his Cyber Security Awareness Month might just be the most important one in a very long time. The rise in cyber-attacks since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic has placed a massive focus on business’ and individuals’ cyber security strategies as they try to adapt to the new world that we find ourselves in. Close Digital Protection has never been more important, and cyber security experts are realising it. This Cyber Security Awareness Month, we’re working alongside our colleagues across the sector to show how important good digital hygiene and risk mitigation really are.
It’s always better to be proactive than reactive, and it’s exactly the same story for cyber security. Mitigating and avoiding risk where possible is a much easier and cheaper solution than investing heavily in cyber security in a knee-jerk reaction after falling victim to a cyber-attack. The most efficient path is to mitigate risk and monitor your digital footprint while still making good use of all of the advantages that online life brings with it.
Now, how exactly do you mitigate risk? Well, to start with, there is no one-size-fits-all solution as each business’ needs will be particular to its size, sector and status. From its most basic, mitigating cyber risk includes keeping software up to date and making sure you have the best antivirus for your situation. Many firms who deal in client or customer data would also be very smart to regularly back up the data securely, working to minimise the risk and potential impact of any ransomware attack.
The investment in proper cyber security education and training for all staff is absolutely key. Twitter learned to much dismay that leaving less “central” staff adrift of cyber security training can lead to breaches as an employee’s credentials were taken and used to access customers’ accounts.
That one case study may be the best in highlighting the reasons why personal digital hygiene and personal cyber risk can have an impact on the risk and security of an organisation or even society as a whole. Developing that Close Digital Protection for the individual clearly has an impact on a business’ cyber security, and this month we’re passionate about getting more and more individuals involved in their own cyber security, rather than leaving it to services or their organisation.
Monitoring your own digital footprint is also a key part of the holistic approach to cyber security. Being able to track where your data is being shared, who has access to it and how it is being used allows you to foresee any potential breaches or attacks and nip them in the bud. The campaign pushing for better net neutrality and data privacy is doing great things to better the situation for consumers and businesses, but individuals still have to be aware of their own impact on the digital landscape around them.
The push for better digital hygiene this Cyber Security Awareness Month is one that we are so proud to be a part of, it’s never been more important and educating individuals and engaging businesses on Close Digital Protection and its importance in the modern workplace. As part of the worldwide campaign for better cyber security awareness, we’re excited to see firms and individuals across the sector really fly the flag for cyber security and digital hygiene, showing everyone how important it is and how everyone can be doing more to improve their own security.