February: Data Privacy Month – Elevate Your Cybersecurity Practices
At TEKLEIGH, we observe February as Data Privacy Month, dedicated to raising awareness about online privacy and educating our clients on managing personal data securely. In today’s fast-paced digital world, robust cybersecurity practices are essential. To significantly reduce cybersecurity risks, we emphasize focusing on four critical areas:
- Mitigate Social Engineering
- Patch Exploited Software
- Practice Good Password Hygiene
- Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
By concentrating on these four areas, individuals and organizations can significantly lower their susceptibility to cybersecurity threats.
Mitigate Social Engineering
Social engineering is a primary tactic used by cybercriminals, responsible for up to 92% of cybercrime. It involves manipulating individuals into divulging confidential information or performing actions that compromise security. The most effective defense against social engineering is comprehensive security awareness training. Regularly educate and test employees to recognize and respond to these threats. Creating a culture of skepticism and vigilance is paramount.
Patch Exploited Software
Unpatched software vulnerabilities are a significant risk, accounting for 20% to 40% of cybercrime incidents. Regularly update and patch software, especially those listed in the U.S. Cybersecurity Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA)’s Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. Staying proactive with updates helps mitigate these risks effectively.
Practice Good Password Hygiene
Passwords are a common target for cyberattacks. To safeguard against these threats, ensure unique passwords for each account and use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords. This practice prevents unauthorized access and protects sensitive information.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Implementing MFA adds an additional layer of security. While some MFA methods can be bypassed, selecting robust MFA solutions, such as FIDO2-based systems, significantly enhances security. Effective MFA solutions protect against 20% of hacking attempts and reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering attacks.
Promoting Individual and Organizational Data Privacy
- For Individuals – Keep It Private:
- Understand the Privacy/Convenience Tradeoff: Evaluate the amount and type of personal information shared with businesses and weigh it against the benefits received.
- Manage Your Privacy: Configure privacy and security settings to your comfort level when using apps or creating new accounts.
- Protect Your Data: Use long, unique passwords stored in a password manager and enable MFA for accounts containing sensitive information.
- For Organizations – Respect Privacy:
- Conduct Assessments: Ensure reasonable security measures are in place to protect personal information from unauthorized access.
- Adopt a Privacy Framework: Implement a formal privacy framework to manage risks and integrate privacy best practices into business operations.
- Educate Employees: Foster a culture of data privacy by educating employees on their obligations to protect personal information.
Conclusion
Ensuring data privacy is a shared responsibility. Both individuals and organizations must prioritize cybersecurity to protect sensitive information. By focusing on these critical areas, we can collectively fight against hackers and malware.
Contact us to learn more about our tailored cybersecurity solutions and how we can help you implement effective mitigation strategies.