Keeping your website secure in a time of heightened threats
As the threat of cyber attacks continues to grow, businesses are struggling to keep their websites secure. One of the latest targets for hackers is web defacement, which can leave a website unusable and cost the business money.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your website from these threats. Web defacement monitoring can help you keep an eye on your website and ensure it's always up and running. Additionally, by monitoring your cloud costs, you can ensure that you are not paying for anything in the cloud that you are not using.
By taking precautions, you can help keep your website safe and secure in a time of heightened threats. So how important is your website, what is web defacement monitoring, and why should you take note?
The importance of a business website
Websites are essential to businesses for several reasons. Not only can it provide potential customers with information about your products or services, and generate leads or sales. But, perhaps most crucially, your website is often the first point of contact between you and your customers, so it has to constantly be on.
Yet, as the threat of cyber attacks grows - and successful breaches tick upward - businesses are struggling to keep their websites secure. One of the latest targets for hackers is web defacement, which can leave a website unusable and cost the business money.
What is web defacement?
Web defacement is the act of hacking into a website and changing the content or design. It can be done for many reasons, such as to damage a business's reputation, get money from the impacted organisation or even spread malicious messages.
Typically, hackers breach websites that are poorly protected. As such, you must ensure that your website is secure.
What are the consequences of web defacement?
While web defacement can be a serious security threat, it is often overlooked. Web defacements are usually not targeted attacks. Instead, they are often the result of automated scripts that scour the internet for vulnerable websites.
Web defacement can have many consequences for businesses. Perhaps most crucially, reputations can be harmed, and it could even act as a deterrent for potential customers, who may think twice about using organisations with lax security. It could even drive consumers to rival companies if they see your site has been breached - which is the last thing any business in a digital age wants!
Equally, web defacement can also be an expensive headache for businesses. We're in an always-on economy, and having a website taken down to repair the damage comes at a cost - and that's before you factor in any potentially lost revenues or ransoms the hacker demands.
Fortunately, there are ways to protect your website from these threats, and it's not all doom and gloom. If you're concerned, web defacement monitoring can help you keep an eye on your website and ensure that it is always up and running - despite the wave of threats out there.
How can web defacement monitoring help?
Web defacement monitoring is a means of helping businesses protect their websites from attacks. By constantly monitoring your website, you can quickly identify any changes that have been made and take action to fix them.
Equally, web defacement monitoring can also help you track down the source of the attack, meaning you can take steps to prevent it from happening again.
The cloud
As with most things in 2022, this offering comes at a cost. And, as web defacement software is cloud-based, organisations already in the cloud may be cautious about costs increasing even more - and for a good reason too.
The more complex cloud environments become, the harder it can be to monitor spending - which isn't likely to be music to anyone's ears in the current climate. So, how do you maintain the visibility of your spending and keep costs down at all times?
How can I reduce my cloud costs?
One way is to use a cloud cost monitoring solution. By doing so, you can see which resources are being used, how much they cost and where you could potentially save money.
Not only that, but you can set alerts to be notified when costs start ticking upward. Doing so ensures swift action is taken to reduce your costs. In short, cloud cost monitoring means you aren't paying for anything you don't use.
Some businesses may think it best to spend time researching the topic and diving into it sooner rather than later - but what if there were a better way, such as working with a third party?
Conclusion
Working with a trusted partner ensures you can take the next step in your business' evolution. Tapping into expert assistance for tools such as web defacement monitoring, cloud migrations, and a host of other forward-thinking technologies means you're best placed for future developments.
Equally, with Cloud cost monitoring assistance, you can continue your journey into the future without being bogged down with unnecessary costs.
Why not work together to protect your website and your bank balance?
How Employee Verification Creates a Safe Workspace?
According to a survey conducted by StandOutCV, 42.5 million (55%) Americans lie on their resume to get a job. This can be extremely detrimental to organizations, as candidates with fraudulent intentions can risk the safety of the company’s confidential data.
Additionally, unfit candidates can also be a liability to the organization’s existing employees. Therefore, firms must take measures to evaluate the applicant’s work and criminal history through employment verification.
What Is Employee and Employer Verification?
Employee verification or employment verification is the process of confirming a candidate's prior work details, such as work history, current job status, educational background, and skills. By conducting this assessment, employers can ensure they hire the right person for the role.
Companies that fail to conduct employee verification end up hiring an unfit individual. This leads to a loss of time and resources and can even compromise the safety of other workers. To avoid this situation, companies can take advantage of screening services that verify candidates.
Similarly, businesses can also verify employers to reduce financial risks when partnering up with another corporation. Employer verification system also assists businesses in identifying an applicant’s employer to ensure their business is not targeted for fraud.
Implementing this process is extremely important for businesses looking to fill a senior position. This is because a managerial-level employee can access the firm’s most confidential data, which is why it is imperative to conduct a comprehensive assessment before hiring high-level executives.
