Cybersecurity breaches are a much talked about but little-addressed problem for corporations today, as every hack reveals just how hard it is to stay ahead of a technically savvy, often criminal element. In fact, the problem is so extensive that a recent study by CNBC suggests that 14 million US businesses are at risk of a cybersecurity breach. Framed that way, it’s clear that everyone should be worried about the state of their data. But what can we do besides worry?
Though there are several viable options for data protection, more companies should concern themselves with agile response and systematic resilience, traits that combine the technical and the social. In many ways, a strong corporate culture is the most important feature in cybersecurity enhancement.
Private And Public Systems Go Modern
System modernization is a key part of cybersecurity enhancement because, particularly in the public sector, organizations often rely on out-of-date systems for daily operations. These systems are especially vulnerable, and there’s a limited amount that IT professionals can do to improve them without replacing the system entirely. That’s where the Modernizing Government Technology (MGT) Act comes into play.
The MGT Act passed as part of the defense bill in September, will reimburse government agencies for technological improvements. This is a vital step towards protecting personal data in government databases because, as Unisys Federal president Venkatapathi Puvvada explains, without this funding, agencies were stuck maintaining expensive legacy systems. Indeed, after decades, most have still failed to fully transition to the cloud. Modernization funding will help government agencies complete this process.
In a similar vein, private companies are upgrading their cybersecurity systems, often with third-party technology. But why shift away from product-linked options? Experts cite more secure product architecture and enhanced features as key reasons. In the case of Virtru’s email encryption software, for example, companies choose the third-party route because of the importance of client-side encryption in data security. Without this type of third-party system, encryption only functions properly when both parties are using the same program. That’s insufficient for a truly secure operation.
A Focus On Resilience
While some companies and most government agencies struggle to keep up with changing tech trends, what recent hacking cases have shown is that in-house security culture plays perhaps a bigger role than technical capacity in preventing data breaches. Many times, hacks are effective specifically because of people termed “accidental insiders.”
Accidental insiders are individuals who, in the process of doing their jobs, unintentionally facilitate a data breach. This happens more often than people think, but proper training in safer online practice can empower staff to sidestep temptations, such as phishing, and ensure better compliance with security protocols.
In the same vein, developing a culture of resilience can also help businesses face down constant cybersecurity attacks. As defined by Gene Fredriksen of PSCU, resilience is “the ability of a business to not just survive, but also to thrive in a rapidly changing or potentially caustic environment.” This is an important skill no matter what business challenge your company is facing, but it’s especially important in terms of ongoing cybersecurity issues. A company can’t be beaten down by the mere fact of change, the hint of failure. There needs to be a will to do better, to outsmart the threat.
There’s no sure, single strategy for securing your business against cybersecurity threats, but technological advancements coupled with determination and training can transform how those threats appear to your staff. Hackers may keep undermining your security strategies, but you don’t have to make it easy.
