The Cybersecurity Tools Every Business Needs

Every business needs to protect itself from cyber threats and be wary of the different ways in which cybercriminals can attack them. There are many ways to combat cyber threats but malicious actors frequently devise new strategies to bypass security measures and carry out their nefarious acts.

Cybercriminals have to be several steps ahead of them and set up multiple layers of security, so if one is bypassed, the ones can cover up its lapses. They also have to be vigilant and prepared to spring into action whenever there is a security incident.

To stay prepared, companies use several cybersecurity support services and tools to oversee and safeguard their IT infrastructure. These tools can detect and deal with cyber threats, often without requiring user input. This will keep their IT infrastructure fortified at all times.

Must-Have Cybersecurity Tools

For a company to stay protected, it must have competent cybersecurity professionals on its staff and have effective tools to support them. Some of those tools are:

Intrusion detection software

Intrusion detection software is a tool that detects when an unauthorised person gains access to a company’s network. The software immediately notifies cybersecurity professionals so they can take action to stop the threat. The intrusion detection feature is active at all times so no unauthorised entry goes unnoticed.

Encryption software

Encryption software is necessary for companies that use cloud computing platforms so their data cannot be deciphered if their cloud platform gets breached. Data breaches are very common, so companies should use encryption tools to protect their data that is both in storage or being transferred.

Antivirus programs

Antivirus programs are effective tools against malware. They scan every file that enters a computer and automatically take action against anyone they detect to be malicious. They can also be instructed to start a scan at any time to find and eliminate threats in a computer system. These programs are regularly updated to recognize new threats so they do not get blindsided.

Cloud security tools

Every company that operates on the cloud needs to have adequate cloud security tools at their disposal. These tools can manage the access employees have to the system by making them verify their identity before they can log in. They also have access controls to limit the privileges employees have when logged into the cloud platform. This limited privilege limits the damage a cybercriminal can cause if they find their way into the cloud.

Threat intelligence platforms

Threat intelligence data helps companies learn about zero-day threats so they can protect themselves against them. This data is obtained from different sources and has to be aggregated for cybersecurity professionals to make sense of them. Cybersecurity professionals can do this with a threat intelligence platform. The platform centralises all the data collected so they can be grouped, analysed, and prioritised in order of severity and relevance to the company studying the data.

Vulnerability management systems

Cloud systems are complex and can have numerous vulnerabilities. These vulnerabilities are attack surfaces that hackers and other malicious actors can exploit. Businesses should use vulnerability management tools to find and patch them. The first step of vulnerability management is vulnerability assessment. This is the identification and purposeful exploitation of detected vulnerabilities, and the management tools are essential to identify said vulnerabilities.

Data backup software

It is crucial to have backups of organisational data so that whenever there is a cyber attack, any data lost can be easily recovered. There are many types of software for these backups. Companies have to implement them so that the backup data regularly synchronises with the data being actively used.

Types of Cyber Attacks

To effectively fortify a company’s online security posture, it helps to know the different types of cyber attacks they face.

Data breaches

This is when malicious actors gain access to the places where companies keep their sensitive data and extract them. When they get the data, they may leak it to the public or keep it for their selfish interest. Sometimes, this stolen data may include consumers’ personal information. Letting these personal information leak can result in a violation of data privacy laws.

Distributed Denial of Service attacks

A Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack is a cyber-attack where malicious actors overwhelm a company’s servers with so much traffic that they cannot operate normally. These attacks are launched with the intent of handicapping a business and reducing its ability to cater to its customers.

Malware infections

Cybercriminals can infect a company’s IT infrastructure with malware so that they are unable to function well. In some cases, malware can give hackers access to a business’s IT systems so they can see sensitive information that they should not be privy to. Companies can contract malware if their employees visit sketchy websites or download files from untrusted sources.

Phishing attacks

A phishing attack occurs when a cyber attacker sends an email containing a malicious link or corrupt file to an unsuspecting employee. If they click the link or download the file, their computer will become compromised. That email will come from an address that is similar to one the recipient is familiar with. It is easy for people to fall for this trick if they do not take the time to confirm the legitimacy of the email.

Cybersecurity Best Practices

In addition to using the cybersecurity tools mentioned above, companies should also implement the following best practices to stay protected:

Provide cybersecurity training to employees

Companies should adopt a shared responsibility model for their cybersecurity because it keeps their IT infrastructure secure and reduces the burden on their cybersecurity professionals. Business owners should organise cybersecurity training programs for all their employees to teach them how to detect, avoid, and respond to cyber threats.

Create incident response plans

Companies should have incident response plans so they can quickly respond to a cyber attack and minimise the potential damage. These plans should account for different types of cyber-attacks and should detail the role each cybersecurity personnel has to play when responding to an attack.

Develop sound security policies

To ensure adequate cybersecurity, business owners should work closely with cybersecurity professionals to develop sound security policies that will keep their organisation protected. Some of these policies may include using strong passwords for work accounts, only logging into work accounts on company devices, and double-checking every email not from a recognized domain before responding.

Delete ex-employee work accounts

Whenever an employee leaves a company, their work account should be deleted. This will prevent them from having backdoor access to the organisation and constituting an insider threat. This is an important step because if that account is left undeleted, they or someone else can log into that account and extract sensitive company information.

Use multi-factor authentication

Businesses can secure their systems better if they enable multi-factor authentication. Multi-factor authentication adds another layer of security to the basic password protection. For example, Using MFA can require an employee to enter a verification code sent as a text to their phone when trying to sign into their work account from an unrecognised device. This prevents cybercriminals from stealing their employees’ login credentials and misusing them.

Endnote

Businesses have to be aware of the online security risks they face and use all cybersecurity support services and tools at their disposal to stay protected. Different tools serve different purposes so companies should combine them and work with competent cybersecurity professionals to protect their IT infrastructure adequately.