6 Reasons to Conduct Employee Verification Process
Employee verification is becoming more popular in the workplace. A survey by PBSA (Professional Background Screening Association) reported that 73% of organizations have a documented policy for background screening procedures.
There are multiple reasons why companies are taking this initiative, including the following:
Prevent Data Loss
After joining a corporate firm, the newly hired employee can access confidential information, such as the firm's assets, operational processes, and financial details. An untrustworthy employee can misuse this data or share it with competitors. As a result, the firm can suffer adverse consequences, such as:
- Loss of customer trust
- Lawsuits filed by disgruntled customers
- Reputation damage
- Financial loss
- Risk of business closure
To protect the company from data loss, board directors hire background screening services to verify employer and employment details of the finalized candidates.
Reduce Hiring Errors
HR professionals take measures to check the accuracy of information mentioned on the candidate’s resume. Unfortunately, these individuals lack the time and resources to conduct extensive background investigations. Due to this, companies can risk hiring an unfit or fraudulent candidate.
This can be detrimental to any organization. In fact, research shows that a company spends $240,000 in hiring an employee, and a bad hire can cost up to 30% of the employee's annual earnings. Therefore, checking the prospect’s credentials before making hiring decisions is essential.
Improve Workplace Safety
Employee verification processes optimize workplace safety. With these checks, companies can rest assured that they employ a suitable candidate with no criminal history. These evaluations can certify that the business operations are not exposed to untrustworthy candidates. It can also ensure that the existing employees are not susceptible to risks and liabilities.
Identify the Candidate’s Eligibility to Work in the US
Companies can determine the candidate’s eligibility to work in the US through verification checks. For instance, organizations can check the applicant’s immigration status through a comprehensive evaluation.
Certify Culture Alignment
Organizations must hire candidates that are right for the role and add to the company’s culture. With employment verification, businesses can evaluate the culture of the applicant’s previous organizations. This can provide insight into the environment the individual has worked and thrived in. Companies can then hire individuals whose experience aligns with their organization’s culture.
Provides Confirmation of Salary
Employee verification procedures can inform companies about the applicant’s previous salary. This confirmation is especially important for candidates applying for senior-level positions. With verification of the individual’s previous income, organizations can ensure they do not over-pay the worker or provide a lowball offer to a good candidate.
How to Conduct Employee Verification?
Before starting the employment verification process, organizations must notify the candidate in writing that the company will conduct a background check. Taking consent is critical before starting the hiring process, as it protects the organization from legal repercussions.
Employment verification itself can be conducted by third-party services. The service providers can equip organizations with a comprehensive report on the candidate. The information covered by these checks may include the following:
- Employer Status
- Salary Slips
- Criminal records
- Job performance assessments
- Roles and responsibilities
- Job title
- Contact details
Wrapping Up
It is common for job applicants to exaggerate skills or work experience on their resumes to secure employment. Therefore, organizations must conduct thorough research and run background checks to learn whether the applicant is eligible for the role. By verifying employee information, companies can hire the right individual and create a safe workspace.
6 Tips for Keeping Your B2B Affiliate Marketing Website Secure
When you launch a B2B affiliate marketing website and don’t put appropriate security measures in place, it’s the same as leaving the front door of a shop open. Naturally, the cost of protecting a business is cheaper than recovering the costs of a breach. When it comes to operating a website, every single component needs to be secure. Continue reading to find out more.
Keep Up with the Latest Trends
Cybercriminals are just as innovative with their tactics as manufacturers are with creating new tech, meaning their exploitative methods are constantly growing. Therefore, it’s important to keep up with the latest trends. The best way to do this is by being actively involved with the community and attending Cybersecurity Roundtable discussions hosted by industry experts. As well as this, you will find plenty of networks through social channels including Reddit and Discord.
Have an SSL Certificate
The goal of an affiliate website is to direct buyers to third-party services, which means a significant amount of information passes through their servers. Therefore, to keep their users safe, all affiliate and eCommerce websites should use secure socket layer (SSL) certification, indicated by the address bar's padlock. Having this certificate proves that communication through a website’s server is encrypted.
Use a Firewall
Cybercriminals target websites in an attempt to retrieve personal data and sell it on the dark web. Therefore, it’s recommended that affiliate website owners use a web server firewall (WAF), which tracks traffic and helps to prevent various threats. If you’ve ever browsed the internet and seen Cloudflare human verification checks appear, you’ve seen WAFs in action.
Only Use Secure Web Hosting Services
The most basic form of affiliate website protection is making sure it's hosted by a secure provider. To do this, you will need to research the different security systems while shopping around, and look for the following:
- DDoS attack prevention
- SSL provisions
- High-end malware protection
- Operating system stability guarantees
- Reliable backup systems
- A strong firewall on the server
Schedule Backups
Your affiliate website is made up of various files stored on a remote hard drive, which is just as vulnerable to attacks and memory loss as your own hard drive. Therefore, to prevent losing your entire website due to an error or cyberattack, you should schedule regular backups to a reputable cloud storage provider.
