What Would Happen to Your Business If You Came to Work One Day and Had Lost All Data and Access to Your Systems?

Cybersecurity is a broad term that includes securing data and the technology systems responsible for moving, storing, and authenticating data. For businesses, cybersecurity encompasses the technology that’s in place to help keep your business safe, the people and processes that ensure your business stays safe, and the education to ensure your employees remain vigilant against potential cyberthreats.

A smart cybersecurity solution incorporates multiple layers of technology, processes, and education to help keep your business safe. Imagine it like stacking numerous layers of swiss cheese on top of each other. Alone, one layer has holes; however, you can cover up the gaps when you stack multiple layers on top of each other, making it more challenging to worm through the holes in the stack.

You may think that big businesses with more endpoints are more vulnerable than small businesses. Or, businesses with attractive data, like financial services companies or those in the healthcare industry, would be easy targets. That’s not always the case—of course, they hold an incredible amount of data, but it’s like trying to rob the Federal Reserve gold vault versus robbing a regular Joe on the street. Bigger businesses or those that handle sensitive data typically have the technology, regulations, and processes to protect themselves from cyberattacks.

On the other hand, small and medium-sized businesses without dedicated IT expertise, cybersecurity technology, processes, or education are easier targets for hackers.

In most cases, the simple answer is no… at least not to the level of protection needed.
Cybersecurity is a full-time job that requires consistent education. You need company-wide procedures, and executive-level dedication.
Hackers are probing for vulnerabilities 24/7. A cyberattack can happen the instant a weakness is discovered.
You need multiple layers of cybersecurity especially if your system is accessed by the Internet or when employees are working remotely.

Ransomware is one of our biggest concerns—it’s a specific type of cyberattack where hackers deploy malware, then force you to pay a ransom in order to regain access to your system—more on ransomware below.

We’re also always concerned with monitoring and preventing lateral phishing takeover attacks. Through these types of cyberattacks, hackers gain access to an employee’s email account. Then, they set up rules to extract valuable data and information. Once hackers find a piece of information they can exploit, they use it to create a genuine-looking email to everyone in the employee’s address book.
With advanced technologies and machine learning, hackers can make phishing emails look frighteningly legitimate. As other employees open and interact with the email, hackers gain access to more data and information until the entire organization is potentially affected.

As much as we’d love to throw a perfectly round number out there, it’s tough. Cybersecurity solutions really depend on your organization’s individual needs. Once we determine your specific security requirements, we can help design the perfect multilayered solution to help keep your business safe.

Imagine the peace of mind in knowing that you are being protected… that cybersecurity is not a worrisome topic that hovers in the back of your mind.

You have enough on your plate in your business and anytime you can reduce and or eliminate threats that is more energy you can focus on improvement and growth.

The Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) is a unified standard for implementing cybersecurity across the defense industrial base (DIB), which includes over 300,000 companies in the supply chain. The CMMC is the DoD’s response to significant compromises of sensitive defense information located on contractors’ information systems.

CMMC IMPLICATIONS

DoD contractors should immediately learn the CMMC’s technical requirements and prepare not only for certification, but long-term cybersecurity agility. Details on how the CMMC assessments will be conducted are anticipated soon. DoD contractors that have already started to evaluate their practices, procedures and gaps when the details are finalized will be well-positioned to navigate the process and meet the mandatory CMMC contract requirements for upcoming projects.

The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition & Sustainment maintains a CMMC FAQ where contractors can keep up to date on the certification process.

Certification preparation must starts now. Accreditation procedures and accreditors have not yet been established, but we expect details soon. The DoD estimates that the DIB includes more than 300,000 contractors that will all need certification to continue to compete for DoD contracts.

Early preparation could result in a more efficient assessment with positive end results. Makaye InfoSec can help you begin taking immediate steps to:

• Perform a CMMC readi-ness assessment
• Clearly document practices and procedures with those requirements that already comply with CMMC practices or processes.
• Plan for and implement further procedures and practices to obtain the highest certification level possible.