From Reactive to Proactive: Transforming Your Cybersecurity Strategy

Welcome to the June edition of the SoSecure Crew. Summer is coming, and the Euros are around the corner (C'MON SCOTLAND ??), but we hope that won't distract you too much.

Don't let a hacker score a goal against your business ?.

Read on as we guide you through the crucial steps to shift your cybersecurity strategy from reactive to proactive, ensuring your business remains prepared and resilient.

The Pitfalls of a Reactive Cybersecurity Approach

Traditionally, businesses have relied on reactive cybersecurity, like antivirus, to respond to threats after they occur. This often results in significant downtime, data loss, and financial consequences as by the time a threat is detected, substantial damage may have already been done.

Here's a typical scenario of a mid-size business suffering a cyber attack and how it plays out with only a reactive approach to cybersecurity.

Reactive Approach:

• Morning: The IT team handles routine tasks but is unaware of hacker activities.
• Late Morning: Employee opens a seemingly legitimate email, releasing malware.
• Afternoon: The IT team detects unusual activity and begins isolating systems.
• Late Afternoon: Malware spreads, leading to a ransomware attack; systems lock up.
• Evening: The IT team removes the malware, but significant data is encrypted.
• Aftermath: Financial and reputational damage, customer trust lost, potential legal repercussions.

Now, how would the same attack play out with a proactive approach?

Proactive Approach:

• Morning: The IT team reviews threat intelligence and continuously monitors systems with Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR).
• Late Morning: Employee reports suspicious email due to regular cyber security training.
• Automated Response: EDR flags and isolates email to neutralise ransomware before harm.
• Afternoon: The incident is reviewed, and threat intelligence was updated and shared.
• Late Afternoon: A company-wide alert is sent, and employees are reminded of training and drills.
• Evening: Operations remain uninterrupted, data secure, and customer trust maintained.

This scenario highlights the benefits of a proactive cybersecurity approach:

• Early Detection and Prevention: The EDR system and well-trained employees detected and neutralised the threat before it could cause any damage.
• Automated Responses: Automated tools quickly isolated and analysed the suspicious emails, preventing the spread of malware.
• Continuous Improvement: Regular updates to threat intelligence and continuous monitoring ensured ongoing protection.
• Employee Vigilance: Regular training and awareness programmes equipped employees to recognise and report threats, reducing the risk of human error.
• Operational Continuity: Proactive measures ensured business continuity, maintaining customer trust and avoiding financial losses.

How to Build a Proactive Cybersecurity Strategy

1. Begin with comprehensive risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities within your network and systems. Understanding these risks allows you to implement preventative measures tailored to your needs.
2. Stay ahead of potential threats with real-time threat intelligence. This involves collecting and analysing information about emerging threats and attack techniques, helping you anticipate and mitigate potential security breaches before they occur.
3. Leverage technology to automate your cybersecurity processes. Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) solutions, such as SentinelOne, provide continuous monitoring and automated responses to threats. EDR systems actively track and analyse endpoint activities to detect, investigate, and respond to malicious activities in real-time. These solutions enhance your detection capabilities and enable faster and more efficient responses to potential threats.
4. Equip your employees with the knowledge to recognise and avoid potential cybersecurity threats. Regular training sessions can dramatically reduce the likelihood of breaches from human error or phishing attacks.
5. Develop and regularly update a comprehensive incident response plan. This plan should include how to respond to cyber incidents and how to prevent them. Regular drills and simulations prepare your team to act swiftly and effectively.

Useful Links

If you'd like to learn more about the shift from reactive traditional antivirus to proactive EDR, watch the recording of our recent webinar??

Find out how to automate your security awareness program ??The Importance of Security Awareness Training

Get prepared for Cyber Essentials certification with our checklist ??The Cyber Essentials Checklist You Need

Learn where the gaps are in your cybersecurity with our Business Security Scorecard ??The Business Security Scorecard

That's it for the June Newsletter, see you next time. Stay safe, stay proactive and stay SoSecure.