Cyber Security In Your Business

It’s everyone’s business.

A Cyber Security plan for your business is as important as figuring out your organogram.

Your business and cyber security

You’ve got it all sorted: your team organogram is on the wall, your operational manuals are printed, and your evacuation plans for any emergency are set in stone. What about your Cyber Security plan? This particular type of business plan isn’t one for the list of afterthoughts: making a Cyber Security plan a priority is important. Ultimately, a business Cyber Security plan should be proactive, and not reactive, enabling your company to continue operating without too much interruption, even if the worst case scenario comes about.

Your business operations

For the most part, your Cyber Security plan will be directly linked to your individual business operations and objectives: a one-size-fits-all plan will not fit your business. Bearing that principle in mind, being equipped to build and implement a business-first Cyber Security plan may mean you need a little help: that’s why Cyber Security experts exist.

Your cyber security risk level

Every business – no matter how big or small – operates in accordance with a certain level of risk. What if your products don’t sell? What if your investors pull out? What if your company database gets hacked? Knowing what your business’ Cyber Security risk level is, enables you to adapt, and not operate in ignorance. Building a proactive Cyber Security response for your business will mean adjusting for the reality of risk. 

Assessing your cyber security risk level

Before constructing your Cyber Security plan, knowing what risk level your business operates at is imperative. A complete audit of your business operations, goals, staff, suppliers, and systems must be conducted, providing you with a fuller notion of your business’ Cyber Security risk level. This isn’t a once-off effort – as your business grows and responds to market needs, operational changes, and technological evolution, your Cyber Security risk level will also need to be adjusted. Your Cyber Security risk level can be evaluated by including the following variables in your audit:

  • Your business’ physical location and security, including the security systems attached to your offices.
  • Your business’ digital and network security systems.
  • Your business’ operational policies, including those that manage the use of removable media, equipment, and asset management policies.
  • Your business’ insurance policies and provision of cover.
  • Your business’ plans and procedures for data recovery.
  • Your business’ plans and procedures for operating beyond a Cyber Security incident.
  • Your business’ ability to respond in a timely manner to a Cyber Security incident, including the management of crisis communications, especially with your clients.

Building your cyber security plan

Creating an effective Cyber Security plan for your business begins with operating in accordance with some fundamental principles. We advise our clients to plan according to these principles:

  • To be proactive: Your Cyber Security plan must enable your business to respond to several scenarios, and empower your team to follow a procedure that won’t set off panic.
  • To eliminate side effects: Your Cyber Security plan should ensure there are no significant side effects if a Cyber Security incident occurs. Your business must plan, and enable itself, to continue operating seamlessly, even if the worst scenario comes to life.
  • To document and deliver: A Cyber Security plan is applied to every moving part of your business, and complete documentation must be created, to guide and enable every process. Updating your documentation on a regular basis is just as important as creating the first plan.
  • To manage the risk: Your Cyber Security plan does not ignore the risks associated with operating your business, to achieve your goals and targets. This plan sees risk as a reality, and does not ignore the need to manage around and towards it.

Implementing your cyber security plan

A Cyber Security plan for your business is important, but the true test lies in its implementation. Be prepared to test and assess just how effective your Cyber Security plan is in a real-world setting; it will only serve to strengthen your business against any potential threats. In helping your business implement its Cyber Security plan, our team of experts ask these 8 important questions:

  • What are your goals?
  • What is your Cyber Security risk level?
  • What security measures do you use?
  • What are your assets?
  • How do you view your potential threats?
  • How do you need your team to respond to a potential threat?
  • What legislation do you need to comply with, as part of your Cyber Security plan?
  • What are the consequences attached to non-compliance, whether it be to policy, procedure, or legislation?

Now that you’re ready to take Cyber Security seriously, sign up for our Cyber Security Health Check. At Regan Stein, we gather the right tools to give your business the right approach to Cyber Security.