.

With so many threats at large, it’s time to ramp up your cyber security measures. In this article, we’ll get you clued up on how to improve cyber security with 10 quick and easy tips. Let’s get started.

10 ways to improve cyber security in your organisation

1. Perform regular penetration testing

One of the main ways to improve cyber security is to conduct regular penetration testing. A penetration test (or pen test) is a security exercise where a cyber security specialist launches a simulated cyberattack to find vulnerabilities in your networks and systems. This allows you to address any vulnerabilities before they can be exploited by cyberattackers.

2. Enhance password management

Weak passwords are often the root cause of data breaches. According to Norton, more than 80% of data breaches are related to stolen, weak or reused passwords.

We often take password security for granted, but it’s the first line of defence against potential attacks. To keep your business safe, you should encourage employees to follow password best practices. For example, the ideal password should be 10 or more characters long and contain at least one uppercase letter, number and symbol. On top of that, you should enforce regular password changes, prevent users from reusing old passwords and introduce a company-wide password manager like Dashlane.

3. Update software regularly

Security patches and updates are crucial for system performance and protection against cyber threats. Cybercriminals often exploit software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorised access to an organisation’s network. This can easily be prevented by regularly updating software with the latest patches and security features, so they don’t become compromised.  

If you permit Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) you need to be particularly wary as personal devices often lack up-to-date operating systems and software. Encourage employees to keep their devices up-to-date with the latest versions to minimise vulnerabilities. Another option is to implement Conditional Access policies in Microsoft Intune. This enables you to block access to resources if a device doesn’t meet the required OS version. 

4. Prioritise security awareness training

Regular security awareness training will help employees understand how to identify and respond to common cyber threats such as phishing and ransomware. For maximum results, this should be followed up with simulation testing to give your employees hands-on experience and test their preparedness. It also allows you to identify weak areas that might require further training.

5. Enable multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is one of the most effective ways to improve cyber security in your organisation. MFA is an electronic authentication method that requires users to provide more than just a password to gain access to their accounts. Additional forms of verification may include a one-time passcode, a fingerprint or a security question. By adding this extra layer of security attackers will have less chance of successfully accessing user accounts with stolen or shared credentials.

6. Ensure robust email security

Over 75% of cyberattacks start with a malicious email, making it the weakest link in a company’s defence against cybercrime. Implementing robust email security is a vital part of protecting your business. This should include security awareness training, sender authentication, email encryption, spam filters and AI threat detection techniques. To learn more about improving email security, check out our top eight tips.

7. Continously monitor all networks and systems

Monitoring your networks and systems in real-time allows you to quickly identify and mitigate potential threats. This means you can nip them in the bud before they become a major problem and avoid costly downtime.

Don’t worry if you don’t have the resources in-house for 24/7 monitoring. One of the key benefits of managed IT services is that they provide proactive monitoring and maintenance. This takes the weight off your in-house IT team and ensures your business runs smoothly around the clock.

8. Create backups

One of the ways to improve cyber security and ensure business continuity is to create regular backups of all business-critical data. Backups are a lifesaver in cyber security. They allow you to quickly and easily restore your data in the event of a cyberattack so your business can still function with minimal downtime.

When creating backups make sure you follow best practices to keep them secure. For example, you should automate your backups, use cloud storage, perform regular testing, control access and implement data encryption.

9. Strengthen endpoint security

With the rising trends of remote working, BYOD policies and IoT devices, endpoint security is more critical than ever. Every device that connects to your networks is a potential entry point that cybercriminals can exploit to gain unauthorised access. Endpoint security is the process of protecting end user devices – such as mobile phones, tablets, laptops, desktops, servers and IoT sensors – from malicious attacks and safeguarding your networks.

10. Employ zero trust principles

The zero trust model is another effective way of keeping your network safe, particularly in the era of remote working. Zero trust moves away from relying on a perimeter and trusting everything within it. Instead, it follows the principle of ‘never trust, always verify’ by constantly verifying every user, device and app when they connect to the network. This added layer of security keeps your networks secure and protects your business against potential breaches.

Enhance your cyber security with ITVET

Turn these cyber security tips into action with ITVET as your trusted tech partner. Our specialist cyber security team is equipped with the latest knowledge and skills to help you stay ahead of the evolving threats. We offer a full range of services to keep your networks, systems and data safe. If your business needs further advice on how to improve cyber security get in touch with our team today.