As we welcome the new year, the time has come to look at cybersecurity resolutions your Calgary organization can make. A we look at the cyber threat landscape with renewed focus, we can see how rapidly cyber threats are evolving. Calgary businesses must take proactive measures to protect their systems, data, and reputations from potential threats. Security incidents are on the rise. With the cost of data breaches, cybersecurity risks are simply too great to ignore.
To help your business stay secure in the face of these challenges, we’ve put together a set of actionable cybersecurity resolutions. By committing to these essentials, you can strengthen your cybersecurity strategy and position your company for success in the digital age.
1. Conduct a Comprehensive Network Assessment
Start the year with a thorough network assessment. A network assessment is the only way to know where your business stands with security and infrastructure. From being able to compete effectively for customers to having the ability to pivot as needed in our rapidly-changing environment, you can need to know the status of your network so you can determine where you need to invest in your infrastructure and security, what strengths you offer when competing for contracts, and how well you’re achieving required compliance.
Evaluate your current cybersecurity posture, including your hardware, software, and personnel practices. Identify common vulnerabilities that could lead to a cyber attack and prioritize attack surfaces that need immediate attention. Vulnerability assessments can discover weaknesses that can save your business from costly breaches later.
2. Adopt a Zero-Trust Security Model
Zero-trust is the only acceptable approach to cybersecurity that responsibly and proactively protects your network. A zero-trust model operates on the principle that no one – inside or outside of your network – is automatically trusted. Literally every request to access your network must be verified before being granted. This approach significantly reduces the risk of a cyber attack or any unauthorized access.
To implement zero-trust effectively:
- Require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all accounts.
- Segment your network to limit access to sensitive data.
- Use identity and access management (IAM) tools to monitor and control user privileges.
3. Provide Regular Employee Awareness Training
Your employees are your first line of defence against cyber threats, but artificial intelligence is making it more difficult to recognize a cyber attack. Ongoing awareness training is necessary to help your employees identify social engineering attacks, phishing attempts, adopt password best practices, and recognize potential scams. The goal is to foster a culture of cybersecurity awareness throughout your organization, inculcating a zero-trust culture.
Some training topics to consider are:
- How to identify phishing emails and social engineering tactics.
- The importance of updating software and using strong passwords.
- Steps to take if a breach is suspected.
- Ongoing updates about the evolving cyber threat landscape.
4. Update and Patch Systems Promptly
Outdated, unpatched software is one of the biggest cyber risks. Taking advantage of outdated software is one of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to target your business. Don’t give cybercriminals the opportunity to find a shortcut into your network. Ensure that regular updates and patches are applied for all systems, applications, and hardware. Partnering with a managed IT provider can simplify this process and give you peace of mind by ensuring that updates are automatic and seamless.
5. Strengthen Password Policies
Your network is only as secure as the people who have access to it, and poor password management can be disastrous. Password breaches remain one of the most common causes of cybersecurity incidents and phishing attacks – and hackers are adept at hacking passwords quickly. Using symbols in place of letters does not protect you; from a hackers perspective, an “a” and a “$” are the same when they run their artificial intelligence programs. The only solution is to use longer passwords. Resolve to strengthen your password policies by:
- Enforcing the use of long passwords, up to the maximum character length allowed
- Encouraging the use of password managers to securely store and generate passwords.
- Requiring MFA for sensitive systems and applications.
Review the government of Canada’s complete password guidance.
6. Back Up Your Data Regularly
Data loss can result from cyberattacks, hardware failures, or human error. Regular backups are critical for maintaining business continuity. Ensure that backups:
- Are performed frequently and automatically.
- Include all critical systems and data.
- Are stored securely offsite or in the cloud.
Test your backups periodically to confirm that they can be restored quickly and accurately.
7. Monitor Network Activity Continuously
Real-time monitoring of your network can help you detect suspicious activity, including insider threats, before it escalates into a full-blown incident. Insider threats account for 60% of all data breaches. Employees, former employees, and third-party actors with access to your Calgary business network are a serious threat. Not only do they often have access to your most sensitive data, but their actions can go undetected for a long period of time. These actions can sometimes be malicious, but they can also happen because of carelessness.
By partnering with a managed IT provider, your organization will have access to tools that provide:
- Behavioural analytics to identify anomalies.
- Alerts for unusual login attempts or data transfers.
- Detailed logs to aid in forensic investigations.
