THE OUTLOOK HP INNOVATION FALL / WINTER 2022 9 deploying ransomware . The impact of a breach can be severe , costing businesses in operational downtime , remediation , reputation , and loss of intellectual property . Knowing this , organizations and employees must take steps together to shore up their defenses in this heightened-threat environment .
Developing your defensive line For employees , this means being aware of the tricks cybercriminals use , not hesitating to report suspicious activity , and , more broadly , understanding the role they play in defending their organization ’ s “ digital castle .” Their employers must support these efforts by encouraging a positive security culture overall where workers are given clear directives to be vigilant about phishing and IP protection , seek out information , share ideas to improve security , and educate colleagues and family members .
For organizations , the focus should be on mastering the basics , practicing resilience , and collaborating to reduce risk . Good “ security hygiene ” starts with IT asset discovery — after all , you can only defend the devices , software , and systems that you know employees are using . Organizations can then build on this by following best practices in vulnerability management and multifactor authentication , while putting in place the people , processes , and technology to detect , prevent , and recover from attacks . This means planning for the worst-case scenario , implementing processes to limit supply chain and insider risks , and also practicing incident response plans . Just like regular drills or a friendly scrimmage , rehearsing your response to attacks is essential to be better prepared for the real thing , and will also help uncover problems and encourage process improvements .
In addition , organizations can maximize the benefit of their security investments by shutting off common attack routes , such as malware delivered by email and the web , which can be neutralized using prevention technologies like the hardware-enforced isolation of HP Sure Click Enterprise . These solutions protect systems not by relying on the detection of malicious activity — an endless game of cat and mouse — but by enabling employees to perform risky day-to-day business activities like opening email attachments safely and protecting IT departments against unknown threats .
Learn from losses , celebrate wins Security is a team sport . Companies can positively reinforce the kinds of behaviors and practices they want to cultivate in employees through active and frequent awareness engagements ( think : HP ’ s recently rolled-out film noir – inspired cybersecurity training for all employees ), as well as training tailored to different teams ’ needs . This creates a security culture where employees are empowered to manage human risk themselves .
Teamwork extends beyond the organization , too . Collaborating with industry peers , measuring your performance through external security assessments , and sharing threat intelligence — these are all needed to see what ’ s happening on the field right this moment and to stay ahead of the playbooks of attackers , in this season and the next .