Malware attacks have become increasingly common, and there are many ways to protect your organization. You can implement cyber frameworks, control access to networked systems, and educate employees about best practices to prevent malware. The following are three of the most important steps you can take.
Cyber Frameworks
Cybersecurity frameworks are a set of best practices and industry guidelines that help organizations manage the risks and vulnerabilities associated with cyberspace. These frameworks can be mandatory or voluntary. While most frameworks are voluntary, others are required by law. In some countries, compliance with one framework is mandatory for all organizations. The framework identifies five primary functions of cybersecurity, with further subdivisions into 23 categories and 108 subcategories. The framework addresses these five key functions, though each subcategory is optional in some situations. For example, a low maturity level organization may only be able to address one or two Subcategories. Moreover, it may not have a formal risk management process, and its prioritization of security activities may not be informed by organizational risk objectives, threat environment, or business/mission requirements.
Training Employees On Avoiding Malware
The best way to prevent types of malware attacks is by educating your employees about the best practices to follow while browsing the internet. These best practices include using a secure password, keeping critical information backed up, and avoiding pornographic websites. Employees also need to learn how to recognize a legitimate warning message and report it to the IT department immediately. Employees should also set up full-disk encryption on their devices to further mitigate the risk and ensure their encryption passwords are kept secure. Additionally, employees should be aware that their passwords should never be included in an encrypted document.
Companies can also use a device management solution that automates updates and track the location of their employees’ devices. These tools are great for mitigating risk but should only be used as a backup. The responsibility of training employees in these best practices lies with the organization, not the individual. It is best if all employees use secure password management software for company-owned digital devices and online accounts. They should also learn how to create complex passwords.
Controlling Access To Systems
There are several ways to control access to systems on your organization’s network. One type of access control is known as non-discretionary access control or RBAC. In this type of access control, system administrators assign rights based on a combination of individual user accounts and organizational roles. This method helps organizations adhere to the principle of least privilege by only giving users the necessary access to perform their jobs. Unauthorized users can cause harm to your company’s network and data. The ability to prevent this type of access is essential to safeguard your company’s data. Unauthorized users include cybercriminals, hackers, and data thieves. To prevent this from happening, you need to be a gatekeeper for your network. This means securing devices brought into the office and taken home by employees. In addition, you also need to control access for people who are not employees. These people could be contractors, vendors, and visitors to your company.
Detecting Ransomware
The initial goal of detecting ransomware is to isolate systems infected by the infection and reduce the risk to the larger organization. This will allow security teams to stop ongoing encryption processes and limit the damage and effort required to restore access to infected systems. Detecting ransomware is critical in many business sectors, particularly those with sensitive information or customer data. Even a single attack can compromise an organization’s systems and cause massive disruption. In addition, a ransomware attack can damage a company’s reputation and lead customers to look elsewhere. Once an organization discovers its systems have been infected by ransomware, it should immediately contact federal or local law enforcement to report the incident. Federal law enforcement agencies can help track down the attackers and prevent future attacks. When a system has been infected by ransomware, it is recommended that organizations avoid paying the ransom because this leaves no guarantees that the files will be recovered.
