Here are some steps and best practices to help companies enhance their security:

Security Policies and Awareness:

• Develop comprehensive security policies and procedures that are communicated and enforced throughout the organization.
• Educate employees about security best practices, including the importance of strong passwords and how to recognize and respond to security threats like phishing attacks.
• If this is too complicated, or overlay all inclusive, it will not be adopted. This is #1 on this list for a reason, so keep this simple and straightforward so all employees can understand and implement.

Access Control:

• Implement access controls and user permissions. Only authorized individuals should have access to sensitive data and systems.
• Regularly review and update user access permissions to align with job roles and responsibilities.

Regular Updates and Patch Management:

• Keep all software, operating systems, and applications up to date with the latest security patches to protect against known vulnerabilities.
• Monitor zero-day patch security bulletins and adjust your scheduling of patches as required.

Firewalls and Intrusion Detection Systems:

• Use firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor network traffic and identify potential threats.

Encryption:

• Encrypt sensitive data, both in transit and at rest, to protect it from unauthorized access.

Antivirus and Antimalware Solutions:

• Deploy and regularly update antivirus and antimalware solutions on all devices to detect and remove malicious software.
• Ensure that all devices have AV.

Secure Authentication:

• Implement strong authentication methods such as multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of security.
• All applications and login/password should have 2FA deployed (Two-Factor Authentication)

Regular Backups:

• Create regular backups of critical data and ensure that they are stored securely and can be restored in case of data loss or a ransomware attack.
• Follow a 3-2-1 Backup strategy best practice.

Incident Response Plan:

• Develop an incident response plan that outlines steps to be taken in case of a security breach. Ensure employees are familiar with this plan.
• Perform a mock-fire-drill of components of the plan that are most critical to get right.

Vendor and Third-Party Security:

• Evaluate the security practices of third-party vendors and service providers. Ensure that they meet your security standards.

Employee Training:

• Train employees on cybersecurity best practices and awareness to prevent social engineering attacks.

Security Audits and Penetration Testing:

• Regularly conduct security audits and penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities and assess the effectiveness of security measures.
• 3rd party intrusion detection testing keeps your IT team independently evaluated.

Data Classification:

• Classify data based on its sensitivity and apply appropriate security measures. Not all data requires the same level of protection.
• Apply role based security practices.

Secure Development Practices:

• For companies developing their own software or applications, implement secure coding practices to reduce the risk of vulnerabilities.

Compliance and Regulations:

• Ensure that your security practices comply with relevant industry regulations and data protection laws.
• Verify what your Insurance and Legislative requirement are for compliance.

Monitoring and Logging:

• Continuously monitor network and system activities. Keep logs of events for auditing and detection of suspicious activities.
• Fire-Drill your alert

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery:

• Develop a business continuity and disaster recovery plan to ensure the availability of essential systems in the event of a disruption.

Employee Offboarding:

• Implement a process for securely offboarding employees, revoking their access rights, and collecting company devices.

Security Culture:

• Foster a security-conscious culture within the organization, where security is a shared responsibility.

Regular Security Assessments:

• Periodically assess and re-evaluate your security measures to adapt to evolving threats and technology.
• Security is an ongoing effort, and it’s crucial for companies to stay vigilant, adapt to new threats, and invest in the latest security technologies and practices to protect their digital assets effectively.