The health of your data could be at serious risk without proper cyber hygiene - a key component in safeguarding organisational data and IT systems from cyber threats.

While it might not be top of your priority list, there are significant benefits to following best practices in basic cyber hygiene, and understanding the challenges in maintaining effective cyber security, the role of automation, as well as how security tools can enhance your business' digital security strategy.

What is Cyber Hygiene?

Organisations use cyber and personal hygiene practices to protect and maintain the health of their data and IT systems - a vital aspect of keeping organisational information secure.

Cyber hygiene should be a continuous process, with regular actions taken to mitigate a range of risks. Specific threats include malware infections, data breaches, and unauthorised access, all of which can lead to financial loss, data corruption, and reputational damage.

To combat these, software updates should be applied promptly upon release, system and data access should be reviewed at least quarterly, and staff should receive security training bi-annually or as threats evolve. This regular maintenance is key to defending against the dynamic landscape of cyber threats.

Data is valuable, and good cyber hygiene helps defend against threats that could damage or corrupt your company’s precious files. Organisations can significantly reduce the chances of data breaches and cyber-attacks impacting their business by keeping systems updated and educating employees about cybersecurity.

The technical dimension of cyber hygiene is essential in protecting organisational data and systems. It involves a comprehensive approach to cybersecurity hygiene that includes:

• Routine Software Updates: Regularly update and patch software to mitigate known vulnerabilities, safeguarding systems against the latest cyber threats.
• Stringent Access Control Measures: Implementing robust access control policies and procedures to secure sensitive information and critical systems from unauthorised access, including multi-factor authentication and regular review of access privileges.
• Proactive Network Monitoring: Employing advanced tools and techniques for continuously monitoring network activity, enabling early detection and response to unusual or malicious behaviour that could indicate a cyber threat.

The educational aspect of cyber hygiene plays a pivotal role in reinforcing security awareness training and an organisation’s cybersecurity defences. It encompasses:

• In-depth Employee Cybersecurity Training: Providing detailed and regular training sessions to employees, covering the spectrum of cyber threats, safe computing practices, and the importance of following organisational security policies.
• Continuous Awareness Campaigns: Conducting ongoing campaigns to keep staff informed and alert about the latest cyber threats and security updates, fostering a culture where cybersecurity is a shared responsibility.
• Established Reporting Protocols: Setting up clear and easily accessible mechanisms for employees to report suspicious activities or potential security breaches, ensuring that such reports are acted upon swiftly and effectively.

Challenges in Maintaining Cyber Hygiene

Maintaining effective cyber hygiene presents various challenges for IT and security teams, primarily due to rapidly changing operating systems and complex cyber threats. The difficulties include:

1. Difficulties in Keeping Pace with Emerging Threats:

The cyber threat landscape is constantly evolving, with new vulnerabilities emerging regularly. IT teams must continuously update their knowledge and skills to avoid these threats.

Adapting to the latest threats requires a deep understanding of the current technology environment and potential future risks, making it a demanding task.

2. Ensuring Regulatory Compliance Amidst Changing Norms:

Compliance becomes a significant challenge with numerous data security and privacy regulations, such as GDPR and HIPAA. These regulations often update their standards, requiring organisations to adjust their security protocols continually.

Ensuring compliance involves understanding the intricacies of these regulations and effectively implementing the necessary controls and measures within the organisation.

3. Managing an Expanding Array of Devices and Applications:

The increased number and types of devices and applications used in business environments complicate maintaining cyber hygiene. Each new device or application potentially introduces new vulnerabilities. Managing this diversity requires robust policies and practices to ensure that all elements within the IT ecosystem are secure and not exposed to risks.

4. The Limitations of Manual Security Processes:

While necessary in certain contexts, manual security processes are often slow and error-prone. These methods can result in inconsistent application of security measures, leading to gaps in defence.

The time it takes to address threats manually can result in delayed responses, potentially escalating security breaches.

Transitioning to automated processes in cyber hygiene can address many of these challenges, enhancing the organisation's ability to respond to threats swiftly and efficiently, thus improving its overall data security posture.

Automation integration in cyber hygiene practices streamlines processes and reduces the likelihood of human error, leading to a more robust and reliable security framework.

The Role of Automation in Cyber Hygiene

In cyber security awareness and hygiene, automation involves using technology to handle repetitive and routine tasks, from simple activities like automatically updating software to complex operations such as real-time monitoring and responding to cyber threats. This use of automation helps make these processes more efficient and effective.

