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Most business transactions and personal information management occur on digital systems. Consequently, computer system usage is subject to the ever-increasing threat of cyber attacks. Accordingly, your business must implement robust cybersecurity measures to protect this information. This article will explore three reasonable cybersecurity measures to help your business comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). This is important given that cybercriminals are now explicitly targeting businesses due to the personal information and trade secrets in their possession.
Most Common Cyber Threats
At present, there are two main types of cyber attacks, namely, data breaches and ransomware attacks.
Data Breaches
The primary purpose of a data breach is to steal personal information for unlawful purposes (such as identity theft). Cybercriminals usually try to obtain information relating to an individual’s:
- date of birth;
- home address; and
- credit card details.
Ransomware Attacks
As the name suggests, this involves cybercriminals locking a company out of its computer network and offering to ‘unlock’ it in exchange for a ransom payment.
The UK Government and associated bodies have warned UK businesses that the risk of cyber attacks is ever-increasing. Many larger firms fight off daily attempts to infiltrate their networks. However, there is also a trend towards targeting small businesses with lesser security measures.
What Does the GDPR Say About Cybersecurity?
The GDPR clarifies that UK organisations must proactively protect sensitive data. Accordingly, this involves taking reasonable cybersecurity measures to hinder attempts to gain unauthorised access to your computer systems (or cloud-based data).
The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is an independent body set up by the UK Government to investigate and punish GDPR breaches. The ICO will likely launch a formal investigation into any cyber attack against your organisation, leading to personal data loss.
The ICO can fine UK businesses up to £17.5m for GDPR breaches. So any cyber attack you could have prevented with appropriate data security measures can result in a hefty financial penalty. This is in addition to the reputational, financial and practical difficulties of recovering from a network security attack.
In this light, it is essential to put cybersecurity measures in place to defend your business against cyber intrusion. Let us consider three basic cybersecurity defences below.
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1. Strong Passwords and Two-Factor Authentication
Setting strong passwords is fundamental advice. Nevertheless, many individuals continually fail to implement it in practice. Recent studies show that many individuals still use passwords like ‘password’ or ‘1234’. Naturally, your business is at risk if an individual with access to personal data uses such a simple password.
However, in recent years, many UK businesses have faced cybercriminals using brute force attacks. This is where hackers use software that can enter thousands of common password combinations within minutes.
Regardless, there are two simple defences to give your company the best protection against such attacks:
- set difficult-to-guess, unique passwords, such as ‘!y0Ucann07gue55mYp@55w0rd!’; and
- use two-factor authentication, which will need confirmation from a linked device, such as a mobile phone or electronic device on the premises, to allow access after a correct password.
2. Updating Software and Operating Systems
Updating your software is equivalent to updating the lock on your front door. In the same way as a burglar will target a house with weak external locks, cybercriminals are on the lookout for organisations using old, unprotected operating systems. A good example is many NHS trusts suffering ransomware attacks as they operate on computers using Windows XP and 95.
In contrast, modern operating systems and software packages receive regular security updates and patches. It is essential that your business installs these patches immediately as, otherwise, you grant an ever-increasing window for cybercriminals to get into your computer system.
3. Provide Staff With Cybersecurity Training
The most significant vulnerability within most businesses is their employees. Often, this is because individuals tend to act humanly and are susceptible to psychological tactics.
Consequently, this is why many cyber attacks begin with a ‘phishing’ email. These are emails designed to look trustworthy and from a reliable source (for example, from ‘Microsoft’ or ‘Royal Mail’). Many individuals fall for an email containing a copied logo and a similar email address, for example, coming from ‘admin@micr0soft’).
Key Takeaways
Implementing effective cybersecurity solutions has never been more critical for your organisation. Whilst it is impractical to produce a comprehensive list of cybersecurity measures (which would be lengthy), it is helpful to start with the above actions. In addition, many business owners seek assistance from expert lawyers concerning cyber risks, documentation and training.
If you need help putting effective cybersecurity measures in place, our experienced Data, Privacy and IT lawyers can assist as part of our LegalVision membership. For a low monthly fee, you will have unlimited access to lawyers to answer your questions and draft and review your documents. Call us today on 0808 196 8584 or visit our membership page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, UK law requires UK organisations to promptly inform individuals of any circumstances of unauthorised access regarding their data.
Phishing attacks have a high level of success against businesses across the globe. Often, this is because they usually pose as organisations with high customer trust, so unsuspecting individuals click on malicious links.
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