IT security is essential for companies, but how should you proceed and what is really needed? Aaron Hartel from Trufflepig Forensics provides an overview of what is needed in practice.
Effective protection against cyber attacks is crucial for companies today. In the face of increasing threats and evolving attack techniques, companies must act proactively to protect their IT systems and data.
“A sensible approach when you are about to start a comprehensive IT security strategy is, of course, to first look for a good service provider that you can trust and that has experience,” explains Hartel. Especially if a company does not have sufficient internal resources and expertise, it is advisable to hire a reliable IT security service provider. This service provider should have experience in the industry and be able to offer a comprehensive security approach that is suitable for the company.
“A pentest should then be carried out with this service provider, along with an inventory of the current situation,” says Hartel, “and the most serious security gaps should be closed immediately.” Pentests (penetration tests) are important tools for uncovering vulnerabilities in a company"s IT infrastructure. By regularly conducting such tests, security gaps can be identified and eliminated before attackers have the opportunity to exploit them.
Employees are often the weakest link in the security chain. It is therefore crucial to sensitize employees to the threats and risks of cyber attacks. Training measures that include, in particular, phishing awareness simulations and training in recognizing social engineering can raise employees" awareness of the dangers of such threats and thus increase the security of your company in the long term.
“And then, of course, you need to work on your own incident response plan within the company and complete it with an incident response retainer. This ensures that a service provider can be on site within a certain response time in an emergency,” advises Hartel. A well-thought-out incident response plan is crucial to being able to respond appropriately to cyber attacks. This plan should clearly define how to proceed in the event of a security incident. An incident response retainer with an external service provider ensures a rapid response and support in dealing with cyberattacks.
Cyberattacks pose a serious and growing threat to businesses, but there are a number of measures companies can take to protect their IT infrastructure. By working with a trusted IT security service provider, conducting regular pentests, raising employee awareness and implementing an incident response plan, companies can strengthen their defenses and thus minimize their risk.