- Ongoing, proactive threat detection.
8. Create and Test an Incident Response Plan
Even with the best defences, in today’s cyber threat landscape, breaches can still happen. Having a well-documented incident response plan to address cybersecurity risks ensures that your team knows how to act quickly and effectively during a crisis. Your plan should outline:
- Roles and responsibilities of each team member.
- Steps cybersecurity teams must take to contain and mitigate a breach.
- Communication protocols for informing stakeholders and customers.
- Post-incident evaluation procedures.
Regularly test and update your plan to ensure it remains relevant and effective.
9. Stay Compliant with Cybersecurity Regulations
Cybersecurity regulations are continually evolving. Ensure that your business remains compliant with regard to relevant laws and standards, such as the Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA) in Canada. Non-compliance can result in significant fines and damage to your reputation. Consult legal and cybersecurity experts, to stay up to date with changes, ensure that your policies reflect the latest requirements, and obtain cybersecurity insurance.
10. Partner with Cybersecurity Professionals
Managing cybersecurity in-house can be overwhelming. Partnering with a trusted managed IT service provider like The ITeam can provide you with access to threat intelligence, expert guidance, advanced tools, and ongoing support to prevent ransomware attacks and other cyber criminal activity. With a professional security team handling your cybersecurity needs, you can focus on running your business and not worrying about bad actors.
Take Action Now to Secure Your Organization
Businesses are increasingly under siege from sophisticated coercive cyber operations, with a notable focus on email and disruption operations. Valuable targets often include Calgary organization with substantial digital infrastructure or those deemed vital to critical infrastructure, such as energy, finance, and healthcare sectors. Cybercriminals exploit weaknesses in these systems to launch malicious activities, including phishing attacks, ransomware campaigns, and supply chain breaches. These cybercrime activities aim to disrupt operations, steal sensitive data, and damage reputations, making businesses across all industries vulnerable.
The cost of these cybercrime activities is staggering, resulting in significant losses for businesses that range from direct financial damage to the loss of consumer trust. For many, this marks a critical moment to reassess cybersecurity strategies. With attackers honing their methods, particularly in email operations designed to bypass traditional defenses, businesses must prioritize proactive measures to secure their digital infrastructure. This includes strengthening employee training, adopting zero-trust security models, and collaborating with industry peers to bolster the resilience of critical infrastructure. By addressing these challenges head-on, businesses can mitigate the risks of becoming a prime target in an ever-evolving cybersecurity landscape.
By committing to these cybersecurity resolutions, your business will be better prepared to navigate the evolving cybersecurity landscape. The ITeam is committed to helping Calgary- and Alberta-based businesses develop proactive, cost-effective IT strategies that minimize risk and maximize efficiency. Our servers are locally hosted, managed, and supported in Calgary. This ensures the protection of your data and the continuity of your business. The ITeam also manages all compliance regulations to ensure that the best security solutions are provided.
Industry-Specific Support
The ITeam provides IT support for a variety of industries, including:
IT Support for Construction – The ITeam has extensive experience working with construction companies, architecture firms, estimation companies, insurance providers, commercial property management companies, and home developers in the Calgary area, to provide comprehensive IT support.
Healthcare IT Support – When you’re busy serving patients, managing an entire IT framework may seem overwhelming. The ITeam provides comprehensive dental IT support, medical IT support, and managed IT services for healthcare organizations in Calgary, including PIAs.
IT Support for Oil and Gas Companies – The oil and gas industry faces unique challenges in maintaining a seamless infrastructure and keeping private data secure. With more than 20 years of experience, The ITeam has collaborated with energy clients, to create the perfect package for those Calgary companies in the oil and gas industry.
IT Services for Lawyers – Legal IT support is essential to meeting the needs of law firms and exceeding the expectations of their clients. Our professionals at The ITeam have years of experience helping Calgary-area attorneys mitigate risk with comprehensive IT solutions.
IT Support for Accounting Firms – The ITeam provides IT support for accounting firms, accountants, and financial services representatives, to help protect customers’ data and deliver not only a growing portfolio but also peace of mind.
Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprise (SME) IT Support – The ITeam’s managed IT services level the playing field for Calgary SMEs, offering them access to competitive levels of expertise and security. Security, mobility, and 24/7 support are essential services that can help maintain a solid IT infrastructure for small businesses as they grow and ensure business continuity.
Learn more or request an assessment today.