The cyber attackers use various tools that are available on the dark web and gets help from other hackers to infect your business. Hacking only with the use of malware and ransomware is not that easy. The cybercriminals spend weeks or even months to get access to your system to exfiltrate data undetected.

As it is said that prevention is better than cure, it is vital to take some serious step to protect data from malicious attacks. Preparing a plan to deal with cyber attacks will be more beneficial.

Here are four essential steps every firm should take to improve their cybersecurity.

Establish a risk baseline

Every organization should start with creating a baseline where they can determine what level of risk they are willing to tolerate. In this step, they need to assess the data and workflows to find out the risks available which can cause damage to the business. Then create a plan to deal with those risks. Use a triage approach and understand your baseline fully by using all the resources.

Capture a complete picture of your network

Within an organization, the numbers of printers, security cameras, smartphones, and other devices keep on growing. The firm should have an inventory of all the devices and it should fit into the internet of things category. To keep the network protected it is vital to have a clear image of the network.

Build a user awareness program

Adopting cybersecurity tools and technology is very easy and also helpful in avoiding malicious attacks. But one of the major causes of data breaches is the malicious insider that is the employees who mistakenly click on phishing emails and links. It is important to create awareness among the employees to spot the security risk and how to respond to such attacks. Training and awareness programs should be provided within organizations and employees should be trained regularly to ensure your network is protected.

Assess and patch vulnerabilities

Every firm should keep their software updated and apply patches to avoid cyber threats. Identifying vulnerabilities is also very important to avoid data breaches. Make sure that the tools and software are updated and have the ability to find out the vulnerabilities.