Cybersecurity Best Practice in Times of Increased Threat

Businesses around the UK are currently being advised to increase their cybersecurity resilience, as the risk of cyberattacks increases due to the volatile international situation. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has recently republished guidance on organisational cybersecurity best practice in the face of the evolving situation in Russia and Ukraine. The NCSC has highlighted the historical pattern of international cyber consequences in times of conflict, urging enterprises to remain vigilant with their cybersecurity best practice.   

Evaluating Risks

While it is essential that businesses maintain optimal cybersecurity standards at all times, during periods of international unrest and increased cyber threats additional security evaluation must take place. The threats faced by enterprises are continuously evolving, and cyber-strategy must adapt to counter novel risks.  

The NCSC has iterated that enterprises ‘need to strike a balance between the current threat, the measures needed to defend against it, the implications and cost of those defences, and the overall risk this presents to the organisation’. This means it is essential for your MSP or security team to evaluate the threats posed and costs associated with attempted breaches to your business. Enterprises that do not implement adequately robust cybersecurity practices run the risk of enormous financial and reputational repercussions. Cybercriminals and threat actors are always looking for new ways to gain access to your data and systems, thus maintaining consistently evaluated defence systems is essential to keep your business operations running smoothly.  

Countering Threats

As highlighted by the CISA, threat actors have deployed destructive malware against organisations internationally, with such malware able to destroy computer systems and render them inoperable. Over recent months businesses have become increasingly aware of the threats posed by malware attacks and exploitable system vulnerabilities; the Log4J zero-day exploit faced by businesses around the globe highlighted the necessity of optimal security systems.   

At Fitzrovia IT, we recommend that our clients implement strict cybersecurity best practice alongside the utilisation of professional cybersecurity software. For example, the zero-day protection afforded by Sentinel One can ultimately protect your business from potential zero-day attacks. The zero-trust policy assumed by Sentinel One ensures optimal security is in place; all endpoints and users are treated as untrusted, helping prevent threat actors from gaining access to your systems. A breach is assumed, meaning your business is always prepared to react in the unlikely case of an attack. As destructive malware poses a direct threat to your business’s daily operations (impacting the availability of assets and data), it is always advisable to consult your MSP on the best protection available to suit your systems.  

Future-proofing your Business

While it’s always essential to implement an ironclad cybersecurity policy, now more than ever businesses need to remain vigilant in the face of increased cyber threats. With the possibility of malware attacks occurring, it’s important to arm your business with the tools necessary to prevent and mitigate cyber-attacks.    

If you want to review and evaluate your cybersecurity policy or engage new security tools such as Sentinel One, contact one of our IT experts today.