With October coming to a close, so is Cybersecurity Awareness Month. Technological advancements have made the cybersecurity world more complicated than most could have imagined. Now more than ever, businesses must have someone in their corner, guiding them and fighting against the new generation of cyber-attacks.
Traditional cybersecurity measures are quickly becoming outdated, and businesses must adapt. Here are the top 10 reasons your business needs to invest more in cybersecurity and partner with a cybersecurity expert.
Cybersecurity Requires Collaboration
With more companies moving to the cloud and more technology solutions connecting businesses and platforms, it takes partnerships where everyone does their part and works together.
One vital point of collaboration in cybersecurity is creating a robust defense. Cybercriminals have moved beyond simple phishing by incorporating AI into their attacks. According to a study, 75% of cybersecurity specialists say criminals use AI in their attacks. Your business can do its part by preparing with the right tools, including AI, to defend against modern cyberattacks.
It’s essential that your business and its partners are protected to keep every step of the process secure, ensuring that your customer and business data remain safe. Additionally, collaborating with an IT partner can enhance the security and cohesiveness of your interconnected systems.
Automation is Key
Security Intelligence reported that 74% of CIOs said human error was the main cybersecurity risk, up from 60% last year. But what does this mean for your business?
Reducing human error takes work. It often takes multiple steps and courses to see an improvement in human risk for your cybersecurity. While offering employee training is an effective way to combat human error, automation has proven more successful in eliminating risk. Automating routine tasks when handling sensitive business data has a tri-fold effect: it reduces human error, speeds up the process, and lessens the burden on your IT team.
Cybersecurity is continuous
Fixing, improving, and securing your cybersecurity doesn’t happen with a single software purchase or even the hiring of a dedicated IT partner. Rather, cybersecurity requires ongoing action and planning for the future.
Businesses looking to find success and security with their IT cybersecurity must invest for the long run. Cyber threats are constantly changing, making a reactive approach the wrong one. Businesses can secure their IT and company by planning for the future and fixing current issues.
Companies looking to find continuous ways to improve their cybersecurity should consider investing in network and security assessments, and monitoring. With ongoing developments in cybersecurity and technology, providing employee training on best practices and how to identify cyber threats is an ongoing commitment that will continuously improve your cybersecurity.
Protecting Client Data is Vital
Cybercriminals aren’t only after your business’s data; they are after your customer’s information too, making protecting your customers’ data more essential than ever. For your company to stay successful and keep the trust of your customers, it must deploy robust cybersecurity measures that provide secure data privacy.
McKinsey reports that customers who don’t trust the privacy of their data from the seller are more likely to walk away and purchase elsewhere. Consumers have more control over their privacy than ever and expect the same level of safety and privacy from the businesses they frequent.
If your business does experience a data breach it could face multiple legal and compliance ramifications, leaving your company scrambling to regain customer trust, paying legal and compliance fees, and rebuilding its reputation.
Training Employees Reduces Risk
Cybersecurity begins and ends with human involvement. While employee error is a common mistake that opens the door for attacks, training your employees to handle data with more care and identify attacks before they happen is critical for every business.
Training employees on how to identify phishing attacks and what to do when they see them is a must. Additionally, training employees on how to use AI and technology (think MFA, password generators, etc) will significantly increase your company’s cybersecurity. Some managed service providers (MSPs) offer ongoing cybersecurity training as a part of their services, giving businesses direct access to expert level training in a cost-effective manner.
Artificial Intelligence Plays Defense
Businesses that are serious about cybersecurity are turning toward AI to enhance their security. 69% of the 3,800 senior executives PwC surveyed for their 2024 Global Digital Trust Insights Report said their organizations plan to use GenAI for cyber defense in the next 12 months, while 47% already use it for cyber risk detection and mitigation.
While AI poses a significant cybersecurity threat, it also presents robust benefits for protecting your business. With the ability to process immense loads of data in real time, AI can help your cybersecurity by identifying and preventing cyberattacks before they happen.
Security Takes Planning
A comprehensive cybersecurity strategy requires thorough planning from beginning to end. One of the best places to start planning is by investing in a cybersecurity assessment. Knowing your vulnerabilities and strengths allows you to defend against cyber threats proactively.
Additionally, every business must have a disaster recovery plan. A disaster recovery plan will ensure that your business knows how to respond to and recover from a cyber attack, keeping your company’s data safe from loss.
Be Proactive, not Reactive
Businesses looking to stay secure in today’s technological landscape must take a proactive approach. Reactives approaches can cause your business to underestimate potential risks, leaving your business exposed to threats, and data loss.
The best way to move from a reactive approach is to partner with a cybersecurity partner who will help you identify your vulnerabilities and proactively defend against potential attacks. Having an expert in your corner will move your business from delaying action and increasing risk to putting defenses in place and securing your business’s future.
Cybersecurity Awareness Starts at the Top
While 74% of CIOs recognized human error as the top risk to cybersecurity, only 63% of board members shared the sentiment, highlighting the disconnect among business leadership regarding cybersecurity.
Creating the safest and most productive cybersecurity for your business requires all parties to be on the same page. When C-suites and board members work together to promote cybersecurity awareness, employees are more likely to engage in training and focus on increasing the business’s security. Companies must view cybersecurity as a long-term investment, and that starts in the C-suite.
Meet Strict Compliance Regulations
Showing your clients that you meet strict privacy compliance regulations is a great way to build customer trust and loyalty. Safeguarding your client’s data is also vital to separating your business from the competition.
While consumers control how much data they share, businesses control how safely that data is handled. Your business can either make or break customer data protection by how securely that information is stored and sent. Your systems, network, and business partners all play a part in how safe your consumer’s data is. If any of these have a weak spot, it could result in a data breach that leads to failed compliance, legal issues, and customer dissatisfaction.
Drive Your Business Forward with a Cybersecurity Partner
Traditional cybersecurity measures are quickly becoming outdated and vulnerable to cyberattacks. It takes a cybersecurity expert to install, manage, and monitor the best upgrades in cybsercurity.
Partnering with an MSP brings the value of an in-house IT expert to your business without the high costs. The best MSP will enhance your cybersecurity through continuously increasing collaboration, employee education, implementing modern technology, and taking a proactive approach that focuses on planning for the future.
Have the confidence that your business is protected from cyberattacks by partnering with 99Ten and preparing for your future. We focus on delivering critical protection and security through our dedicated team of experts that bring your business:
- Access to Cutting-Edge Technology
- 24/7 Monitoring and Rapid Response
- Expertise and Experience
- Customized Security Strategies
- Continuous Adaptation
Book your comprehensive IT discovery here if you’re ready to learn more about what 99Ten can do for you.