Secure Your Web Servers
If your website is handling sensitive public data, you need to make sure you’re following GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation). Therefore, if you collect any personal information, you need to ask for permission first and encrypt data before it arrives on your server. If you’re found to be in breach of GDPR, you’ll likely receive an enormous fine; take this Google data protection fine as a warning.
Keeping an affiliate marketing website secure is essential for avoiding data theft and other malicious attacks. The best way to do this is by implementing the latest security protection measures, ensuring your hosting provider is secure, and following GDPR at all costs.
Keeping Your Company Data & Privacy Secure
In the digital age, data and privacy is one of the most valuable assets for businesses. As a business owner, staying up to date on the latest technology trends and best practices for managing your company's data and privacy is crucial. Keep reading to learn about essential guidelines you should consider.
Set Up a Secure Network
Your first step should be setting up a secure network. This is especially important if you plan to store sensitive customer information or confidential company documents online. Ensure that all your computers are password protected and that any external devices (such as USB drives) are encrypted before use. Here are some extra measures you can take:
Conduct Penetration Testing (Pen Test)
Regularly conducting pen tests is an essential security practice that can help protect your data and privacy. For starters, a Pentera pen test involves running tests on all devices connected to the network to identify vulnerabilities and weak points. This helps you identify any potential threats before they can be exploited.
Install Firewalls & Anti-Virus Software
A firewall and anti-virus software are essential for protecting your company's data and privacy. These programs will help protect your network from malicious attacks and identify any suspicious activity that could be occurring on the network. Additionally, a firewall can prevent unauthorized access to certain areas of the network.
Data Encryption
Data encryption is a must for any business that stores confidential customer information or sensitive company documents online. Encrypting your data ensures it can't be accessed without the correct password, making it much less vulnerable to attack. Additionally, you should also regularly back up your data in case of an emergency.
Set Up Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
MFA is becoming increasingly popular in corporate networks. This type of authentication requires users to enter two or more forms of identification before they can gain access to the network. This helps ensure that only authorized personnel have access to confidential data and information.
Data Security Policy
Every company should have data security policies in place. This document should outline the procedures for handling customer information, internal company documents, and other sensitive data.
Train Your Employees
It's also essential to train your employees on how to handle confidential information appropriately. Make sure that they understand the importance of keeping passwords secure and changing them regularly.
Additionally, provide them with guidance on what types of data they can post publicly or share with third parties, such as vendors or clients. For instance, you may want to have a policy in place that prohibits employees from sharing confidential data without prior approval.
Finally, make sure your employees are aware of the latest phishing and malware threats that could put your company's data and privacy at risk. Educate them on how to recognize these threats, so they can take the necessary steps to protect your business.
Use Cloud Services Carefully
Cloud services can be beneficial for storing large amounts of data securely without taking up physical space in an office environment. However, make sure that you only use reputable cloud service providers with a solid reputation for protecting customer information and providing robust security measures.
Additionally, make sure that your cloud services are regularly updated with the latest security patches and that you have policies in place governing how data is stored and used. This way, you'll be sure that you're taking all the necessary steps to protect your company data and privacy.
If possible, you should also consider using a cloud storage service that allows you to set up your own private network. This will ensure that the information stored on your cloud network is safe from prying eyes.
Managing your company's data and privacy is essential for staying competitive in today's digital landscape. However, it can be tricky if you don't know where to start. The key is understanding what steps you need to take in order to keep everything secure - from setting up a secure network and training your employees on data handling protocols to using cloud services carefully and investing in additional security measures like encryption software or two-factor authentication when needed. With these essential guidelines under your belt, managing your company's data and privacy should be much easier.
The Role Of Cybersecurity In Maintaining HIPAA Compliance
In 2022, a report found that healthcare has been the most targeted sector of cybercrime. Ransomware, unauthorized access, and email compromise are among the top threat incident types. But there's no surprise in that, considering the amount of personal and private data collected and managed by healthcare organizations. Every Protected Health Information (PHI) stolen equates to money for cybercriminals.
However, we must understand that cyber threats do not only exploit PHI but also risk the company's compliance with Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). That said, it's crucial for healthcare organizations everywhere to take action now to avoid the risks of non-compliance, starting with cybersecurity. This blog will explain how cybersecurity can help with maintaining HIPAA compliance. First, let's take a closer look at HIPAA to get a better understanding of what it's all about.
What is HIPAA Compliance?
For starters, HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which was passed in 1996. It aims to protect the privacy and security of individuals’ medical records and other health information. HIPAA compliance ensures that all personal health information is kept secure and that individuals have certain rights regarding the use and disclosure of their data.
All healthcare providers, organizations, and business associates must comply with HIPAA regulations when collecting, storing, and transferring protected health information (PHI). They must also implement appropriate administrative, physical, and technical securities. Moreover, organizations are required to provide individuals with notice of their rights under HIPAA and ensure that any use or disclosure of PHI is authorized. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties and fines.
