No matter what organization we’re talking about, online presence isn’t just about your website—your email, social media, cloud services, and various other factors are also a part of this overarching element.
There are plenty of benefits to this level of interconnectedness—ease of communication and operational efficiency being just the two most self-apparent ones. However, that level of interconnectedness is also an enticing vector for potential cyber threats.
To protect your organization, you have to start the home front—an organizational culture that’s clued in on why security awareness is important is a crucial first step. Practical strategies, such as regular updates to security protocols, additional training, and putting in place a comprehensive incident response plan are the second piece of the puzzle.
On top of that, you’ll also have to leverage tools such as firewalls, secure socket layer (SSL) encryption, and regularly updated antivirus software.
Even once you’ve put all of that into place, your job isn’t done—there’s no “set it and forget it” here, as cybersecurity is a constant battle. You’ll have to keep your ear to the ground, conduct regular audits, and always stay vigilant—but at the end of the day, the cybersecurity battle can be won. Let’s take a closer look at how.
Understanding Cyber Threats
Cyber threats are an umbrella term—while all of them are malicious activities, they’re actually quite varied in terms of how they work. Apart from a general overview of the potential security issues that an agency can run into during the course of its operations, a more specific look at concrete attack vectors is necessary.
One of the most prevalent forms of cyber threats in the modern business landscape is ransomware. This software operates like this—once it infiltrates your systems, it encrypts crucial data, using it as leverage to extract a ransom in exchange for unlocking it. A good practical example to look at is 2017’s WannaCry ransomware outbreak, which managed to infect hundreds of thousands of systems worldwide.
Another common type of threat is phishing, which involves using seemingly legitimate communication as a vector for tricking individuals into disclosing or revealing sensitive information. While it’s comforting to think that we would all recognize someone trying to trick is, the situation on the ground tells us this isn’t the case—with even seasoned security professionals and big companies like Facebook and Google falling prey to phishing campaigns.
Last but not least, Distributed Denial of Service or DDoS attacks use a swarm of traffic to overwhelm the infrastructure that websites are based on, leaving them inaccessible. These attacks cause significant downtime, which can equate to huge losses of businesses or significant erosion of consumer trust.
A good example is the Mirai Botnet, which used IoT devices to orchestrate various DDoS attacks over the last 8 years. One high-profile case is the DDoS attack on DNS provider Dyn, which caused the company to lose 8% of its clients—the average cost of a DDoS attack is $6.130 per minute for affected organizations.
This is by no means an exhaustive list—these are just some of the most common types of attacks experienced by organizations online, which should concern your agency.
Building a Security-First Culture
Tools and technological solutions are important—this is, after all, a technological problem, but defense begins at home. To truly stay one step ahead of malicious actors, your agency has to embed security within its DNA—in other words, security has to become an essential part of your company culture or organizational culture.
Shifts like these have to be done top-down—they begin with the C-suite and management. This pivot to a security-first culture should be clearly stated, and everyone in the agency should immediately understand that this is now a priority.
Once everyone is on board, it’s time for the practical side of things—education is your biggest ally in counteracting cyber threats of all stripes. Holding regularly scheduled, engaging training sessions, and workshops, or even investing in cybersecurity education for your employees goes a long way in increasing awareness.
Supplementing that with simulated attacks, phishing exercises, or other practical methods is another way to increase engagement and bring these often abstract risks closer to home.
This cultural shift also demands open communication—everyone should feel comfortable with reporting potential threats, lapses, or even their own personal mistakes and ideas for how the cybersecurity posture of the agency can be improved.
To round things off, make sure to reward and recognize positive behavior—this will make your employees or colleagues feel valued, and motivate them to take further steps to improve the overall security of your agency.
Implementing Robust Security Protocol
Now that we’ve touched on the general threat landscape and the importance of workplace culture in achieving digital security, let’s take a moment to hone in on a few practical strategies and approaches that should be incorporated.
