Businesses and organisations spend more and more resources every year on cybersecurity. It is because dark forces online are continuously evolving, causing more damage through sophisticated attack methods. From state-sponsored hackers to organised crime rings and even independent actors with black-ops tech, ordinary website owners have their work cut out for them to keep their websites secure.
Even worse, this kind of attack causes long-lasting damage to your brand and reputation. Once you have suffered a security breach online, people will find it hard to trust you. Regulators could impose higher fines on you and put you under closer scrutiny. You could also be liable for restitution to affected suppliers and customers. Repeat attacks and other unpredictable fallout can also make you appear negligent. Here’s a closer look at why cyber resilience is a vital aspect of building a brand today.
Executive Buy-In is Crucial
Information security is a board-level issue; it is no longer a fringe concern best left to the IT experts. It needs the same amount of attention that other areas of risk management receive. Organisations today face plenty of challenges linked to securing their online presence, and the rapid emergence of new technologies makes things more complex year after year.
A cybersecurity chief needs to collaborate across the company and bring multiple departments’ needs together. For example, marketing must align with IT strategy and transform the conversation around security at the company. You need decision-makers’ support so you can protect the company’s data while moving business objectives forward.
Cyber Resilience, not Cyber Security
All organisations today need to shift their mindset towards resilience and proactivity instead of staying reactive. If you’re building a business online, you need to assume that you’ll eventually have to deal with the effects of cyber threats. Resilient incident response is a must—you need to know what to do during and after a breach.
Personal security, business, and government are now inextricably linked because of the internet. Your organisation must withstand direct attacks and their aftermath. One way to ensure resilience is to establish a crisis management plan. You need a team of security professionals who will thoroughly investigate cyberattacks and implement a timely recovery plan.
A cyber-resilient organisation typically has a coordinator—a chief digital officer or director of cybersecurity—who oversees security concerns and acts as a liaison to board members. It’s necessary, especially for businesses that must comply with regulations from HIPAA or similar federal and state laws.
How It Applies to You
Today, businesses can no longer hide their documents behind physical walls. We have become interconnected and must treat cybersecurity as a long-term solution. Organisations need to have resilient systems that can absorb cyber-attacks and bounce back.
There are several ways to ensure that. First, a business needs to re-assess the risks it faces and the information it needs to secure. Assume that your organisation is a target, no matter how safe you think you are. Next, you need to implement a cyber-resilience program and revise the arrangements you have in place. If you don’t have one yet, create a recovery plan to educate people and strengthen technological capabilities.
Cybersecurity needs to protect businesses against brand damage. It should minimise risk and help companies conduct their day-to-day activities without fearing that they’ll suffer an attack. Turning to experienced consultants should help you get started.
Make your business cyber resilient and team up with FraudWatch. We are a digital brand protection company offering fully managed intelligence, detection, and threat hunting for organisations. Contact us today and learn how we can help!