It’s easy to get caught up in the latest tool or “shiny object” in the news as advanced threats continue to evolve and escalate. The challenge of legacy infrastructure and products is highlighted by the fact that an estimated 80% of threats and vulnerabilities are more than a year old. Use IT practices that maintain health and resiliency to prevent or mitigate security issues with good cyber hygiene.

The challenges of implementing cyber hygiene, security, and the benefits of implementing these foundational practices are discussed in this article, as well as how MSPs can recommend practical steps to cyber hygiene.

What is Cyber Hygiene

Cyber hygiene, like brushing your teeth, is a combination of routine and repetition. Protective procedures and user behavior that keep sensitive customer data safe are reinforced by protective routines. Fundamental cybersecurity principles never go out of style, even in the face of rapid change.

Minimize Risk and Complexity with Cyber Hygiene

Poor IT practices increase exposure and cost. IT complexity can unfold over time, resulting in a lack of process understanding and system manageability.

Enhance security operations efficiency with a balance of cyber hygiene technology and routines. For example, implementing good user password practices reduces authentication risks. MSSPs are well poised to advise SMBs regarding solutions and best practices like automation and repeatable outcomes.

Good Habits Safeguard Data and Users

There are several crucial steps to develop best practices and an operational routine for cyber hygiene:

  • Implement Device Hardening: Regularly patch vulnerabilities, turn off unnecessary functions, and disable unused ports and protocols.
  • Add Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Limit access to your network and resources with MFA. While virtually all vendors now offer MFA, many organizations neglect to take the extra step to implement them.
  • Educate users on phishing risks: Continually reinforce to users to be diligent and think before clicking.
  • Use configuration best practices: Configuration errors cause 52% of data incidents per Verizon. Minimize configuration drift over time by enhancing resilience and security.
  • Segment the Networks: Divide your network into multiple segments that prevent a single point of failure and make it difficult for cyber criminals to move laterally in customer networks.
  • Enable device logging: In some cases, device and application logging is off by default. A Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solution correlates logs to identify potential network security threats and suspicious user activity for troubleshooting.
  • Eliminate unused hardware and software: Consolidate your tech vendors to streamline security as well as enhance efficiencies and reduce costs.
  • Monitor 24/7/365: You can’t manage and protect what you can’t see. Comprehensive visibility and monitoring provide around-the-clock safeguards against both internal and external threats.

Implementing robust cybersecurity procedures is vital to defend against modern threats. Cyber hygiene helps maintain a strong security posture and minimize vulnerabilities.

Enhance People Vigilance

To make it easier to manage the inevitable attacks and third-party software gaps, embrace foundational security, which the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agenda (CISA) refers to as “being Cyber Smart.” To become more proactive and overcome blind spots, keep in mind that people are often the weakest link in protecting organizations. Human error is responsible for 88 percent of all data incidents and breaches, according to a Stanford University study. “Process repetition and training reinforcement are just some ways to help bolster cyber hygiene with your employees and customers,” says CYB3R-X Mealing.

How MSSPs Can Help

Businesses and service providers are prone to becoming distracted by the latest buzzword or point product. Assist your customers in being proactive and vigilant when it comes to basic cyber hygiene. Stay focused on baseline cybersecurity actions that remove the most significant risk for the least amount of money as a trusted advisor. To combat advanced threats, more mature technology, skilled personnel, and a comprehensive incident response are required than in previous years. Beyond standalone solutions, CYB3R-X Managed Threat Protection provides an integrated approach. At CYB3R-X, you can learn more about the benefits of co-managed security.