Katalyst Blog | Resources and Insights

5 Security Questions You Can Start Asking to Get Ahead

Written by Josh MacFarland | Jan 31, 2023 5:00:00 AM
There are a number of issues to be aware of in a modern business environment. However, knowing the right questions to ask is the first step to ensuring your company is optimized and ready for any cybersecurity challenge that lies ahead.
 
In this article, we'll dive into the questions you can ask to start to be proactive and ready for whatever comes your way.
 

Preparing for cyber threats

What are the current cyber threats, and how is your organization preparing for them?

Cybersecurity risks are becoming more prevalent as the world becomes increasingly more connected. From large-scale data breaches to targeted attacks on critical infrastructure, the cost of inaction is becoming increasingly evident. In response, many organizations are beefing up their cybersecurity posture.
 
By investing in cybersecurity solutions and training your employees on best practices, you can better defend against new threats. While there is no perfect solution to cybersecurity, being proactive is essential to protecting your organization from increasing cyber threats.
 

Keeping your data and systems safe 

What do you do to keep your data and systems safe from people who should not have access or might steal it?
 
The first step in keeping your data and systems safe is ensuring that you have the right people in place. You can achieve this by having a team of security experts always looking for new threats and vulnerabilities—working closely with a cybersecurity service provider to ensure that your systems are secure.
 
The second step is to have strong security measures in place. It would help if you used digital and physical security to protect your data and systems. This includes using things like firewalls, encryption, and access control. You should also have a strict policy for handling sensitive information; only the people who need to know should have access to it.
 

The third step is to monitor and review your security measures constantly. Consider regularly testing your systems to make sure they are working correctly. And if there is ever a breach or symptoms, immediately take action to fix it. By taking these steps, you can be more confident that your data and systems are safe from unauthorized access or theft.  

Additional areas for protection 

Are there any specific areas of your business that you feel need additional protection (e.g., customer data, financial information, etc.)?

Most agree that the best way to protect your business is to stay ahead of the curve and be prepared for anything. As a business, you have a lot of valuable assets that need to be protected.

Customer data is typically at the top of that list, but financial information is a close second. Proactively managing and taking several steps to protect these areas can be challenging when new threats emerge.

In the past year, it's safe to say we've all seen an increase in cyber attacks. As a result, it's more important to always look for new ways to protect your data and your customer's information. 

The importance of a disaster recovery plan

Can you provide an overview of your disaster recovery plan and what would happen if your network went down or you lost essential data files? No one likes to think about disasters, but they can happen anytime. That's why it's important to have a disaster recovery plan in place.

This plan should include steps to contain the breach, recover lost data, and prevent future attacks. Having a network designed to be highly resilient and having multiple backups of all critical data is vital. In a major outage, how quickly can you restore service?

By being prepared for the worst, you can ensure that your business can keep running even in the face of adversity.

Maintaining regular security evaluations

How often are you evaluating your cybersecurity posture and proactive measures, and what metrics do you use to gauge this process? 

There's no need to check your cybersecurity posture more often than you check your oil level or tire pressure. Just like those car maintenance tasks, cybersecurity requires regular attention but doesn't need to be a daily worry.  

The best way to maintain peace of mind is to establish a regular evaluation and audit schedule and to stay up-to-date on the latest threats and trends. Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving field, and what worked yesterday might not work today. Regularly testing your systems and processes can ensure that you're always one step ahead of the hackers.

Proper preparation and the right security measures are key

In conclusion, it's no secret that cybercrime is on the rise and that we've all sat through an FBI cybercrime seminar that scared the you-know-what out of us. But that doesn't mean your business has to be a victim. With the proper preparation and security measures in place, you can protect your data, systems, and customers from harm.
 
We hope this article gave you a better understanding of the questions you can ask within your organization to stay ahead of current threats and how you can help continue to safeguard your information.