To ensure compliance, organizations must remain up to date on all HIPAA regulations and regularly review their practices and procedures.
Why is Cybersecurity Important in HIPAA Compliance?
Today, the HHS (The United States Department of Health and Human Services) requires healthcare providers and other entities that handle sensitive patient data to have physical and technical security. This is because most health information migrated to computerized operations like computerized medical order entry (CPOE) systems and electronic health records (EHR). And while these technological techniques boost productivity and mobility, they also significantly raise security threats for medical data.
Another reason is that the US government passed a supplementary law to ensure HIPAA compliance called the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act. It increases the penalties for covered entities that violate HIPAA regulations.
In light of this, it's crucial for healthcare organizations to have strong cybersecurity measures to protect electronically protected health information (ePHI) and maintain HIPAA compliance. We’ve listed some of the best cybersecurity practices you can follow:
Best Practices
Limit Access Control
Considering how sensitive the data healthcare organizations deal with, it's best to limit access control to keep it secure. Restrict access to authorized personnel that manage the data and protect the privacy of patients. Doing this reduces the risks of unauthorized access or any alteration or removal of ePHI.
Encrypt Your Data
Limiting access is not enough. If data is not managed properly, malicious actors will be able to access them. That said, healthcare systems must ensure to protect the ePHI during transit and storage. This can be done by encrypting the files before storing them or the storage device itself. The same goes for transmitted data—they can encrypt the data before the transit and use encrypted connections through HTTPS, TLS, SSL, and more.
Use Strong Passwords and Update Them Regularly
Another way to protect ePHI is by using unique user identities and passwords. While this is often included in every blog you read about cybersecurity, many still disregard this step. And that only increases their risks of data breaches. It's important to use complex passwords as much as possible. Include digits and special characters to avoid data breaches. And to even tighten security, changing passwords from time to time can help.
Secure Wireless Networks
With healthcare organizations shifting to a remote working model, internal IT teams must ensure remote security and that ePHI are protected. One way to do that is by giving employees pre-configured devices that adhere to security standards and using encrypted virtual private networks (VPNs) to safeguard internet activities. By using VPNs, you establish a safe, encrypted channel of communication between the home network and the business network.
Back Up Your Data
Having a data backup will help you ensure that the data is secure and remains accessible in the event of a disaster, system failure, or other data loss event. It provides an extra layer of protection that allows for quick and accurate recovery of critical information. Furthermore, backing up data helps ensure that any changes or revisions to protected health information are tracked, monitored, and securely stored. Therefore, any HIPAA-covered entities must not miss this step.
Train Your Employees
Finally, your employees must undergo basic cybersecurity training as they can be the easy target for threat actors. They must learn to understand:
- What constitutes a breach
- Best practices to avoid breach
- Steps to take when a breach may have occurred
- The weight of keeping security and confidentiality for HIPAA compliance
Training your employees will lower cybersecurity risks that would cause HIPAA non-compliance.
The Bottom Line
Due to rising threats for healthcare organizations everywhere, they must take their cybersecurity investments to the next level, increase IT budgets, and implement the best practices in this blog. Doing all these can help secure vast amounts of patient information, which maintains HIPAA compliance.
However, know that your policies, procedures, and technologies to implement must be appropriate to your entity's size, organizational structure, and risks to ePHI. It would help you save a lot of money while ensuring efficiency in your cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity: Its Uses in 2023
In today's world, where technology plays a significant role in our daily lives, cyber security is becoming increasingly important. With the growing use of connected devices, the internet of things, and cloud-based services, the risk of cyber-attacks and data breaches is higher than ever before. In 2023, the importance of cybersecurity will continue to grow, as businesses and individuals become increasingly reliant on technology. Here are some of the key ways in which cybersecurity will be used in 2023.
- Protecting Critical Infrastructure
In 2023, cybersecurity will play a crucial role in protecting critical infrastructure, such as power grids, water supplies, and transportation systems. These systems are vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which can cause widespread disruption and even pose a threat to national security. In 2023, we can expect to see increased investment in cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect critical infrastructure from cyber threats.
- Protecting Personal Data
Personal data is becoming increasingly valuable, and it is also becoming a prime target for cyber criminals. In 2023, we can expect to see greater use of cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect personal data from theft, abuse, and unauthorized access. This will include the use of encryption, firewalls, and other security measures to help safeguard personal information.
- Protecting Businesses
Businesses are becoming increasingly reliant on technology, and they are also becoming a prime target for cyber-attacks. In 2023, we can expect to see increased use of cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect businesses from cyber threats. This will include the use of firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and threat intelligence services to help protect against cyber-attacks and data breaches.
- Protecting Government Agencies
Government agencies hold a significant amount of sensitive information, and they are also a prime target for cyber-attacks. In 2023, we can expect to see increased use of cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect government agencies from cyber threats. This will include the use of encryption, firewalls, and other security measures to help safeguard sensitive information.
