Hollistic Business Security Strategies | Productiveandfree

To safeguard your company or business, it is crucial to integrate all security elements into a holistic strategy. Seamlessly integrating physical, digital, and information security is necessary for optimal protection.

A holistic approach gives structure to your security strategy. It rejects the haphazard addition of security layers, emphasizing the interconnectedness and collaboration of all security systems to minimize risks or threats. Here are strategies you can follow to create a holistic security strategy for your business.

#1 Identify Security Risk

More than one board member may share the responsibility for security risk ownership, but it is crucial to have an individual held accountable for this matter. At the executive level, establish a senior Security Risk Oversight Group that centrally manages security risks to the business and sets the security strategy. This group should consist of operational leaders from various business areas and leaders of the key corporate functions.

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#2 Develop a Security Standard for Third Parties

Ensure you remember the risks associated with suppliers and contractors. Your company's Security Standard document should outline the following:

● The requirements that third parties must meet during the tendering process.

● Contract provisions.

● The minimum security requirements are expected of third parties when they handle company assets.

For example, you can use certain company data protection practices. You may want to consider integrating it into Brave Security or VPN. Of course, you first need to do some research into whether Brave is a good browser and how secure it is. During the investigation, you will have to read a lot of Brave browser reviews, but all the work will pay off. You should also consider VeePN - a VPN with advanced security technologies. If you and your contractors use data security best practices, you can experience the full benefits of a holistic security system.

#3 Develop a Physical Security Plan

To create a holistic security strategy, it's crucial to prioritize physical security. Physical security entails implementing procedural and physical measures to safeguard your assets, information, and employees.

To develop a physical security plan, follow these steps:

● Identify what your protection needs are

● Evaluate the risks

● Determine appropriate security measures

● Monitor strict implementation of these measures

● Periodically review and modify as needed

Implementing physical security measures ensures the safety of your employees and customers, enabling uninterrupted business operations even during disasters. It also prevents unauthorized access to your premises, assets, and business information.

#4 Staff Training

Unfortunately, human error is the cause of 95% of cyber-attacks. This includes employees falling victim to phishing schemes or unknowingly spreading malicious code during regular system interactions. Therefore, all organizations must prioritize Cybersecurity Awareness Training.

Federal mandates require government and defense contractors to provide annual cybersecurity awareness training for all employees, regardless of their role. In addition to these mandatory modules, organizations should develop their own training programs tailored to both technical and non-technical employees.

The training should include educational modules and real-world exercises, such as IT professionals conducting mock phishing attempts. These exercises help assess staff knowledge and identify areas that require more attention. Cyber training should be provided to new hires and as an annual refresher for current employees. It is crucial to remember that cybersecurity and data protection are the responsibility of everyone in the organization, and its overall strength is only as strong as its weakest link.

#5 Encrypt Data

You should use encryption as it provides one of the best ways to safeguard data. Encryption renders stolen data useless without the encryption key. You can employ selective encryption to secure specific types of data within specific layers, such as the database, application, data set, or disk level.

However, this approach can be costly and resource-intensive, which compels organizations to make risky decisions when choosing which data to encrypt. With VPN extension pervasive encryption, you can encrypt all enterprise data both in-flight and at rest, without the need for expensive application changes. This method ensures the security of your data within your environment and helps you meet compliance mandates.

#6 Foster Collaboration

To create a great dashboard, you need to collaborate with interest groups and work together to align the definitions of KRIs, threat levels, and compliances. When we talk about holistic cybersecurity, it's not achievable through the efforts of individual tech wizards or business experts alone.

To achieve real comprehensive cybersecurity, interest groups must come together to understand the business implications of technology and the technological requirements of business goals. It's important to mention that holistic cyber risk reporting involves both technology and dashboards, as well as the people involved.

Successful transformation occurs when you involve business owners and key executives from the very beginning and when they are willing to make tradeoffs to strike a balance between productivity and protection. To support these decisions, experienced managers are needed, who will ultimately carry the same ideology of holistic cybersecurity.

Conclusion: Traditional vs Holistic Cybersecurity Approach

A staggering 68 percent of business leaders acknowledged in 2020 that the cybersecurity risks facing their organizations are on the rise. IT and cutting-edge technological products are no longer solely responsible for safeguarding our digital assets. Cybersecurity now demands a comprehensive strategy that encompasses technology, human involvement, and streamlined processes. With the proliferation of internet users in emerging economies, the disinformation and cyberattack challenges witnessed by technologically advanced nations are becoming prevalent in these regions as well.

Traditionally, cybersecurity efforts commenced with antivirus solutions and culminated in specialized suites of software promising to detect all forms of malware. However, the evolving landscape of the tech space has given rise to increasingly sophisticated worms and viruses.

Aston Rhodes

Aston is an experienced content creator and marketing expert who writes about software development at VeePN. She has been helping authors to improve their blogs for over five years, enabling them to turn this hobby into a business. She enjoys researching and discussing technology-related topics and sharing her experiences with like-minded audiences. She also writes about digital marketing, business, and careers.

Content Marketing Specialist at VeePN, Miami Beach, Florida, USA