“Set it and forget it” might work for some aspects of your organization, but cybersecurity isn’t one of them—or, at least, it shouldn’t be. Yet, cybersecurity tends to get back-burnered in favor of other projects, or deferred when there is no evidence of pertinent threats. We often remind prospective clients that an absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.
Numerous “look ahead” articles of CIO priorities for 2020 downplayed the importance of cybersecurity or gave it lip service as an ‘ongoing concern.’ In numerous such lists, cybersecurity either didn't appear or was only a subset of other concerns, like cloud computing or AI. And faced with so many competing demands, this is especially true in the SMB space, where there isn’t the staff to address every need simultaneously.
Cybersecurity is an exercise in constant vigilance, and, like it or not, there are going to come times when something happens that shows you it is time to consider replacing your security technology.
Whether you are looking for a reason to replace your existing security technology, or avoiding one, this list of five key signs will help you either reinforce or re-evaluate your decision.
If you are looking to improve because of cybersecurity incidents, or a less-than-optimal response to them, check out our guide for practical steps you can take.
The first sign is actually a nice problem to have. In this case, you need to consider replacing your security technology because your business has outgrown what you have used in the past.
As you have expanded and staffed up to meet growing demand for your products or services, you've added more users, more computers and devices, and more systems to your network. While this is a good sign that your bottom line is healthy, your organization now has a greater surface area for cyber-attack (aka, attack surface), introducing new vulnerabilities, due to both technology and human error.
Likewise, as your business has grown, who you're doing business with has probably changed and expanded. Your clientele might now include organizations with cybersecurity requirements for their supply chain. If you have customers in government or the defence industry, or if their suppliers are your customers, or if their suppliers are your customers, you probably fall into this category. Check out the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) regulations to see just how deep this rabbit hole of multiple layers goes, and the regulatory reasons for encouraging supply chain audits.
If your security management tool was a physical toolbox sitting on a shelf, would it have a thick layer of dust on top? Be honest. If the answer is yes, and you haven’t logged into your security management tool in a while, you should take this as another sign that it's time to re-evaluate your security technology.
And what if you have logged in recently? Ask yourself, do you have the time and expertise to extract the necessary value from the tool? Again, the back burner isn’t a place for your cybersecurity program. If you aren’t actively detecting, containing, and disrupting threats with your tool, what value does it provide?
Needless to say, if your security management tool is old enough to be at its end of life (EOL) or end of support (EOS), then you need something new, even if only out of necessity. EOL technologies, security and otherwise, make a perfect target for hackers.
Technology is changing all the time. You must adapt your security solutions with it.
If your security management tools are at least two years old, it's time for an upgrade. If your systems infrastructure has changed recently—think more cloud computing or more work from home and remote workforce options—then it's time for a security solution that takes those realities into account.
Have you upgraded your PCs or smart devices? A refresh of your hardware is an excellent time to reconsider how they are secured. Likewise, if you are using operating systems or other software that are EOS or EOL, then it's time to make sure the security solution you’re using is achieving what it should.
CMMC. NYDFS. CCPA. GDPR… in recent years we have seen an unprecedented development of far-reaching regulations in privacy, industry standards, and even cybersecurity. And regulators recognize that specific capabilities are required in order to keep things private and secure.
At any time, your industry or your geography may introduce new regulations that have security and compliance implications for your business. Is your security solution able to adapt and accommodate these new requirements? If not, a new solution is in order.
And saving the best (Worst? Most obvious?) for last, if you are the victim of a cyberattack, then it is clearly time to reconsider your security technology.
Have you done a full assessment of how you were breached? You can find some suggested steps here. But the biggest thing that you can and should do is reconsider how you are protecting your business so that something like this doesn't happen again.
For an SMB like yours, we suggest the ActZero Managed Detection and Response service (MDR) as your most up to date, affordable choice for comprehensive cybersecurity protection.
By partnering with a trusted ally like ActZero for your primary cybersecurity functions, you gain our qualified talent as an extension of your team. Working together, we’ll decrease your exposure, harden your systems, remediate vulnerabilities, and mitigate compliance risks. Our proprietary technology and dedicated Threat Hunters help bolster your defences, detecting suspicious behaviour and responding to attacks in real-time.
Contact ActZero today to find out how you can secure your business.