- Protecting the Internet of Things (IoT)
The Internet of Things (IoT) is rapidly growing, and this presents a new set of cybersecurity challenges. In 2023, we can expect to see increased use of cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect IoT devices and networks from cyber threats. This will include the use of encryption, firewalls, and other security measures to help secure connected devices and networks.
Conclusion
In 2023, the importance of cybersecurity will continue to grow, as businesses and individuals become increasingly reliant on technology. From protecting critical infrastructure and personal data, to protecting businesses and government agencies, cybersecurity will be a crucial aspect of our daily lives. With the growing threat of cyber-attacks and data breaches, it is essential that businesses and individuals invest in cybersecurity technologies and practices to help protect against cyber threats. This will include the use of encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, threat intelligence services, and other security measures. By staying ahead of the latest cybersecurity trends and best practices, businesses and individuals can help protect themselves and their information from the risks posed by cyber criminals.
The importance of compliance and security in digital asset management, including how to meet industry regulations and protect against data breaches
In the secure management of digital assets, compliance and security are paramount. A digital asset management system (DAMS) is a software application that helps organizations securely store, organize and share digital assets.
When it comes to compliance, a digital asset management system can help organizations to meet industry regulations and best practice guidelines. For example, in the healthcare sector, a digital asset management system can help organizations comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
When it comes to security, a digital asset management system can help organizations to protect their digital assets from unauthorized access and malicious attacks. For example, a digital asset management system can help organizations to encrypt their digital assets and to set up user access controls.
A digital asset management system is a critical tool for organizations that need compliance and security in the management of their digital assets.
What are compliance and security in digital asset management?
Compliance in digital asset management refers to adhering to laws, regulations, industry standards, and internal policies related to the management and use of digital assets, such as images, videos, documents, and other types of files. This can include issues such as data privacy, intellectual property rights, financial reporting, and archiving.
Security in digital asset management refers to the measures taken to protect digital assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
This can include issues such as encryption, access controls, secure storage, incident response plans, and vulnerability management. These measures help to ensure the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of digital assets and minimize the risk of data breaches or other security incidents.
Importance of compliance and security in digital asset management?
Compliance and security are important in digital asset management for several reasons:
- Legal and regulatory compliance: Organizations are required by law to comply with various regulations related to data privacy, intellectual property rights, and financial reporting. Non-compliance can result in fines, legal action, and reputational damage.
- Protecting sensitive information: Digital assets often contain sensitive information that could be damaging if it falls into the wrong hands. By implementing security measures, organizations can protect their assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
- Maintaining trust: Compliance and security are essential for maintaining the trust of customers, partners, and other stakeholders. Organizations that demonstrate a commitment to compliance and security can build a reputation for being reliable and trustworthy.
- Risk management: Implementing compliance and security measures can help organizations identify and manage risks associated with digital asset management. This can help to minimize the potential impact of security incidents and data breaches.
- Cost savings: Implementing compliance and security measures can help organizations avoid costly data breaches and legal action, as well as protect their reputation and customer trust.
How to protect industry regulations against data breaches?
Meeting industry regulations and protecting against data breaches in digital asset management can involve several steps, including:
- Conducting a risk assessment: Identify the types of digital assets you manage, the potential risks and vulnerabilities, and the impact of a data breach. This will help you prioritize your compliance and security efforts.
- Establishing policies and procedures: Develop policies and procedures for managing digital assets, such as access controls, data retention, and incident response. Make sure that all employees and contractors understand and follow these policies and procedures.
- Implementing security controls: Implement security controls such as encryption, firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, and vulnerability management. Regularly test and update these controls to ensure they are effective.
- Conducting regular audits and assessments: Regularly review and audit your digital asset management processes and controls to ensure they are effective and compliant with regulations.
- Providing employee training: Provide employees with training on digital asset management, data privacy, and security best practices.
- Creating incident response plans: Having incident response plans in place for potential data breaches, testing them regularly, and making sure all employees know what to do in case of a security incident.
- Choosing the right technology: Choosing the right digital asset management system that has built-in security and compliance capabilities is important, make sure that it allows you to set access controls, track usage, and automate compliance reporting.
- Following data privacy laws: Digital asset management may involve the collection, storage, and sharing of personal data, so it is essential to comply with data privacy laws such as GDPR and CCPA.
- By taking these steps, organizations can better protect against data breaches and meet industry regulations related to digital asset management.
By taking these steps, organizations can better protect against data breaches and meet industry regulations related to digital asset management.
Conclusion
compliance and security are crucial in digital asset management. Organizations that manage digital assets must comply with various laws, regulations, and industry standards, as well as protect their assets from unauthorized access, use, disclosure, disruption, modification, or destruction.
Non-compliance with regulations can result in legal action, fines, and reputational damage. Data breaches can lead to the loss of sensitive information and financial loss.
