Cybersecurity Best Practices for UK Businesses

Cyber-attacks and threats are increasing at an alarming rate, and businesses are required to implement robust cybersecurity measures to ensure the safety of sensitive business information and confidential customer data. The government of the UK has made it mandatory for businesses to comply with data protection laws, GDPR, and other regulations. This article outlines the types of cybersecurity attacks and cybersecurity best practices UK.

What is Business Cybersecurity?

Business cybersecurity typically refers to measures, strategies, technologies and policies that businesses are required to deploy to ensure the safety of confidential business information and other digital assets. A strong cybersecurity ensures business continuity and helps businesses stay compliant with data protection laws and also helps in gaining and maintaining customer trust.

Cybersecurity is an umbrella term that includes:

• Safeguarding confidential customer data and information

• Safeguarding business financial information

• Protecting intellectual property of the business

• Safeguarding important and confidential internal communications

Business Cybersecurity Threats

There is a wide range of cybersecurity threats that businesses may face, and these threats can compromise sensitive business information and other digital assets. Some of the most common threats are as follows:

• Ransomware: It is a specific type of malicious software that enters your system, locks files and data and asks for ransom to unlock the files and data.

• Phishing Attacks: It is the most common and dangerous form of cybersecurity threats. Through phishing attacks, the attackers use spam and deceptive emails to trick employees into revealing sensitive business information.

• DDos Attacks: DDos attacks primarily try to disrupt business operations by overloading and spamming the business’s servers or websites with unnecessary traffic.

• SQL Injection Attacks: This cyberattack uses structured Query Language (SQL) and interferes with an application. It modifies databases and compromises sensitive business data.

• Malware: Malware is also a very common form of cyber attack and includes trojans, viruses, etc., that can enter your system through malicious emails, pen drives, etc.

• Zero-day Attacks: Zero-day attacks are those actions that hackers take intentionally when an application or a software is flawed or vulnerable. The hackers attack before developers can solve the issue or flaw.

• Insider Threats: These are the cybersecurity risks that arise within the organisation. Employees, business partners, contractors or any other personnel who have access to the sensitive business information can intentionally or unintentionally pose a security risk to confidential information and other digital assets. 

Essential Business Cybersecurity Practices

To prevent cyberattacks from happening, safeguard your business’s confidential information and comply with data protection laws and regulations, certain essential business cybersecurity practices are required:

1. Employee Cybersecurity Training

Employees in your organisation act as a first line of defence against most of the cyberattacks. Make sure to provide regular cybersecurity training to your employees and include these strategies:

• Organise interactive information security workshops

• Initiate mock phishing attacks once in a while to assess employees’ vigilance

• Reward employees to encourage secure practices and certify them

2. Regular Risk Assessment and Cybersecurity Audits

Regular risk assessments and cybersecurity audits are essential to identify any gaps in security. Some data protection laws and regulations like ISO 27001 require integrating threat intelligence for early detection of any cyber-attacks or threats.

3. Implement Security Measures

Deploy and implement robust anti-virus software and firewalls to protect all your devices and infrastructure from viruses, ransomware, spyware and any phishing attacks. Also, keep the anti-virus and firewalls updated to stay safe from any of the latest cyber-attacks and threats.

4. Regular Data Backups

Regularly backing up important data and files is essential to prevent any kind of data loss during cyberattacks. Ensure that data backup is stored in multiple copies at different locations. Automate the process of backup with minimal to no human intervention to ensure completeness and recoverability.

5. Limited Access to Sensitive Data

Always ensure that only limited and authorised users have access to sensitive and confidential business information and data. This is crucial to minimise any chances of data breach or any risks related to insider threats. 

6. Strong Password Policy and MFA

Manage data access in your organisation through strong passwords and multi-factor authentication. Encourage your employees to use password managers. The passwords should be complex and not easy to guess. Further, remind your employees on a regular basis to update and change their passwords.

7. Monitor Third-Party Users and Applications

When allowing any third-party user or any application to access your business information, always ensure that they have limited access to the authorised information and that they follow robust security measures.

8. Encrypt Key Information

Encryption ensures that your data is safe from any kind of unauthorised access and modification. Even in case your confidential information gets accessed by unauthorised users or gets stolen, it will be of no use to the hacker.

9. Secured Information Transit

Implement a Data Loss Prevention (DLP) system to protect sensitive and confidential business information and customer data. Classify data, track the usage by varied users and monitor the transit. Further, keep a check on any online transactions of information to and from the business.

Conclusion 

As explained in this article, cyber-attacks and threats are getting sophisticated day by day. UK businesses cybersecurity is of utmost importance since it ensures that sensitive business information and confidential customer data is protected. These businesses need to adhere to the data protection laws and regulations put in place by the UK government. It is recommended to associate with a managed IT service provider like Tristar Tech Solutions that analyses your business, identifies your business cyber security requirements and implements strategised security measures that protect your business’s digital assets.