Castles take years to build. Think of all the planning. All those stones. All the labour that goes into it. It only makes sense to build watchtowers, surround it with walls, and dig a moat—you protect that investment.
Your business is your castle. Yet so many businesses lack security frameworks to protect them from modern attacks. They have no defense in place to respond to cyberthreats.
Unfortunately, the internet is increasingly becoming a battleground. Since most cyberattacks go unreported publicly, most people don’t realize how prevalent they have become.
Every organization needs to consider some sort of information security framework for protection; very few businesses escape being targeted.
It’s not just corporate giants that are targeted: 46% of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1000 employees (often because these businesses lack the robust defensives of larger organizations).
The cost of implementing a cyber security framework is probably less than you might imagine. And the peace of mind is certainly worth the cost. Especially when you consider the total cost of damages incurred by cybercrime is expected to reach $10.5 trillion by 2025.
Of course, no matter how good your cybersecurity gets, it’s impossible to make your business completely impenetrable. Cyber criminals have begun to recruit AI to aid their attacks, which has made it harder than ever to build air-tight defenses.
However, some additional measures can minimize downtime and make the negative impact as small as possible. Along with all the robust defenses, your security framework should include information backup plans, data redundancies, and a strategy for business continuity. It’s worth protecting your investment.
Ninety-four percent of organizations have reported email security incidents.
To keep your business well defended, your cybersecurity needs to be robust and cover many key areas: perimeter protection, encryption, application security, and disaster recovery.
A security framework is a pre-designed defensive blueprint for your business. It lays out what sort of defenses are needed, where to put them, and how to build them.
There is a wide selection of security frameworks (blueprints) to choose from. What sort of defenses you require—and therefore which framework—will depend on a variety of factors: which industry you’re in, compliance requirements, the size of your business, etc.
The Healthcare sector might use a HITRUST security framework. Publicly traded companies might consider COBIT to ensure regulatory compliance. Federal Agencies use the NIST SP 800-53 cybersecurity framework. (Different castles have different defensive requirements. A one-sized wall does not fit all.)
ISO 27000 Series
The ISO 27000 series provides standards for managing information security, suitable for businesses across various sectors, especially international operations. It covers all aspects of cybersecurity, helping businesses identify risks, protect assets, detect vulnerabilities, respond to incidents, and recover swiftly.
NIST SP 800-53
NIST SP 800-53 offers guidelines for securing federal information systems, essential for government agencies and contractors. It provides a comprehensive set of security controls, helping organizations identify threats, protect sensitive data, detect breaches, respond to incidents, and ensure quick recovery.
NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF)
The NIST Cybersecurity Framework (CSF) aids businesses of all sizes in managing and mitigating cybersecurity risks. Suitable for industries such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure, it provides a flexible and comprehensive approach to enhancing cybersecurity and resilience against threats.
Cybersecurity frameworks provides a structured approach to managing and protecting sensitive information, along with many other benefits:
As previously mentioned, selecting the appropriate cybersecurity framework depends on several factors: your industry, regulatory requirements, company size, specific security needs, etc. Ultimately, the right framework will align with your company’s requirements and provide a clear blueprint for achieving robust cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity frameworks could be thought of as six major components, each crucial for a comprehensive defense strategy:
Businesses should start by assessing their current security posture and identifying key risks and compliance obligations. This is where consulting with cybersecurity experts can provide valuable insights.ed companies might consider COBIT to ensure regulatory compliance. Federal Agencies use the NIST SP 800-53 cybersecurity framework. (Different castles have different defensive requirements. A one-sized wall does not fit all.)
With the internet becoming an increasingly dangerous place, having a defensive strategy is more important than ever. Cybersecurity frameworks give your business a clear blueprint for protection and regulatory compliance. However, a lot of the information can be hidden in IT jargon and introduce some confusing concepts.
TLC Solutions is here to help you assess and implement a security framework that matches your business and sector needs. Contact us today, let’s chat!