Advantages of Automation for IT and Security Teams

The implementation of automation in cyber hygiene brings several key benefits:

• Improved Efficiency: Automating routine tasks frees up time for IT staff, allowing them to focus on more complex and strategic aspects of cybersecurity.
• Reduced Human Error: By minimising the need for manual intervention, automation decreases the chances of errors in critical security processes, leading to more consistent protection.
• Faster Response to Incidents: Automated systems can react to security issues much quicker than humans, potentially reducing the impact of cyber attacks.
• Focus on Strategic Issues: With basic tasks handled automatically, IT and security teams can concentrate on more advanced challenges, like analysing emerging threats and improving security strategies.

Overall, incorporating automation into cyber hygiene practices strengthens an organisation's defence against cyber threats and enhances the operational efficiency of its IT and security departments.

Cyber Hygiene Best Practices

1. Advanced Automated Backup Systems:

Implement robust automated backup systems to protect against data loss, and ensure these systems are regularly tested for reliability. Develop a clear backup strategy defining the data to be backed up, backup frequency, and responsible personnel, ensuring practical and effective backups.

2. Comprehensive Risk Management Strategy:

Establish a dynamic risk management strategy, continuously updated to counter new cybersecurity threats. This should include specific plans for various cyber incidents, supported by frequent data risk assessments. Train all employees to recognise and report security incidents for a swift, coordinated response.

3. Enhanced Access Control Measures:

Implement strong access control systems with advanced authentication. Adhere to the principle of least privilege and conduct regular audits of access rights. Train employees on the importance of strong passwords to secure access and monitor for unusual attempts.

4. Strategic Management of Administrative Privileges:

Administer administrative privileges carefully, assessing necessity and setting clear validity periods. Implement a process for quickly revoking privileges when necessary, especially after employee role changes or departures. Regular monitoring and auditing are important for identifying and addressing any misuse.

5. Dynamic Vulnerability Management:

Regularly perform automated vulnerability scans, supplemented by manual checks, especially for critical systems. Develop rapid response protocols to address identified vulnerabilities promptly. This proactive approach minimises potential cyber attack exposure.

6. Comprehensive Data Loss Management:

Deploy Data Loss Prevention (DLP) technologies to monitor and control data movement. Educate employees about data security and establish clear procedures for data breach scenarios. Conduct frequent data audits and have a specific incident response plan for data loss. Regularly test backup and recovery procedures to ensure they are effective in various scenarios.

Implementing Automated Cyber Hygiene Solutions

It's important to thoughtfully select the right tools and software to enhance your organisation's cyber hygiene through automation. Start by clearly understanding your specific needs, such as data loss prevention, network monitoring, or vulnerability scanning. Assess your cyber hygiene practices and identify areas where automation could significantly improve your processes.

When researching available tools, focus on those that offer user-friendliness and ease of integration with your existing systems. This ensures a smooth implementation process and minimises disruption to your current operations. Additionally, consider the scalability of the tools to ensure they can grow with your organisation’s needs. Comprehensive reporting features are also crucial, enabling better decision-making by providing insights into your cybersecurity posture.

Then, prioritise tools that are regularly updated and come with robust support services. This ensures that the tools remain effective against evolving cyber threats and that you can access assistance when needed. You can choose automation tools that significantly enhance your organisation’s cyber hygiene practices by carefully evaluating these factors.

How Metomic Automates Cyber Hygiene

1. Constant Monitoring of Sensitive Data:

Metomic's data security platform is designed to automatically find and protect important data in SaaS apps. This constant vigilance is key to cyber hygiene, ensuring that personal and confidential information is always under watch and secured, reducing the risk of data breaches.

2. Better Risk Management:

Metomic provides IT teams with advanced tools like AI-powered risk analysis. This same security software helps quickly identify and handle potential data security risks, a crucial part of maintaining good cyber hygiene by staying ahead of threats.

3. Automated Security Policies:

One of Metomic's greatest features is its ability to automate security rules across different SaaS applications. This means policies about who can access data and how long it's kept are consistently applied without needing someone to oversee them manually. This automation is a huge help in keeping up with good cyber hygiene practices.

4. Involving Employees in Data Security:

Good cyber hygiene isn't just about tools; it's also about people's behaviour. Metomic engages employees directly in personal hygiene by alerting them in real time if they're about to breach a data policy, allowing them to fix the issue themselves. This approach stops data leaks and builds a strong culture of being aware and responsible for data security.

5. Compliance and Insider Threats:

Staying compliant with data protection laws like HIPAA or GDPR is a big part of cyber hygiene. Metomic's tools help ensure that SaaS apps meet these legal requirements. The software also watches for potential internal security risks and threats, adding another layer of protection.

Book a personalised demo call today to see how Metomic can enhance your organisation's cyber hygiene. Discover how Metomic can safeguard your data and streamline your cybersecurity practices.