Covid-19 has forced rapid changes in just about every industry, from the financial sector to our educational institutions. Businesses are changing their standard operating procedures to meet the needs of consumers in drastically changed markets. And as they do so, they also are scrambling to keep their networks secure and prevent massive data incidents.
As IT and security teams rise to the challenge, they can learn from the experiences of others who have been on the frontlines against cybercriminals during the pandemic. In industries that are already overwhelmed by the outbreak, the shared knowledge might be particularly critical.
Here are some of the major cybersecurity lessons learned thus far in the Covid-19 pandemic.
Know Your Weakness
Consider the kinds of vulnerabilities that have risen to the surface in the midst of your industry’s shifts. Hackers capitalize on people taking action without thinking. So for instance, in the healthcare industry, that has meant a huge influx of attacks on hospital systems. That’s natural, given just how thin their resources are stretched.
For many businesses, start with an increased focus on vulnerabilities in remote systems.
Mind the Gaps
While it’s critical to cover zero-day vulnerabilities arising from the new market conditions, its also essential to keep the fundamentals covered. System administrators need to keep up with patches, and organizations shouldn’t throw out their plans to focus completely on the latest threats.
Get Your Priorities Straight
On a related note, it’s perhaps more important than ever to understand the specific impacts that cyber threats present to critical systems. Companies can’t just follow a generic, set-it-and-forget-it plan – they must have their own specific plans that guide the focus of their cybersecurity efforts.
Everyone Has a Role
Working from home is the new normal, and organizations have had to make that switch in a quick, ad hoc manner. That means employees’ cyber hygiene is more important than ever. Training is a vital investment in your data and resources.
Take Notes
With the rapid movement in closing gaps and keeping systems running during the pandemic, it’s easy to forget how important it is to reflect on our efforts. Taking notes as you go along can educate not just your own organization, but the cybersecurity industry as a whole. Document everything and anything as you build your cyber defenses.
Lunarline is here to help as you navigate cybersecurity through the Covid-19 pandemic and well beyond. For information on how we can support you, contact us today.