Cybercriminals and hackers are always trying to compromise businesses. They exploit common cyber security mistakes and flaws to systems, then steal or hold the business data ransom. These scenarios are increasing at an alarming rate, so don’t let your business be an easy target of cyber crime and learn to tackle cyber security threats. 

Here are the common cyber security mistakes to look out for:

1. Lack of integration for new measures

2. Lack of security expertise

3. Unsecured personal devices

4. Thinking you’re too small to be a target

5. Overlooking cloud security

6. Leaving data unprotected

7. No incident response plan

8. Lack of training

9. Inadequate backup and disaster recovery options

10. Using outdated software

11. Relying on the break/fix model

Now let’s deep dive into the 11 common mistakes and how you can fix them:

  1. Lack of integration for new measures

When new threats emerge, it’s tempting to implement new measures on top of existing ones, without better planning. How will these integrate? Each measure has its own set of alerts, dashboards, and so on, which means more things to stay on top of. The lack of integration will make it difficult to see threats holistically and even harder to respond quickly.

The fix: Look for measures that are designed to work together and integrate with your existing systems.

  1. Lack of security expertise

A lot of businesses have limited IT security specialist resources in house. Everyone is focused on the business and activities, rather than security. There is a common feeling of "that won't happen to us" and cyber criminals rely on that attitude being prevalent.

The fix: Reach out for help! Consider partnering with a specialist provider who can give you guidance and show you areas for improvement. They might suggest implementing automated, software-based processes that can monitor your systems continuously and take action when a cyber threat is detected.

  1. Unsecured personal devices

How many ways do you access your business data? Almost every employee in the modern workplace has at least 1 laptop, a personal or business smart phone, and a tablet; especially during remote times. Hackers are smart and attempt access through many possible endpoints.

The fix: Endpoint management tools can eliminate the complexity of multiple user credentials by giving each employee a single, secure identity to access all your network resources. Tools like Multi-Factor and Two-Factor Authentication offer another layer of information security.

  1. You’re not “too small” to be a target

Cyber attackers don’t care about the size of your business and continue to target smaller businesses, assuming you may be complacent or unprepared. In cyber security news, studies show nearly 1 in 4 businesses with fewer than 250 employees have been targeted.

The fix: Invest in cyber security essentials, but remember these hackers are smart, so you should assume you can still be attacked or breached. Create an incident response plan, ensure continuous monitoring for any suspicious activity, and organise the appropriate resources for a quick response to reduce any potential damage. Ensure your disaster recovery plan includes backup and restoration of data.

  1. Overlooking the security of the cloud

Security is complex and sometimes hard to stay on top of. The right partner and a cloud solution can do much of the heavy lifting and provide smart ways to protect your data properly.

The fix: Moving to the cloud doesn’t need to be a huge and expensive one-time job. Evaluate your needs and make the move in stages. A good IT partner will highlight the importance of cyber security strategy and compliance measures within your solution.

  1. Leaving data unprotected

Data travels outside of your control when it’s shared by either your employees, customers or partners. That’s not to say that you should lock down everything so that your employees try to find a workaround. Balance protection with productivity by focusing on security at the data level.

The fix: Categorise your data based on how sensitive and critical it is to your business. Protect what’s most important with the strongest measures, such as restricted access, limited sharing privileges, and encryption.

  1. No incident response plan

Whilst we may be naïve in thinking cyber security breaches would never happen to our business, they do occur and when they do, they are usually quick and vigorous. Time is really of the essence; with no disaster recovery businesses are at greater risk. If the unthinkable happens, the cyber security incident plan needs an owner, with fixed measures in place, to mitigate the damage as much as possible. This is why a cyber security policy is important.

The fix: Create a plan to alert key contacts across departments including HR, senior management, PR and insurance. Have a clear escalation path with allocation of responsibility, regulatory guidance and contingency measures to help maintain business operations if IT functions are down. Finally, ensure incident flows and management plans, including checklists and contact details that are accessible offline.

  1. Lack of training

9 out of 10 security breaches include an element of human error. Mistakes are easily made and cost your business greatly, whether it’s falling for a phishing scam or clicking the wrong link. While you cannot control everything your team does, you can ensure they’re well prepared. 

The fix: Cyber security awareness training! It’s not just a one and done—the threat landscape is constantly evolving and becoming more complex, so you need to ensure that you have regular trainings on cyber security for your team. By reducing the chances of human error and educating on cyber security mistakes you can greatly decrease the likelihood of a security breach.

  1. Inadequate backup and disaster recovery options

Should the worst-case scenario happen and your business fall victim to a cyber attack you could potentially lose all your valuable data. Apart from the massive costs attached to downtime, you will also face reputational or potentially even legislative repercussions. In fact, 60% of small businesses care forced to shut their doors within 6 months of a breach. 

The fix: Invest in solid backup and disaster recovery options. Over are the days on on-site backup, the cloud allows you to store all your valuable data across multiple locations. In case of a breach, your data can be restored within minutes, allowing you to limit the damage to your business.

