Aware as we are about the risks that lie in wait online, just about everybody uses cyber security software. Though you might hope that this is all it will take to foil attacks, there are bad actors who know just how to slip through the cracks. From carefully-targeted phishing attacks that masquerade as legitimate communications to trojans that hide within seemingly-routine email attachments, the human element is often the chink in your armour.
Technology can certainly do much to protect you. However, developing a set of rules that users must follow helps close the gaps that attackers might otherwise exploit. These rules are captured in your cyber security policy. And, since cyber security is a moving target, they need to be updated periodically.
Characteristics of a Good Cyber Security Policy
It’s Practical
While remaining offline and never giving anyone access to data would certainly keep your networks safe, it’s clearly impractical. It also doesn’t help if you have great cyber security policies that nobody understands well enough to implement. Your aim is to create a practical set of cyber security policies that allow authorised people to access information while blocking attempts to gain unauthorised access. At the same time, your policies must be clear and simple so that just about anyone can learn to follow them.
It’s Current
In a digital game of cat and mouse, cyber attackers constantly search for new vulnerabilities they can exploit. Staying one step ahead of them means being aware of the evolving threat landscape while proactively seeking potential weaknesses and taking steps to address them. This means that cyber security constantly evolves. For example, whereas password protection was once good enough, and two-factor authentication followed, we now use multi-factor authentication to help protect networks from unauthorised access.
It Addresses the Human Element
People can make mistakes and fraudsters are using advanced technology to trick them into doing so. For example, a Hong Kong finance worker was tricked into paying fraudsters $25 million after engaging in a video meeting with his CFO. But, the video images he saw were “deepfakes,” and the person he believed was his CFO was actually a fraudster.
More mundanely, something as routine as an email from a colleague, customer, or supplier could be faked and may carry malware. If an employee clicks a link or opens an attachment, their organisation could suffer both financial and reputational harm. Cyber security policies must address errors like these before they can occur.
It Provides For Every Potential Work Scenario
No matter what the task and no matter how or where business information is accessed, cyber security policies should provide the means to protect digital assets. This means that the people responsible for formulating a cyber security policy should consult with different departments. They must understand how work is done, and then look for ways to address any vulnerabilities that may occur in practice.
It Allows for Rapid Damage Control
Complacency is a risk in itself. Cyber security policies should outline what should be done in the event of an attack or suspected breach. Rapid responses can make the difference between a failed attack and one that cripples your organisation. If an attack disrupts your business, your policies should provide a roadmap to minimise its effect on your business and your clients.
Types of Cyber Security Policies: What They Should Cover
From prevention to cure, your overall cyber security policy should consist of a variety of sub-policies with different purposes. These include:
Acceptable Use
What may your employees do when they are using workplace devices? For instance, while you might be fine with employees browsing their socials during breaks, it might be wisest to limit this to their personal devices. Simply clicking the wrong link could mean that malware is downloaded.
Passwords Policy
Passwords do still matter, and your employees must use strong passwords that can’t easily be cracked. However, as organisations move toward passwordless policies, it’s important to integrate these approaches with multifactor authentication (MFA) to enhance security. The longer a password is used, the less safe it becomes, so changing passwords regularly should remain a regular housekeeping activity captured in your policies while planning for a transition to passwordless solutions.
Access Control Policy and Remote Access Policy
You may trust your staff implicitly, but it’s always wisest to limit access so that they can only use features and see the information they need to do their jobs. Apart from maintaining data privacy, a legal requirement if sensitive information is involved, limiting access may prevent hackers from bringing down entire systems or stealing all your data.
You’ll need policies defining who can access what, when access is granted, and when it is removed. Your policy will also include information on how employees should access business systems. For example, they may not do so over a public network where they may be spied upon, and they may not use personal devices to access systems.
Data Management Policy
Employees who handle sensitive or business-critical information must know how to do their work securely. A data management policy includes steps like encryption as well as what data should be stored, where, and for how long.
Breach Prevention and Response Policy
Empower your employees so that they know how to prevent data breaches and know how to spot the signs of a cyber security risk. They must also know how to respond if they suspect that something may be amiss. This includes reporting duties and the processes that should be triggered in response to a potential threat.
Disaster Recovery Policy
Plan for a worst case scenario, one that affects your systems so badly that you must restore hardware, software, and data to a safe state before your business can resume operations. This policy aims to maintain continuity, getting your business back on its feet as quickly as possible after a crippling attack.
DMARC and MFA
Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance (DMARC) and Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) are critical components of modern cyber security policies. DMARC is an email authentication protocol designed to prevent domain spoofing and phishing by enabling domain owners to specify how unauthorised messages should be handled and providing tools to monitor and report misuse. Meanwhile, MFA adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to verify their identity through multiple authentication methods, such as a password combined with a biometric scan or a one-time code.
How to Create a Cyber Security Policy
There is no generic policy that will work for every business. Your first step in creating a cyber security policy that works for you is to conduct a thorough risk assessment. Get help from cyber security professionals who understand the threats businesses face and who know how to combat them.
Using their recommendations, formulate policies that leave no stone unturned in safeguarding your business’s systems and data. Now, it will be crucial to get all your staff on board. They need to understand why your cyber security policy is so important, and what they must do to comply. Equip them with the skills they need to work safely and to spot signs of trouble before damage can be done.
From here on, it will be crucial to monitor your systems, constantly re-evaluate and adjust your policies to combat emerging threats, and keep your team updated on the latest cyber security strategies.
Get Serious About Cyber Security With Advantex
At Advantex, we help you to stay connected – and we keep you safe and secure online. From schools and universities to manufacturing companies, and small and large organisations of every description, we offer services you can rely on. Needless to say, it’s our business to remain ahead of the curve – and we keep our clients informed, forewarned, and forearmed.
If you’re looking for help with your cyber security policy in the UK, begin your search with us. We’re confident it will end here too. That’s because we offer more than just technology and security. When you choose us, we’ll address your unique needs, and help you to keep your staff ready to act as guardians of your digital assets. Talk to us about your cyber security needs today. We’re looking forward to becoming part of your team.
