Data and organizational information are just as important to a modern enterprise as any monetary asset, since data dictates how the company will perform in the broader business landscape, and enterprise information contains all the details regarding the organizational modus operandi. In order to protect enterprise data, a robust information security policy is to be designed and implemented. A policy that takes into account all the potential pain points, and comes up with viable data security solutions, is ideal.
However, simply theorizing information security and actually coming up with effective information security challenges, are two distinct parts of the InfoSec equation. If an organization is to protect its vital and sensitive data, it needs to put in place InfoSec measures that will stand the test of time and technological evolution; which, in turn, requires the staff in charge of information security to know of the latest information security challenges and how to overcome them.
Information security training is the answer, one that is also a necessity in this day and age of increasing cyber crimes. 2017 was a very tough year for enterprises worldwide, in terms of information security threats. The increasing threat of ransomware and the widespread usage of such malicious software led companies to encounter huge losses in some cases. The Wannacry ransomware was the bane of many a company’s existence. It wreaked havoc in the entirety of the enterprise landscape and only after a massive effort, was the impact of the ransomware slowed down.
A company that has a lot of sensitive assets in the form of valuable information has the responsibility of ensuring none of that data gets impacted in any way, shape or form. The data is vital towards the growth of the company, as well as the growth and professional development of the employees. This places even greater pressure on organizations to consider the vital elements of information security, and train their teams on information security, to accomplish this.
To that end, following are some of the most important information security elements of 2018:
Internal Threats
When we speak of operational systems within a modern enterprise, we are undoubtedly talking about a considerable amount of technology. Now, when we involve a lot of technology into a single enterprise system infrastructure, we increase the potential for setbacks. Moreover, said technology is to be utilized by the teams responsible for both maintaining the technology, but also those who leverage it for organizational goals. This multiplies the potential for setbacks in the form of human error, as well as intentional insider activity.
Insider threats are a significant concern, and obviously so, seeing as the people who are using the information have the greatest access to it. No supply chain is every truly immune to unintentional data leaks, and your enterprise may be setting itself up for it by allowing a greater number of people access to the information that should be protected.
External Malicious Activity
This is the most common form of information security threat, and has resulted in events such as the Wannacry event mentioned earlier. External elements will be the most dangerous to organizational data, and the diversity of the possible attacks will make protecting the data even more difficult. Adding to the complexity is the number of vulnerabilities across the system, which can be exploited by malicious elements.
Hacks are all too common, and a weak infrastructure can be demonstrated as one that has all the valuable data in the world, but not enough identity management and cybersecurity safeguards in place to protect it.
Insufficient Information Security Training
If an organization is to recover from a data security breach, it needs to have a plan in plan to do so. And, if the same company is to build a cybersecurity recovery plan, it needs to have employees who know all the vulnerabilities, how to secure them, and how to recover them in case of a breach.
Unfortunately, the advanced technological landscape of today comes at a cost; that being the increasing number of potential vulnerabilities, as mentioned earlier in this article. To counter this, the employees responsible for the cybersecurity fabric of the organization need to be trained in the modern security measures.
Providing information security teams consistently ensures that they are always up to speed with the varying cybersecurity trends of the day, and that they are always able to come with either a protection plan to secure the data, or recover it in the face pf an attack, while coming up with a recovery plan for the rest of the enterprise systems too. Therefore, train your teams in information security today, and ensure a safer environment for your sensitive data.