Cyberattacks on businesses are rising rapidly, with losses from ransomware alone predicted to cost $250 billion globally by 2031. As corporations become more digitally connected, from cloud adoption to bring-your-own-device policies, their attack surfaces are growing. Yet many still lack mature cybersecurity programs, leaving them vulnerable to threats.
Implementing robust cybersecurity measures has become imperative for every company. This article outlines the 13 most vital cybersecurity best practices that corporate security leaders should prioritize:
1. Get Buy-In from Leadership
Cybersecurity must become ingrained into company culture and operations. For this to happen, executives and board members need to fully support security initiatives in policy and budget. Their commitment signals its status as a business priority.
Over half of data breaches originate from human error, not technical flaws. Thus awareness at every level is critical. Provide cybersecurity training for C-suite and board members focused on:
- Latest threats impacting the industry
- Potential business impacts of different attack types
- Their role in promoting awareness and best practices
Schedule regular cybersecurity reviews, share metrics, and encourage participation in key decisions like technology investments.
2. Define Clear Security Policies
Document comprehensive policies aligned to your security strategy and business needs:
- Acceptable use policy – Guidelines for employee use of devices, data, credentials
- Access management – Standards for provisioning, reviewing user access
- Password policy – Complexity, update frequency, multi-factor rules
- Data classification – Guidelines for protecting/handling sensitive data
- Third party management – Security expectations for vendors, customers
These provide guardrails for technology, employees, and partners – enabling a stronger security posture.
3. Conduct Risk Assessments
Gain visibility into your specific risks by formally assessing:
- External threats intelligence tailored to your industry
- Internal asset inventory – hardware, data, applications
- Vulnerability scans to reveal technical flaws
- Prior breaches or audit findings requiring remediation
This analysis identifies your most likely vectors for compromise. It also informs strategic priorities based on real exposures vs. theoretical weaknesses.
4. Implement Access Controls
80% of breaches leverage stolen credentials or brute force attacks. Limit access through:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) – require a second factor like biometrics or one-time codes to allow access
- Single sign-on (SSO) – centralize authentication for all applications
- Least privilege access – only provideminimal access needed for the user’s role
- Remote access controls – strictly limit and monitor external connections
These measures significantly raise the difficulty for attackers even when credentials are compromised.
5. Train Employees on Security Awareness
Employees interact with your environment daily, so every person represents a potential vulnerability. Prioritize training on:
- Spotting phishing emails attempting to steal credentials
- Dangers of clicking unknown links or attachments
- Secure password hygiene and multi-factor usage
- Identifying social engineering attacks
- Secure handling of corporate data and devices
Tailor awareness to different user types – emphasizing threats relevant to their access and common scenarios. Reinforce learnings through simulated attacks to keep security top of mind.
6. Adopt a Zero Trust Framework
Zero trust is a model preventing lateral movement after compromise by isolating access and constantly re-verifying identities. It aligns to modern remote work patterns. Key tenets:
- Granular microsegmentation and least privilege access
- Universal multi-factor authentication
- All users and devices authenticated before granting access to apps/data
- Session encryption and inspection of lateral traffic
- Anomaly detection and analytics to identify threats
This limits damage from compromised accounts, infected endpoints, or insider threats. It also reduces the attack surface.
7. Secure Your Network Infrastructure
Attacks often target network gaps as jumping off points into broader environments. Lock these down by:
- Segmenting networks logically between functions like production, R&D, business units
- Building encrypted tunnels between segments with VPN connections
- Filtering traffic at network edges with unified threat management (UTM) tools
- Monitoring networks for anomalies indicating threats
This isolates critical assets while funneling access through checkpoints to stop attacks spreading.
8. Protect Endpoints and Applications
Over 20% of breaches involve endpoint compromises. Safeguard these vectors with:
- Next-gen antivirus – prevents malicious code execution
- Patch management – promptly install software updates
- Application control – whitelist authorized apps, block shadow IT
- USB restriction – block unauthorized devices
These solutions harden endpoints as the last line of defense. Maintain rigorous IT hygiene like patching, replacing outdated operating systems, and refreshing hardware every 3-5 years.
9. Secure Data and Systems
Apply protection measures directly to critical assets:
- Classify data by sensitivity; encrypt highly sensitive information
- Anonymize or minimize production data for non-production uses
- Perform regular backups tested for integrity and recovery
- Harden server configurations to remove unneeded services
Encryption creates virtually impenetrable security for data at rest or in motion. For highly privileged accounts, utilize privileged access management (PAM) to strictly monitor activity.
10. Validate Controls Through Testing
Quantify the real-world effectiveness of your controls by intentionally probing for weaknesses. Commonly used tests include:
- Penetration testing – authorized hackers attempt to breach environments mimicking tactics of real attackers
- Red team exercises – continuous simulated attacks to evaluate detection capabilities
- Security audits – assess compliance to policies and standards
- Phishing simulations – fake phishing emails sent internally to identify vulnerable users
Use outcomes to fine-tune defenses, identify gaps in visibility, and improve incident response. Annual testing provides assurance controls remain effective as the threat landscape evolves.
11. Prepare Incident Response Plans
Despite best efforts, breaches can still occur. Prepare response plans assigning roles/actions:
- Emergency contacts and escalation procedures
- Identify affected assets and determine scope of access
- Preserve evidence like system images and logs
- Eradicate threat; restore business functions
- Document detailed forensic analysis
- Keep executives updated on response progress
Quick, organized response minimizes damages and disruption. Schedule incident scenario exercises to refine workflows and communications.
12. Consider Cyber Insurance
Insurance can financially hedge residual risk. Typical policies cover:
- Crisis management fees (legal, PR, notifications)
- Business interruption from outages
- Hiring cybersecurity experts
- Extortion payments or ransomware demands
Evaluate the extent of protection offered relative to premiums and exclusions. Requirements around security controls or testing can also further incentivize cyber investments.
13. Stay Updated on Emerging Threats
From shifting adversary tactics to new vulnerabilities, the threat landscape evolves rapidly. Actively monitor for relevant changes including:
- Industry/vertical-specific threat intelligence
- New attack techniques or malware observed globally
- Regulatory and compliance updates you must implement
- Security incidents experienced by similar organizations
This provides advance notice to proactively fortify defenses before threats reach you. It also reveals when to accelerate plans or deploy temporary safeguards around high risks.
Combining these best practices creates defense-in-depth protecting endpoints, networks, applications, and data through layers while verifying effectiveness. They instill security in daily operations and culture. Prioritize initiatives mitigating your greatest risks revealed by assessments for the best protection per dollar spent. Monitoring for evolving threats ensures your program stays resilient.
