Technology alone will not fully protect an organisation; people are often considered the weakest link or biggest vulnerability in the security chain, but they can also be the strongest. Cyber security training is not just an option, but an absolute necessity.
Cyber security has many levels; policies and procedures are about establishing clear rules, guidelines and processes that govern how information is handled within an organisation. Well-defined policies and procedures serve as the blueprint for your cyber security program, ensuring consistent practices, reducing human error and providing a framework for accountability.
Before you can effectively improve your cyber security, you must first understand where you are - Understand Your Cyber Posture. It involves a thorough evaluation of your existing security measures, identifying vulnerabilities, and understanding the risks you face. You can't protect what you don't know you have or what weaknesses you might have hidden
🔚Microsoft will officially end support for Windows 10 on October 14th 2025 - this means no more security updates, bug fixes or technical support.
Education providers are prime targets for cyber attacks due to the sensitive personal data they hold, with often limited IT resources to protect it.
Preventing ransomware attacks requires a multi-layered approach. Regular backups are crucial - ensure they are isolated and tested. Employee training is paramount; staff must be able to recognise a phishing attempt. All software and systems should be updated to patch vulnerabilities. Strong access controls and MFA for all accounts will prevent up to 89% of data beaches.
The headlines often focus on large organisations or governments falling victim to cyber attacks, such as M&S and the Co-op, however, there is an increasing number of attacks on schools and colleges. A ransomware attack on a school can be particularly devastating, crippling operations, disrupting learning and putting sensitive student and staff data at risk.
Creating a cyber action plan will help you navigate the digital world safely. A well thought out plan can help you with a structured approach to improving your security posture, help identify weaknesses and ensure a rapid response when an incident occurs. It can move you from reactive panic to proactive preparedness.
While cyber security may sound complex and something just for 'the IT department', that couldn't be further from the truth. Cyber security is a shared responsibility, and every individual from the CEO down to the newest apprentice, plays a vital role in protection themselves and their broader digital ecosystem.
Even with the robust preventative measures, cyber attacks can happen. The key is is not to panic and to have a plan, most organisations will call this a cyber incident response plan. Knowing what to do in the immediate aftermath can significantly mitigate the damage, limit data loss and speed up recovery.
On day 3 of Cyber Security Awareness Month we are looking at data security. Data Security refers to the measures taken to protect date from unauthorised access, corruption or theft throughout its lifecycle.
Our second day of Cyber Security Awareness Month is about controlling access to your personal information and how it is used. Personal data is now constantly being collected, processed and shared. Privacy protection is about exercising control over who has access to your personal data and how it is used.