Five Simple Ways to Self-Assess Your Cybersecurity Risk

Dec 09, 2024 | Posted in:
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The holidays inch closer and our to-do list piles up. During the busy season of year-end budgets, new year planning, and gift shopping for family and friends, some chores invariably fall behind. Perhaps you haven’t cleaned your desk, watched that webinar, or started that project you’re procrastinating. All of those are fine to put off in the wake of the holidays—however, ignoring your company’s cybersecurity risk is not fine.  
 
Despite believing they were immune, a small law firm in Maryland fell victim to a ransomware attack. Similarly, an accounting firm in the Midwest lost all access to its client information, financial records, and tax files. They assumed that antivirus software was all the security they needed to thwart a cyberattack. 
  
In both incidents, the victims were small businesses that fell prey to cyberattacks because of hidden security vulnerabilities that a comprehensive risk assessment could’ve identified. 
  
When it comes to IT risk assessments, business owners have several misconceptions that leave them vulnerable. In this blog, we’ll debunk common cyber risk assessment myths and show you five simple ways to self-assess your security risk.  

Common myths regarding risk assessments 

Here are some misconceptions that all business owners must avoid: 

Myth 1: We’re too small to be a target.  

Reality: Hackers often use automated tools to look for vulnerabilities in a system, and small businesses often end up on the receiving end since many of them lack the resources to build a strong cybersecurity posture. It doesn’t matter how big or small your company is, you are a target. 

Myth 2: We have antivirus software, so we’re protected. 

Reality: You can’t rely only on antivirus software to protect your IT infrastructure. Cybercriminals today have become highly skilled and can effortlessly deploy advanced threats. Regularly assessing and addressing vulnerabilities will not only protect your business but also lay the foundation for your long-term business growth. 

Myth 3: Risk assessments are a one-time event. 

Reality: Today’s businesses operate in a threat landscape that is constantly evolving. Without regular risk assessments, you won’t be able to build a strong cybersecurity posture. Without regular risk scans, new vulnerabilities can creep in and leave your business vulnerable to cyberthreats. If your last risk assessment was five years ago, think for a moment how your 2019 systems would fare against today’s more sophisticated AI attacks. 

Five Simple Questions to Assess Your Security Risk: 

These five questions alone will not suffice as a complete security risk assessment; however, it’s a start to get you thinking properly about your company’s security. 

Here are five questions to ask yourself or your IT department: 

  1. Are all your devices up to-date?
    1. Keep Microsoft, Apple, and Java products updated for better security. 
    2. We provide automated “Critical Update” services to protect your computers from the latest known attacks. 
  2. Do you have Multi-Factor Authentication enabled?
    1. Utilize multi-factor authentication whenever you can. It adds an additional layer of protection to ensure that even if your password does get stolen, your data stays protected.
  3. Are your employees informed of the latest scams?
    1. Train your users—often! Teach them about data security, email attacks, and your policies and procedures.
    2. We offer web-based training solutions and “done for you” security policies.
  4. Is your email secure?
    1. Most attacks originate in your email.
    2. We’ll help you choose a service designed to reduce spam and your exposure to attacks.
  5. Are your files backed up? Are you sure?
    1. It is common for backups to fail due to any number of reasons. Double, then triple checking your backups are active and working is crucial.
    2. We utilize the 3-2-1 backup rule: 3 copies of your data, 2 copies on different media sources to include 1 offsite location. 

Understand that this is not a comprehensive list. This barely scratches the surface of how you should be proactively protecting your company from a cyber-attack. If you answered “no” to even one question, you are putting you and your company at risk.  

Seeking an in-depth security assessment? 

Catalyst IT’s risk assessment goes above and beyond the five examples provided. If you’re finding it difficult to manage your own IT or you simply cannot keep up with the changes in technology, give the experts at Catalyst IT a call at (877) 843-9611. 
     
Any questions or concerns? Reach out here: https://catalyst-itnow.com/contact-us/