Encryption, which encodes information, ensures that even if your data is somehow intercepted, it will remain incomprehensible (and ultimately, unusable) to cybercriminals. For a comprehensive, robust security posture, aim to have your data encrypted both while at rest on your servers and devices, and when it is in transit.
Next, firewalls—these tools, which can come in the form of both hardware and software, serve to monitor all incoming and outgoing network traffic. With that capability, they can also allow or block any detected data packets based on sets of predetermined rules. A good firewall goes a long way in preventing unauthorized access to your systems.
Moving on, consider Secure Sockets Layer certificates. They authenticate a website’s identity, enable secure, encrypted connections, and establish trust with users inasmuch as their data is secure during transmissions. You should utilize SSL certificates no matter what your agency’s sphere of business is—but they are an even more important factor for agencies that handle sensitive information, like payment card data for example.
However, nothing in the realm of cybersecurity is static—you’ll need to establish a framework to regularly update and maintain your security measures and overall protocol. This can include revising and revisiting agency policies, patching and updating software, or simply keeping your teams abreast of the latest developments in cybersecurity.
All of these practices require collaboration and a unified overview, which often necessitate the use of an agency platform for advanced workflow integration and data analysis.
Lastly, make sure to implement strict access control measures by using features such as multi-factor authentication or MFA. These solutions require users to present at least two verification factors to get access to data or resources, which means that even if one security factor is breached, the system will not be compromised.
Training and Incident Response
A well-structured training program ensures that all employees are aware of the cybersecurity risks and understand the best practices to mitigate these threats. This training should be continuous, reflecting the evolving nature of cyber threats and the introduction of new technologies and procedures. It’s crucial for staff to recognize the signs of a cyber attack and understand the protocols for reporting potential security incidents.
Equally important is the development and implementation of a comprehensive incident response plan. This plan outlines the procedures to follow when a security breach occurs, minimizing the impact and swiftly restoring normal operations.
It should include clear roles and responsibilities, communication strategies, and steps for containment, eradication, and recovery. Regular drills and simulations of cyber attacks can prepare the team for real-life scenarios, ensuring a quick and effective response to any incident.
By investing in ongoing training and establishing a solid incident response framework, agencies can significantly reduce their vulnerability to cyber attacks and mitigate the impact of breaches when they occur. This proactive approach not only safeguards the agency’s assets and reputation but also instills a sense of confidence and security among its employees and clients.
Regular Audits and Adjustments
Regular audits and adjustments form a crucial part of maintaining an agency’s cybersecurity framework.
Through periodic security audits, agencies can identify vulnerabilities within their IT infrastructure before they are exploited by attackers. These audits should comprehensively assess the effectiveness of existing security measures, including policies, controls, and protocols.
For a full overview, you should also conduct a thorough review of all existing IT infrastructure—hardware and software. For example, a firmware issue with old hardware can be a potential vulnerability, or something as simple as one of the 60K+ free WordPress plugins can also provide a backdoor for malicious actors if not properly secured.
Based on the findings, it’s vital to make necessary adjustments to security strategies. This may involve updating software, revising access controls, or enhancing data encryption methods. Regularly adjusting security measures in response to audit findings ensures that the agency’s cybersecurity defenses remain robust and capable of combating evolving cyber threats.
Conclusion
Securing an agency’s online presence through comprehensive cybersecurity measures is an ongoing process that demands constant vigilance and adaptation.
From understanding the myriad cyber threats that loom in the digital landscape to fostering a security-first culture within the organization, each step plays a pivotal role in fortifying defenses.
Implementing robust security protocols, ensuring regular training and effective incident response, and conducting regular audits for timely adjustments are essential strategies.
By embracing these practices, agencies can not only mitigate the risks of cyber attacks but also build a resilient and trusted digital environment. Continuous effort and commitment to cybersecurity can indeed make the battle against cyber threats a winnable one.