To meet industry regulations and protect against data breaches, organizations should conduct regular risk assessments, establish policies and procedures, implement security controls, conduct regular audits and assessments, provide employee training, create incident response plans, choose the right technology and comply with data privacy laws.
By taking these steps, organizations can better protect their digital assets, maintain trust with stakeholders, and minimize the potential impact of security incidents and data breaches.
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The Importance of Cyber Training and the Skills Shortage
The importance of cybersecurity training within the public and private sectors is paramount.
Many organizations struggle to find qualified individuals to fill cybersecurity jobs, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to evolving threats. Accreditation body ISC2 estimates there are upwards of 3.4 million open positions in the industry.
The majority of organizations will have suffered some form of cyberattack in the past year, and data from reveals 60% of businesses feel the skills gap is making it difficult to effectively respond to incidents. The remote working trend increased vulnerabilities during the pandemic, where 20% of companies expressed breaches because of remote force.
This cybersecurity skills shortage is caused by various factors. Among them are low awareness about the importance of cybersecurity, lack of internal and external training paths, and not enough incentives to attract talent to the field.
While effective cybersecurity hinges on hiring professionals, its principles must also span the entire organization. It starts with security awareness training for all staff.
Importance of security awareness training
Awareness training is a process of educating employees about the threats and risks associated with cyberattacks, as well as the steps they can take to protect themselves and their organizations.
The goal is to improve the overall security culture by increasing the knowledge of everyone involved and enforcing high standards across the board.
Everyone should reach a foundational understanding of the various types of cyber threats, such as phishing, malware, and social engineering. They should also develop the practical skills to implement best practices for staying secure in-office and at home.
Common measures include creating strong passwords and using 2-factor authentication, effective use of anti-virus software, and conducting work via a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN encrypts data sent over the organization’s network, making it more difficult for unauthorized users to intercept it and obtain sensitive information. It also allows employees to securely access the company's resources when working remotely.
Of course, every organization will have its own unique requirements on top of generalized practices.
Security awareness training for employees can take many forms, including in-person training sessions, online tutorials, computer-based simulations, and gamification. To stay on top of the latest cyber threats, this needs to be an ongoing process.
Benefits of cybersecurity awareness training
The benefits of organization-wide cybersecurity training are threefold.
Firstly, it reduces the overall risk of attacks as everyone knows what to look out for and how to secure their own activity.
Secondly, when attacks do occur, they are more likely to be recognized and reported in a timely manner to mitigate damage.
And finally – with fewer attacks causing less damage, the organization saves money in the long run.
Closing the professional cybersecurity skills gap
Awareness and basic skills only go so far without professionals in the mix. Addressing the cybersecurity skills shortage requires further investment.
It’s true that attracting and retaining top talent can be challenging, as competition for skilled cybersecurity professionals is high. Offering competitive compensation and benefits is a tried-and-true method that can pay off in the long run.
After all, a single successful cyber attack can cripple an organization both financially and reputationally. The overall cost of data breaches is expected to reach $5 trillion next year.
While hiring experienced professionals is always ideal, entry-level cybersecurity employees can be trained and mentored to fill the gap. Many are young and eager to enter the field and already have skills that the existing workforce may not.
Investing in the future can also go a step further. Why not partner with educational institutions to support and encourage the development of cybersecurity programs that prepare graduates for the workforce?
The internship pipeline is the perfect way to shape the cybersecurity employees of tomorrow to the requirements of the market.
However, if organizations cannot find the right candidates from the external pool, they can aim to develop the skills they need within their existing workforce.
This might include funding recognized cybersecurity certifications, sending employees to conferences and workshops, or creating internal programs that go beyond basic awareness training.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity is essential, but with so many organizations lagging behind, the importance of cybersecurity training has never been higher.
By increasing awareness and skills within organizations and becoming more flexible about the paths to hiring and nurturing talent, there’s no reason why the skills gap must widen. Milos Djordjevic is a privacy and security expert at VPNCentral
Information Security Vs Cyber Security : Key Differences
Introduction
The demand for mobile technologies is constantly evolving to deliver mission services and the amount of data stored on mobile devices makes mobile software a lucrative target for attackers.
With traditional enterprise applications, mobile applications might have security vulnerabilities that could be manipulated by hackers to have access to sensitive information and resources. So to automate security for mobile apps and safeguard your application from fraudulent attacks in all its forms, you need dedicated developers, analysts, and security and network operators from top-notch mobile app development companies that have the ability to maximize performance and mitigate potential security risks by adhering to the mobile and web application development security best practices.
Now I am sure you must have come across terms like Information Security and Cyber Security. Both of them are responsible for preventing the computer system from malicious attacks and security breaches because they are closely related and may seem interchangeable. If we talk about data security, it is all about safeguarding your information and sensitive data from attack. Now you might be wondering, is data and information the same or different? So before you proceed further, make sure that you are aware that not every piece of data can be information, it can be data only if we can interpret it in a context that has any meaning. Let's say, "280296" is our data and if we interpret it, it can be the birth date of an individual, hence we can say that it has some meaning and can be interpreted. So in simple words, information means data only if it has some meaning.
