Cybersecurity is being taken more seriously by companies globally due to the increase of attacks in recent years. It’s becoming more common for hackers to try and infiltrate networks regularly, which has caused companies to have to step their game up.
Organizations that are lacking in their cybersecurity department are at a higher risk of attacks causing permanent damage. Cybercriminals can steal sensitive data and leave companies with no grounds to recover.
However, knowing more about cyber security can be a big help in enabling you to prevent cyberattacks. Many methods can be put in place to safeguard against attacks. This post includes the top 5 most important things to know about cyber security so that you can leave feeling more assured about what to look out for and what practices you may need to start implementing.
New OWASP Top 10 Vulnerabilities
The OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities is a document that all cyber security enthusiasts should know about. This document includes information about some of the biggest risks in web applications.
Organizations use this document to better understand some of the most current cyber security risks involved. As a result, you can use it as a guidebook to learning more about the new risks so that you can put measures in place to deal with them better.
Utilizing the new OWASP top 10 vulnerabilities document is a simple and important step for companies to minimize data breaches and ensure that their code is kept secure. The top OWASP vulnerabilities include the following:
- Broken Access Control
- Cryptographic Failures
- Injection
- Insecure Design
- Security Misconfiguration
- Vulnerable and Outdated Components
- Identification and Authentication Failures
- Software and Data Integrity Failures
- Security Logging and Monitoring Failures
- Server-Side Request Forgery
Keeping Software Updated
Ransomware attacks are one of the most common cyberattacks that organizations and consumers come under. One of the best ways to reduce the chances of cybercriminals carrying out successful ransomware attacks is to update your systems regularly.
Organizations that fail to regularly update their applications, operating systems and devices leave themselves more vulnerable to attacks. Carrying out updates helps to put patches in place that fix weak areas so that you’re not as open to being easily attacked.
It may be a good idea to set automatic updates. This ensures that whenever a new update is ready, it will automatically be installed. As a result, you can always be sure that your systems are up to date with the latest patches.
It’s a smart move to outsource the monitoring of your systems to skilled professionals who will help you upgrade your security systems as soon as there’s an option for this. Businesses like to hire a virtual CISO service to keep their systems safe without having to worry about the hassle of doing it themselves. This allows businesses to focus on their core operations while still having peace of mind that their cyber security is being properly managed.
Understanding ROI in cybersecurity investments is crucial for organizations aiming to allocate their resources efficiently while safeguarding against potential cyber threats. By employing innovative tools such as a cybersecurity ROSI calculator, businesses can quantify the economic benefits of their security measures and demonstrate the importance of such investments to stakeholders within the C-suite.
Passwords
Setting strong passwords is a simple and effective way to make it more difficult for hackers to infiltrate your accounts. However, many people make common mistakes when setting passwords, leaving them more at risk of being attacked.
For starters, it’s recommended not to use a complicated combination of symbols, numbers, and upper and lower case letters. Alternatively, you should use something simpler that includes a minimum of eight characters. The password should also come with a few symbols and a minimum of one uppercase and one lowercase letter, as well as one number.
Picking a password that’s easy for only you to remember is handy for ensuring that you’re able to remember it without making it easy for others to know. Furthermore, you should make sure not to make your password available anywhere. That’s why it’s important to ensure that you pick a password that you can remember without having it written down anywhere.
In addition to this, people commonly use the same passwords for different accounts. If hackers gain access to one account with a specific password, they’re likely to try the same password for your other accounts and be successful.
Authentication
Using two-factor authentication is standard among many organizations. This process involves adding two layers of security rather than just one password. The idea behind two-factor authentication is to make it more difficult for hackers to access your system.
Even if they use the correct password, they won’t be given access to the network right away. Instead, they’ll be provided with an additional prompt that they’ll struggle to get past. This second layer of protection could include being required to scan your fingerprint or ask you a question that only you would know the specific answer to.
It’s not recommended to use two-factor authentication that involves receiving a code through an email or text. This is because hackers can infiltrate phone and internet networks with malware that can provide them with access to your texts and emails.
Malware
Malware involves malicious content within the internet. Hackers can send malicious content to people, providing them with a way to infiltrate their network. In addition to this, malware can be found in adware, which can leave your system exposed if clicked on.
Therefore, you need to use antivirus protection and firewalls. Antivirus software is effective when it comes to combating malicious content. It’s recommended to use only one antivirus software on your system.
In addition to this, setting up firewalls can keep your network protected from malicious content. Firewalls work to prevent hackers from sending malicious content to you through the internet. This is an effective method to prevent malware from entering your systems altogether.
Conclusion
Now that you have a better idea about some of the most important things to know about cyber security, you can be sure to keep yourself better protected. Hackers are always creating new ways to hack into networks of large organizations and individuals.
We hope that you can use the details found throughout this post to help yourself feel more assured about some of the major cyber security threats so that you can prevent them from affecting you.