10 ways to prevent a cyber attack 1

There are different types of Cyber Attacks:

 

There are several types of cyber incidents that could target a business, but we’ve outlined four of the most common here:

 

Phishing & Social Engineering
Fraudulent communication aimed to trick you into sharing private information or downloading viruses.

 

Malware
You may know it as a “virus” – various forms of harmful software that hackers use to wreak havoc on your computer or network

DoS/DDoS Attack
“Denial of Service Attacks” are when a website is maliciously flooded with more visitors than it’s equipped to handle, causing the website to crash.Ransomware
A form of malware that holds your data captive with the threat to publish or destroy it unless their ransom is paid.

 

 

Top 10 Tips to Prevent A Cyber Attack

 

10 ways to prevent a cyber attack 2

 

1. Leverage Proactive Technology

 

There are hundreds of companies out there who specialise in cyber security – use them to your advantage!These companies offer all sorts of proactive technology for preventing cyber attacks: antivirus and antispyware software, intrusion detection systems (sometimes they happen without you even noticing), intrusion protection systems, spam filters, and multi-factor authentication software to name just a handful.

 

2. Staff Training

 

Technology is great, however, all the technology in the world won’t protect you from one of the most common causes of a data breach or cyber incident: human error. Therefore, it is important to continually educate your staff on cyber and data security – preferably with training programs specialised to their actual role.This doesn’t have to be super complex “tech-y” stuff either; simple preventative measures like creating strong passwords, safeguarding private & personal information and questioning the authenticity of emails can make a huge difference.

 

3. Cyber Security Audits

 

As your company grows, it is important to make sure your cyber security is keeping pace. Having a Cyber Security Audit is a good way to identify any weaknesses in your security measures to minimise the risk of a cyber incident or data breach.There are good consultants out there who specialise in identifying the holes in your system and procedures, and who will also assist in building out your security measures as your company grows.

 

4. Protect Important Information to Avoid Data Breaches

 

You have most likely heard about some of the massive data breaches affecting millions of consumers over the last few years. This has never been more relevant as it is today, and protecting personal & private information is something that all companies – not just multinationals – need to take seriously.Methods for doing this can range from encrypting data when stored or sent online, refusing to collect certain information (i.e. credit cards) and implementing security measures to protect your data from hackers (see our first point above).

 

5. Vulnerability & Patch Management

 

How secure is your system? Vulnerability management is a proactive approach to managing network security, while patch management takes care of fixing these holes.It is fairly straightforward to implement one of these processes: check, identify and verify any vulnerabilities, mitigate losses from these vulnerabilities, then finally apply “patches” to fix the problem.

 

6. Identity Verification

 

This is without a doubt the most important preventative measure for phishing and social engineering attacks. If you receive an email/call to pay an invoice or update payment information, you should always verify who the person is before actioning their request to make sure it’s not fraudulent – don’t trust the person who is contacting you without verifying they are who they say.For example, find a contact you know in the company and call them directly to verify the request, but do not do this by responding to the email or calling a number included in the email.

 

7. Third Party Vendors/Supplier Management

 

You can implement all these tools to protect your information, but how do you make sure the companies you work with are doing the same?It is important to consider how the vendors and suppliers you work with are using, storing and protecting your private and important information or data.

 

8. Back-Up Your Data

 

It is absolutely essential to back-up your data and information these days, but there are different ways to do this and some ways are better than others.Arguably the best option is cloud storage, as it can include end-to-end encryption of your data to keep it safe, external back-ups, and a server dedicated to saving data.

 

9. Physical Security

 

Your software isn’t the only way for an attacker to access your system and wreak havoc. They can access your system using ID badges, credit cards, private files, mobile devices and computers.Your personnel should be trained to keep these items secure at all times.

 

10. Policies, Practices and Procedures

 

Who doesn’t love writing policies and procedures? Although this can be a tedious exercise that many overlook, it really does encompass a lot of the above points and can be invaluable for protecting your company from a cyber event.Most companies should implement some, if not all, of the following: Cyber Crisis Management Plan (you’ve been hacked – now what?), data breach reporting plan (reporting is almost always required/recommended), multifactor authentication for staff, password guidelines, email guidelines, among others.

 

What Happens if a Cyber Attack Occurs Anyway?

 

You can take every possible step in preventing a Cyber Attack and one may still occur. This is why it’s important to manage this risk by putting a Cyber Insurance policy in place. Visit our Cyber webpage for details.

 

 

Secure Your Association’s Future with Tailored Insurance Solutions from KBI

Protect your association’s future by partnering with a specialised insurance broker, KBI. With KBI’s Association Insurance Program, you gain comprehensive coverage designed to address your association’s unique risks. Don’t leave your success to chance—contact us today to discuss your insurance needs.

 

Let KBI be your trusted partner in protecting your association’s interests and ensuring long-term resilience. Together, we can navigate the complexities of risk management and insurance and secure a brighter future for your association.

Next

LOGO 1

We are a specialist insurance brokerage with an emphasis on adding value to our clients by helping them make an informed decision. Our approach combines that of an insurance broker and consultant, where we focus on providing expert advice to our clients while customising their insurance program and risk management solutions.

 

Since starting in 2013, KBI is constantly growing and becoming a leader in the Australian market. Our primary point of difference is that we don’t try to be all things to all people. We work in niche areas, where we can tailor an offering, advice and broker support to meet the specific area’s needs.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE

latest news

Related Articles

Association Insurance

Why Do Associations Need a Tailored Insurance Program?

author: KBI | March 22, 2024

why do associations need a tailored insurance program

Associations play a key role in many industries. They represent the shared interests of professionals, businesses, and communities. Associations operate in dynamic […] {{ post.title }}>Read More

Why Do Associations Need a Tailored Insurance Program? Read Article

Cyber Blog

Strengthening Your Business with Comprehensive Cyber Insurance Solutions

author: KBI | August 15, 2023

strengthening your business with comprehensive cyber insurance solutions 1

In this article, we provide some key insight into the current cyber insurance landscape including how insurers are responding to increasing risks […] {{ post.title }}>Read More

Strengthening Your Business with Comprehensive Cyber Insurance Solutions Read Article

Business Insurance

Safeguarding Business Continuity: Learning from the Optus Outage

author: KBI | November 16, 2023

safeguarding business continuity learning from the optus outage

In an era where connectivity is the lifeblood of businesses, the recent Optus outage in Australia served as a stark reminder of […] {{ post.title }}>Read More

Safeguarding Business Continuity: Learning from the Optus Outage Read Article
view all articles