How to Create a Cybersecurity Program

The best time to decide how to create a cybersecurity program is before an incident occurs. With security being top of mind after the record-breaking data breaches of 2020, building a cybersecurity program should be the number one item on the to-do list for all businesses. This is even more critical for companies that work in the financial and health industries.

Identity thefts are spiking, criminals are becoming more sophisticated, and with every kilobyte of data that falls into the wrong hands, the less consumers are trusting companies with their sensitive information. That said, below you’ll find what you need to know about building a program for your cybersecurity from scratch.

Before you read on, Rivial Security specializes in building cybersecurity programs so you can have more confidence and peace of mind. Get a Cybersecurity assessment from Rivial for more information > https://www.rivialsecurity.com/services/cybersecurity-assessments

Is Building a Cybersecurity Program Hard?

This question is what holds many businesses back from implementing a defense against cybercriminals. The good news is, the answer is no - for the most part, creating a program isn’t difficult. The tricky thing is consistently being on top of all the threats that are out there. In that respect, the “hardest part” of how to create a cybersecurity program will be making sure you’re staying up to date with the latest vulnerabilities and exploitations, and keeping your internal and external networks patched up and well-defended.

Steps For Building a Cybersecurity Program

1. Think about the data your company stores

To know how to protect your data, you need to have a firm grasp on all of the information you are presently storing. In the case of financial institutions you are likely securing banking details, account numbers, credit card numbers, etc… This type of data must be secured with a higher level of protection than innocuous files.

2. Audit your systems, devices, and processes

Before you can create a program, you should also take an inventory of the devices storing data that need protecting - from computers in your building to cloud storage providers being used. If the goal is to protect all of the devices in your organization as well as your website, your servers, etc… start by noting each item and what systems are currently in place to protect the data within them (i.e. strong passwords, multi factor authentication, segmented access, and so on).

3. Determine your current security level

Do you consider your company to be level low, moderate, or high in terms of how secure your data is?

Low - Few, if any employees have training on how to handle cybersecurity threats. And, current IT security policies are minimal at best.

Moderate - Most employees have an understanding of current risks and protocols for handling a breach. Your company also has measures in place to detect most threats, and eliminate them.

High - This is the level you should aspire to. At this security level, everyone working for or with your company, including vendors, understands the latest cybersecurity threats and practices. You also have multi-layered, ironclad defenses to curb the most dangerous of external as well as internal threats. Furthermore, you have policies in place for how to stop problems in their tracks, and recover from a security breach quickly.

4. List the most common threats

Knowing the threats you’re up against is critical if you hope to develop a good defense. Your threats might include, but aren’t limited to:

• Cybercriminals/hackers/extortionists
• Internal threats such as a disgruntled employee or ex-employee
• Competitors 
• Users who are given too much access (i.e. third-party vendors, employees, shareholders, and even customers)

5. Craft a defense plan

You know what you’re storing. You’ve audited your systems and processes, and have determined your current security level. The most common threats you’re facing have also been named. Now it’s time to finally craft a strong defense plan, and put protocols in place to keep your company as safe as possible from potential breaches.

This may mean hiring security teams to do penetration testing and vulnerability scanning. It could also mean installing better locks on your doors, and implementing stronger passwords or controlling access. The key is to write out a plan, and then tweak and adjust as needed to lock down your data, and keep it out of the hands of unauthorized users.

Don’t go it alone

You could try to do it yourself, but building a cybersecurity program is not something that should be taken lightly. Instead, it’s best to find a partner you can trust to help you. After all, staffing and lack of time and resources are the major challenges most organizations face when trying to keep their data safe. That’s why a third-party is so beneficial. They can perform risk assessments, and ensure your plans for keeping data secure from hackers is effective.

Where to Go From Here

Now that you have a simple plan of attack for addressing how to create a cybersecurity program, it’s time to get to work. Or, if you would prefer to call in the help of a professional team, our experts at Rivial Security may be just what you’re looking for. Contact us to schedule a strategy session for building a cybersecurity program in your institution today!