In this post, we're going to differentiate information security vs cyber security in detail, but before anything else, let's know what exactly it means.
What is Information Security?
In simple words, information security can be described as protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access while transferring or storing data from one machine to another. It protects your system from unauthorized access that might perform unusual activities or destruction to provide confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The information stored here can be data on mobile phones, biometrics, social media profile, etc. due to which, the researchers can cover various sectors like forensics and cryptocurrency. All types of data including any sensitive information having high value or personal information have to be kept confidential by blocking all unwanted access. When we talk about integrity, the information stored needs to be kept in the correct order so that any unordered changes made by an unauthorized individual can be immediately removed.
Businesses integrate various policies in their systems such as password policy, access control policy, and data support to prevent attackers and ensure efficient operation of information security. Measures also include regulatory compliance, mantraps, network intrusion detection, and much more.
What is Cyber Security?
Cyber security is the technique of protecting your systems, servers, mobile devices, and computers from malicious attacks which range from business organizations to personal devices. We can also refer to it as system security or electronic information security.
The attacks have various types such as operational security, information security, network security, application security, and disaster recovery. Here, application and network security focus on preventing computer networks from threats and vulnerabilities, respectively. Whereas Disaster recovery is connected to your organization where it helps you to restore your lost data and continue the functioning of the organization.
Information Security vs Cyber Security
We see people around us discussing topics related to cyber security and information security because it makes sense. Outlining a clear distinction is not easy, though, given that simple geography can make a huge impact. For instance, cyber security is widely used and popular in the US, but in other countries across the world, they might refer to it as information security. This is the main reason that has kept the debate of cyber security versus information security still alive.
You may find other various distinctions in the information security vs cyber security discussion. While cyber security focuses on guarding the information in cyberspace and beyond. Both involve protecting cyberspace from malicious attacks and protecting sensitive information. Various types of hacks can take place such as malware, ransomware, spyware, and other installing harmful software in your system that can cause all kinds of havoc and perform unusual activities in your system.
Cyber security experts play a vital role in helping to protect servers, networks, and databases by finding holes that create vulnerabilities. They are the one who prevents your system from security breaches that you might have seen in the past. Similarly, information security professionals help you to restore your lost data. They work together with their counterparts and prioritize the most important operations to heal from a breach.
As we discussed earlier, Data can be anything — it can be a series of numbers — but all data cannot be similar. It relies on how the data is represented and does it fall squarely under the purview of information security professionals.
Have a look at the chart representation of Information security vs cyber security:
| Information security | Cyber security |
| Information security can be described as protecting information and information systems from unauthorized access while transferring or storing data from one machine to another. | Cyber security is the technique of protecting your systems, servers, mobile devices, and computers from malicious attacks which range from business organizations to personal devices. |
| It guards anything irrespective of the realm. | It prevents anything in the cyber realm. |
| It helps to secure avenues to gain access to and use the data | It prevents your data in cyberspace |
| It comes into the picture when security is breached. | It acts as the top line of defense |
| Takes policies and compliance into account | Hardened data into the encryption |
Key Takeaway
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The Role of Privacy and Security in Building Trust with Customers Online
While being online is a great way to communicate with people and expand your business, many still have concerns about online privacy and security. It can be a defining factor of a company's reputation.
Privacy refers to the freedom from any unwanted intrusion. Online privacy means the right one holds to manage their personal information and control how it is used.
Security, on the other hand, is protection against any threats or danger. Similarly, online security refers to protection against cyber criminals and hackers to prevent unauthorized access and misuse of data.
The role of privacy and security comes into play if you want to build trust with customers online. Trust is one of the fundamentals affecting a customer's buying decision and turning into a regular customer.
Let's dive into detail about the role of privacy and security in building trust with customers online!
The Impact of Data Breaches on Customer Trust
Data breaches are becoming a severe issue in today's digitalized world. From small to top companies, the data breach has affected many people.
Even high-profile companies like Facebook, Twitter, Yahoo, etc., are vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Some high-profile data breaches include Yahoo Data Breach, Aadhaar Data Breach, Alibaba Data Breach, CAM4 Data Breach, LinkedIn Data Breach, First American Financial Corporation Data Breach, and so on.
- Yahoo Data Breach occurred in August 2013 and was disclosed to have compromised 1 billion accounts. This increased the risk of identity theft, and the security questions and answers were compromised.
- Aadhaar Data Breach resulted in a data leak of more than 1 billion Indian citizens where their personal information, including their bank details, was leaked.
- In LinkedIn Data Breach, data associated with 700 million users was posted in a Dark Web forum for sale.
How Does Data Breach Damage a Company’s Reputation?
A company's reputation and success hugely depend on its customers' positive reviews. A good brand ensures that its customers' information is well-secured. If a company fails to do so, nobody would like to engage with such companies again.
