Cybersecurity in 2021: The Top 6 Recommendations | Antivirus

Change is the only constant in the cybersecurity world, where new threats come and go as cybercriminals take advantage of new opportunities.

Cybersecurity used to be as simple as installing anti-virus software and protecting your network with a firewall. Today, cybercriminals can take advantage of much larger attack surfaces as companies adopt new technology to better scale demand and meet the needs of the remote workforce.

 

2021 will undoubtedly bring new challenges for information security teams. Therefore, we recommend the following steps to prepare your business for the threats and opportunities of the next year:

 

1. FOCUS ON SCALABLE COMPLIANCE

Meeting the ever-changing regulatory compliance requirements requires a scalable, adaptable approach that gives you complete visibility into your computing architecture. 

 

Organizations need to be able to apply and maintain their data security and privacy controls without losing efficiency. 

 

As this becomes much more difficult on a scale, you need to have a consistent and unified approach to dealing with compliance requirements. 

 

This means automating the monitoring, management, and enforcement of compliance whenever possible.

 

2. BUILD UP YOUR CYBERSECURITY DEFENSES IN LAYERS

Cybersecurity has evolved far beyond the limited protection mechanisms of old systems such as antivirus programs and firewalls. 

 

In times of remote work, mobile and cloud computing, and the Internet of Things, you need multiple layers of defense for every endpoint that makes up your IT infrastructure. 

 

There is no longer a traditional perimeter in today's distributed computing environments.

 

Therefore, each endpoint must have several safeguards in place, such as B. via automated updates, anti-virus controls, trustworthy access, and multifactor authentication.

 

3. REINFORCE CYBERSECURITY FOR REMOTE WORKERS

Remote workers are on the rise, and they were a big deal long before Covid-19. 

 

However, 2020 has shown that many established companies were insufficiently prepared to send their employees home and secure their IT systems remotely. 

 

Admittedly, remote working carries several unique risks, such as insecure wireless networks or inadequately protected employee-owned devices. 

 

Reducing these risks must have a top priority in the future. Administrators need to keep a full overview of their user accounts, apps, and data.

 

4. DEVELOP A SAFETY CULTURE

For many employees, cybersecurity is a technical problem that only IT needs to worry about. 

 

However, cyber threats can target anyone in the company, usually through social engineering scams like phishing emails. 

 

Because of this, everyone needs to be aware of the threats and how to use their workflows. 

 

Every company should develop a security culture with regular security awareness training and hands-on activities such as phishing simulations. 

 

Above all, the training should not have a purely academic approach and should not focus exclusively on protecting the company. 

 

You need to make it clear that you are doing your employees a favor as well, as everyone is a potential target for cybercriminals,

 

5. THINK EDGE SECURITY

Despite all the emphasis on cloud computing in recent years, the importance and benefits of tracing data processing back to its origins are now being used again. 

 

Edge computing combines the power and flexibility of the cloud with the real-time information from Internet-connected intelligent devices and other systems. 

 

However, edge computing also means more endpoints and therefore more devices that hackers can exploit. Many IoT devices are poorly protected and forgotten, which can leave your entire network vulnerable. 

 

You need to ensure that all devices are captured and protected by multiple layers of security.

 

6. RECONSIDER REGULATORY COMPLIANCE

Compliance is easy to view as a necessary evil, characterized by a lot of bureaucracy and complex controls and guidelines. 

 

For example, to achieve a high level of security maturity to meet the requirements of certain sets of rules, dozens of different controls have to be implemented. 

 

However, instead of viewing these things as a burden, companies should view them as opportunities for growth. 

 

Adhering to the stringent standards required by today's government agencies will reduce the risk to your most important assets create a culture of trust with your customers and partners, and open up new opportunities for business growth.