Don't Wait Until It's Too Late - Take One Step Toward Better Security Today

Note: This article originally appeared on the Stratosphere Networks website.

The performer Will Rogers once observed, "Even if you are on the right track, you'll get run over if you just sit there." The need to keep moving is especially pressing in the world of cybersecurity as hackers continue to deploy new and innovative tactics to break into corporate networks and access sensitive data. The AV-TEST Institute reports registering upward of 350,000 new potentially unwanted applications and malicious programs per day, so a lack of forward momentum can easily result in your organization falling far behind and becoming vulnerable to attack.

If you're currently idling in place or haven't yet begun your journey toward optimal cybersecurity, your risk level will continue rising relentlessly with each passing day unless you make a move soon. Now is the time to take action and progress down the path toward better security and lower your odds of experiencing an expensive and reputation-damaging data breach.  

The Time To Move is Now: No One Is Safe From Cyberattacks

The worldwide health crisis only exacerbated the pre-existing epidemic of cybercrime: Malware use shot up by 358 percent in 2020 compared to 2019, while ransomware increased a staggering 435 percent, according to a research study from Deep Instinct. Ransomware in particular has made plenty of headlines recently, with attackers targeting large corporations like the major meat supplier JBS, Fujifilm, and the IT firm Kaseya. In an open letter to U.S. business leaders, Anne Neuberger – the deputy national security advisor for cyber and emerging technologies on the National Security Council – recently warned, "All organizations must recognize that no company is safe from being targeted by ransomware, regardless of size or location."

If you don't have a solid security strategy in place to protect your organization, it's only a matter of time before you find yourself dealing with a debilitating ransomware infection or another type of cyberattack. The State of Ransomware 2020 report from Sophos confirms that size doesn't matter to hackers: Out of 5,000 IT managers surveyed across 26 countries, 51 percent reported that their organization experienced a ransomware infection in the previous year. Those with 100 to 1,000 employees got hit at a similar rate (47 percent) as companies with 1,001 to 5,000 staff members (54 percent). No one is too big or too small to find themselves at the mercy of cybercriminals.

If hackers do infiltrate your IT environment, resolving the incident will likely come at a high cost. It takes an average of $761,106 to remediate a ransomware infection, according to Sophos. That includes factors such as people time, downtime, ransom payments, and network- and device-related costs. The global average total cost of a data breach in general totaled $3.86 million as of 2020, according to IBM Security. It's important to remember the damage a security incident can do to your brand as well, driving away current and prospective customers who've lost trust in your ability to keep their data secure. 

Given the prevalence of cyberattacks and the hefty potential cost of suffering a breach, businesses can't afford to neglect investing in proactive cybersecurity measures. 

Breaking Down the Monumental Task of Achieving Better Cybersecurity: One Step at a Time

However urgent and necessary implementing a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy might be at the moment, it's also easy to see how it can overwhelm even skilled and motivated leaders. Given the rapid pace of change in the IT security world and the complexity of both threats and solutions, you might find yourself frozen in place by doubt and indecisiveness. 

If that's the situation you're currently in, one way to get moving is to break down the intimidating task of achieving optimal security posture into smaller and more manageable steps via a process called microproductivity, according to the article "Microproductivity - The trust exposed" by software developer Rahil Sarvaiya. 

"The smaller tasks will feel less intimidating and daunting," he writes. "If done correctly, it will be the springboard to our success story and our secret to achieving more in less time."

To keep making progress, take your security journey one step at a time. If you're wondering how to move forward, consider completing a five-minute security assessment questionnaire to get a clear idea of where you stand and what you need to do to minimize your risk level.

Alternately, you can reach out to a security expert to discuss your pain points, goals, and cybersecurity road map. The Stratosphere Networks security team is available to help if you need guidance. Get closer to your ideal level of security today by calling 877-599-3999 or emailing sales@stratospherenetworks.com.   

Jesse Miller is the CISO of Stratosphere Networks, which provides comprehensive managed services - including managed cybersecurity, managed IT and co-managed IT services - and trusted advisor services to businesses across all industries. Our team of IT experts strives to empower clients with exceptional service from our state-of-the-art Network Operations Center and Security Operations Center. Visit www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information.