Frequently Asked Questions: Cybersecurity & Digital Forensics

How secure is your business’s digital infrastructure? Cybersecurity threats are becoming increasingly prevalent–from phishing scams to ransomware attacks, companies must be prepared to protect their sensitive information. But where do you start?

Cybersecurity and digital forensics are complex fields that require a deep understanding of technology and security. Unfortunately, many businesses lack the resources or knowledge to effectively protect their assets from cyber attacks. As a result, it’s crucial to ask the right questions to ensure your business is adequately protected.

1. What are the most common cybersecurity threats facing businesses in 2023?
2. What are the most important factors in creating an effective cybersecurity strategy?
3. How often does a company need to assess its cybersecurity posture?
4. Is my business required to have multifactor authentication? How do I set up multifactor authentication for an enterprise brand?
5. How can businesses safeguard their networks and data against cyber attacks?

1. WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON CYBERSECURITY THREATS FACING BUSINESSES IN 2023?

The most common cybersecurity threats facing businesses in 2023 are phishing, malware, ransomware, distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, and data breaches. Phishing is a type of cyber attack that uses social engineering techniques to trick users into disclosing confidential information. Malware is malicious software created to steal or damage data on a computer system.

Ransomware is a type of malware that encrypts data and demands payment in exchange for the decryption key. DDoS attacks are malicious attempts to overwhelm a network with requests, thus making it inaccessible to legitimate users. Finally, data breaches occur when confidential information is accessed and used without authorization, often resulting in financial loss and reputational damage.

Businesses must be vigilant when it comes to educating their employees about the dangers of social engineering threats and taking steps to protect their organizations from such attacks by involving expert cybersecurity consultants.

2. WHAT ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT FACTORS IN CREATING AN EFFECTIVE CYBERSECURITY STRATEGY?

Creating an effective cybersecurity strategy is essential to keeping organizations, networks, and systems secure from malicious attacks. The critical factors in creating an effective security strategy are:

1. Establishing a Security Policy: Developing effective security policies is the first step in any cybersecurity strategy. This involves outlining what type of data is considered sensitive and confidential, as well as what steps must be taken to protect it. It is also important to create user policies and guidelines for employees that outline what practices are allowed and prohibited when accessing and using sensitive data.
2. Training Employees: Properly training employees on security best practices is essential in any cybersecurity strategy. This includes teaching them how to identify phishing attacks, recognize potential threats, and respond appropriately if a breach occurs.
3. Implementing Security Tools: Implementing the right tools and technologies is essential to any effective security strategy. This includes firewalls, antivirus software, and intrusion detection systems designed to detect malicious activity on a network or system. It is also essential to update these tools regularly to ensure they are equipped with the latest security protocols.
4. Monitoring Networks and Systems: Regularly monitoring networks and systems is essential in detecting malicious activity before it causes damage. This includes conducting regular security audits and scans to identify potential vulnerabilities and staying up-to-date on the latest cyber threats to be prepared if an attack occurs.
5. Developing a Response Plan: Organizations must have a plan that outlines steps to take if an attack occurs. By involving cybersecurity consultants in creating an incident response plan, organizations can quickly recover from attacks and minimize damage.

3. HOW OFTEN DOES A COMPANY NEED TO ASSESS ITS CYBERSECURITY POSTURE?

Cybersecurity posture needs to be assessed regularly. Depending on the organization’s size, this can involve an annual or quarterly review of its security policies, procedures, and technologies. Additionally, companies may need to conduct more frequent assessments in response to environmental changes, such as new threats or regulations.

Finally, companies should continuously monitor and assess their security posture by utilizing tools and technologies such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and security posture assessments. These assessments can help identify any potential threats or weak spots in a company’s security posture before it’s exploited by malicious actors.

4. IS MY BUSINESS REQUIRED TO HAVE MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION? HOW DO I SET UP MULTIFACTOR AUTHENTICATION FOR AN ENTERPRISE BRAND?

Although not required, it’s highly recommended that organizations have multifactor authentication. Multifactor authentication (MFA) is an additional layer of security that requires users to provide more than one piece of evidence for verification when logging into an application or system. This helps to better secure sensitive data and information from unauthorized access.

Setting up multifactor authentication for an enterprise brand requires some planning and preparation. Companies should identify which applications and systems need to be secured with MFA, such as customer databases or financial systems, and ensure that users have the necessary requirements for authentication, such as a phone number or security questions.

Once this has been determined, organizations should look into enterprise-grade solutions that provide MFA capabilities. These solutions can help streamline MFA set up for an entire organization.

5. HOW CAN BUSINESSES SAFEGUARD THEIR NETWORKS AND DATA AGAINST CYBER ATTACKS?

Businesses can safeguard their networks and data against cyber attacks by following several best practices. First, companies should ensure that all their systems are updated with the latest available patches and security fixes to minimize threats. Next, they should invest in appropriate security solutions such as firewalls and antivirus software to detect malicious activity and block any suspicious traffic from entering or leaving their network.

Then, businesses should implement an effective data encryption policy to protect confidential information should a breach occur. Encryption can help ensure that any stolen data is unreadable and unusable to attackers. Finally, organizations should develop and maintain a comprehensive business continuity and disaster recovery plan to be prepared in the event of an attack or data breach.

At Marcum Technology, we offer cybersecurity consulting, including NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) assessments and CIS (Center for Internet Security) assessments to allow you to evaluate relevant threats to your organization and improve your cyber defense program. We have an extensive track record of helping businesses implement tailored cybersecurity solutions. Contact us today so we can equip your organization with the tools and insight to respond to cyber attacks quickly and effectively.