Data breaches can ultimately lead to a lack of trust among customers causing a negative impact on a company's reputation.
If the customers can fully trust your company with their information and resist cyberattacks, it will lose customers and ultimately decrease sales.
Here is a quick list of how data breaches can damage a company's reputation.
- A data breach will result in added expenses, as adding cyber security or paying a massive amount to ransom attacks costs a lot.
- A blame game will start within the company, which may cause unnecessary fights. This will directly affect a company's performance leading to a negative brand image.
- One major downside of such data breaches is losing the trust of your loyal customers and ultimately losing sales.
- All the information is stored on the internet forever, so even when the data breach issue is solved, the information regarding the incident lives forever. This might affect the company's reputation in the long run.
The Role of Privacy Policies and Consent in Building Trust
With the advancement of the internet and technology, access to information is on the tip of our fingers. The ability to gather customers' important personal information and use it for marketing purposes has been a piece of cake.
This is when privacy policies and consent comes into play. Today's online consumers are highly concerned about how their personal information is used.
Many still hesitate to buy online or engage with online companies because they fear their data will be compromised.
Thus, it is vital that, as a company, you ensure clear and transparent privacy policies. This helps your consumer understand the type of information collected, the reason behind it, and how you can manage your data.
Consumers' personal information is crucial if a company wants to curate personalized user experiences.
It can be an action simple as observing the browsing pattern of the consumers and giving companies better insight into user behavior so that visitors can turn into potential customers.
However, before gathering user information, companies and websites need user consent. Obtaining explicit consent from users is crucial as it allows users to gather their data.
This gives the user the upper hand and gives them a sense of security when visiting your website. You won't get into trouble for using anyone's information without their consent as a company.
Thus, obtaining explicit customer consent before collecting their data is best.
5 Best Practices for Protecting Customer Data
Every company's responsibility is to protect customer information and maintain a smooth company-customer relationship. Some of the best practices for protecting customer data are:
Limiting Access to Data
Companies should limit customer data access to their employees based on their roles.
Give full access only to employees who need the information; otherwise, modify the access accordingly to minimize the risk of data leaks and secure customer information.
Implementing Cybersecurity Policies
To protect customer data, companies should establish and implement cybersecurity policies.
Cyber security policies are a set of legal rules issued by a company to ensure that whoever has access to company information and assets acts following the security rules and regulations.
Those cyber security policies should be enforced for internal and external users. These policies help protect your information and solve any issues in case of any data leak.
Encrypting Sensitive Information
To protect sensitive customer information, companies should enable data encryption. Encryptions like 256-key bit length encryption secure emails, and file-level encryption can save the data on hard drives.
Companies should also include password protection and enable multifactor authentication to secure sensitive customer data.
Implementing Secure Login Protocols
There are wide numbers of login protocols available, and none of them ensure 100 percent security.
However, choosing the proper login protocol for your company will minimize the chances of unauthorized access to data and the risk of hacking. Thus, implement secure login protocols for protecting your customer data.
Regularly Updating Security Software
Security software in your companies should be regularly monitored and updated to fix bugs or add new features.
Regularly updating security software prevents security issues, keeps your devices running smoothly, and ensures complete protection.
The Benefits of Prioritizing Privacy and Security for Businesses
There are many benefits of prioritizing privacy and security for businesses. Some of the main benefits include the following:
Prevent Data Breaches
One of the main benefits of prioritizing privacy and security for businesses is undoubtedly the prevention of data breaches. It is a must that every company should shift its focus on data privacy and security to prevent any data breaches and ransom attacks.
This not only helps you protect your company information but also saves a huge sum of amount which you might have had to pay to the hackers with unprotected data and information.
Increased Customer Trust and Loyalty
Prioritizing data privacy and security for businesses leads to better transparency, shows the reliability of a company, and reduces the risk of any data theft or hacking. This, in return, results in increased customer trust and loyalty.
Customers will not hesitate to visit your site and be loyal customers, thus leading to an increase in sales.
Improved Reputation and Credibility
A company or organization that cares about its customers and data privacy holds a good reputation among people.
Businesses that do not compromise on consumers' personal information improve that brand's reputation and credibility, which can benefit a company's growth.
Gain Competitive Advantage
A company with its customers’ data well protected gives a good brand image. Customers will likely trust your company and keep coming to you for purchases.
You will gain a competitive advantage if you are one step ahead in giving the best customer experience and ensuring their data security. Your company will stand out from competitors who don’t put their consumers’ data privacy first.
Conclusion
Thus, with the growth of digitalization and online businesses, the importance of taking a proactive approach to privacy and security to build trust with customers online also increases.
As many customers online are worried about how their personal information is being collected and used, it is a must that, as a company, you ensure their data privacy and security.
This provides a sense of security among the consumers, and in return, you will gain some brand reputation and credibility.
I hope you found this article insightful. Thank you for sticking to the end!