10. Using outdated software

The online threat landscape is becoming increasingly complex, with new viruses and malware emerging daily. Unfortunately, many businesses still rely on the concept of “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, but they do so at their own expense. While able to save money in the short term, outdated software and systems are not supported by the latest security standards, meaning their easier to infect and compromise.

The fix: Ensure you regularly update your software and devices! It’s a quick, simple solution that will make a big difference, ensuring you are protected against the latest threats.

11. Relying on the break/fix model 

Following up on the mistake of outdated software, one of the biggest cyber security mistakes is to believe you only need to fix your security measures if there has been an attempt to compromise your network or devices.

The fix: It is essential to proactively invest time and money in cyber security. If you have the in-house capacity, you need to ensure your IT team is constantly monitoring and evolving your security posture, finding and fixing potential gaps before they are exploited. Alternatively, you can work with a managed service provider to help your internal team. Just ensure you are choosing a proactive partner that will help you prevent breaches instead of simply fixing them after the fact.

 

Reduce risk and build your security strategy with T-Tech.

Even if you haven’t been victim of an attack (and let’s hope you never are) assume that you are always a target. Look for cyber security specialists who can help you plan a step-by-step strategy which protects, detects, and responds to any threats that may come your way.

Learn more about how T-Tech can help secure your business.

Cyber Security Services

OTHER NEWS

Be Ready for the Automation Revolution

Its clear automation has the power to revolutionise the UK accountancy sector, empowering accounting firms to unlock their full potential. At the recent ICAEW Annual Conference AI was a hot topic and speakers spoke of practical applications of its...
READ MORE

Microsoft Copilot: what is it, why does it matter and what you need to know

You may have heard the words Microsoft Copilotbeing used when looking at recent trends in AIWell, the new AI offering from Microsoft is being released next year. Microsoft are betting big on Copilot, having invested 13 billion dollars over the...

READ MORE

Explore Microsoft's Copilot

Are you ready to revolutionize the way you do accounting? Imagine streamlining your accountancy practice, boosting productivity, and delivering exceptional results for your clients, all with the power of artificial intelligence. Microsoft's Copilot...

READ MORE

Streamline Success: 4 Lessons from the Intapp Webinar

Staying ahead in the accountancy industry is not just about crunching numbers; it's about embracing innovative solutions. More than just a recap, this blog will show the key takeaways of using a document management system from Intapp, which can shed...

READ MORE

Microsoft 365 Copilot is coming but is your organisation ready?

Technology is rapidly evolving and many industries like the accountancy industry are embracing the advantages it has to offer. Microsoft has finally introduced their ground-breaking AI tool namely Microsoft 365 CoPilot, designed to transform...

READ MORE

T-Tech Ranked on Channel Futures 2023 prestigious MSP 501 list

T-Tech has been named as one of the world’s premier managed service providers in the prestigious 2023 Channel Futures MSP 501 rankings.

READ MORE

10 questions accountants should ask their IT provider

As businesses increasingly rely on technology to operate efficiently, it's important for accountancy firms to have a reliable IT provider to help manage their systems. However, finding the right IT services for accountants and the right IT provider...

READ MORE

Why Antivirus and 2FA Alone Won't Suffice for an IT Security Strategy

Antivirus and two-factor authentication (2FA) are two commonly used security measures in the world of cyber security. While these measures can be effective when used properly, they should not be relied upon as the sole security strategy for several...

READ MORE

The Power of AI in Accounting: A Game-Changer

Artificial intelligence (AI) has been transforming various industries for several years now, and the accounting industry is no exception. AI has the potential to significantly improve the efficiency and accuracy of accounting tasks, and it's time...

READ MORE

Practice Gateway: T-Tech’s answer to moving beyond the MTD conundrum

“For 30 years we’ve had the self-assessment tax return ‘season’ – a complete slog for tax teams to endure and navigate. That time is about to end, in dramatic change.”

READ MORE

Time to close the books on traditional accounting and upskill with automation

The accountancy market is going through unprecedented times. There is significant client demand, pressure on fees, and the market for recruitment means salaries are going up, and people have less loyalty toward their employers. Recruitment for the...

READ MORE

T-Tech 2022 Wrapped is here. Here are our most memorable moments.

To say this year has been busy would be an understatement. We have had a jampacked year full of highs and lows (but mostly highs!), so let’s take a look back at some of the highlights.

READ MORE

Over half of UK accountancy firms are making technology solutions a priority, report finds

More than half of UK accountancy firms are making technology solutions a priority over the next 12 months, but 88% feel overwhelmed about the options available.

READ MORE

Daniel Teacher named One To Watch in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme

Daniel Teacher, Managing Director of T-Tech, has been named as a One To Watch in The LDC Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders programme for 2022.

READ MORE

MTD for ITSA: get ahead of the curve and prepare your clients

Making Tax Digital is evolving. We saw MTD-compatible technology take the industry by storm in 2019, and now it’s advancing even further with MTD for ITSA being introduced in April 2024.

READ MORE

The latest and greatest in Microsoft Teams

What more can Teams do for us that it isn’t doing already? From the shift to remote working, and now to hybrid, it feels as though we’ve got all the tools we need within Teams. But there’s always room for improvement, and we are lucky that Microsoft...

READ MORE