Making – And Keeping – Your Cybersecurity Resolution 

We all know the drill by now: the beginning of the year is a fresh start, and the perfect time to set a goal. 40% of Americans make a New Year’s resolution each year, and whether that’s sticking to a budget, finding a new hobby, or getting more exercise, they don’t waste a minute making that goal a reality.

This time of year, the gyms are packed – but don’t let that discourage you! You can increase your cyber-strength from the comfort of your desk chair.

The Resolution Solution

Although the term “resolution” isn’t always used, goal-setting is natural for businesses as its important to have operational or sales goals to move forward with a purpose. Given 50% of all cyberattacks target Small Business, it’s clear that your organization’s cybersecurity defenses also need to move forward. When you make cybersecurity your New Year’s resolution– and then stick to it – you put your organization in a much better place to defend against today’s modern threats.

Start Out Small…

An average person doesn’t become a bodybuilder overnight. For those who are new to cybersecurity, setting a manageable and actionable goal for your company is a great way to kick-start your cybersecurity journey. For example, try on something small for size like:

• Run your company through a cybersecurity health checkup or checklist to find out where you stand.
• Stay in the know by keeping yourself, and your team, informed of cybersecurity best practices and common threats.
• Check your computer, mobile devices, and IoT devices for available software updates. And, set them to regularly update automatically.
• Update your passwords to long, unique passphrases, and ask your team to do the same for their work accounts.

…Then Think Big

Already mastered the lighter weights? Cybersecurity, just like fitness, operates best through a model of continuous improvement. The more you work on your cybersecurity posture, the better it becomes, and the more protected your organization will be.

Try these next-step resolutions to take your cybersecurity from casual gym-goer to fitness pro:

• Choose high-priority items from your company’s cybersecurity health checkup to address, improve upon, and revisit regularly.
• Roll out a continuous (i.e. think monthly, not annually) awareness training and testing program for your employees.
• Evaluate and enforce cybersecurity-related company policies, such as BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), use of USB drives, and rules for visiting websites on company systems..
• Review the cybersecurity software and technology your organization has in place, making sure you’re leveraging next-generation tools that go beyond traditional antivirus and firewalls.

However you approach your cybersecurity resolution, the most important part is to stick to it. Give yourself the time and resources you need to meet your goal, set regular reminders and checkpoints, and consider an ongoing cybersecurity program to help guide you.

Here’s to your cyber-strongest year yet!

Stay Safe,

Your Friends @ Defendify