Change is one thing we can all count on and the hardest thing to implement, especially when it comes to technology. Right now, the way we work has changed indefinitely, increasing our dependency on technology and intensifying cybersecurity risk.

For many businesses leaders, the existence of cybersecurity risks within an organization is no surprise; the challenge is knowing HOW to address and reduce the risks they face. The fact is that cybersecurity risks are always evolving, so the first step is to discover what those risks are, then address and reduce those risks... rinse, and repeat.

In 2020, many organizations pivoted their business models due to the global pandemic. If you're one of these companies, you may have developed new processes and procedures that allowed you to safely continue operations and maintain high levels of customer service. Now, the effects of the pandemic have changed the face of how business gets done and potentially introduced new cybersecurity risks. In this article, we offer practical guidance on how to classify and measure these risks for effective cybersecurity risk management.

The increasing theft of intellectual property and sensitive information is at an all-time high and a growing threat to our national security. The recent ransomware attacks on the largest gasoline pipeline and meat producer in the US are clear evidence of this reality. Cyberattacks targeting the commodities industry, federal networks, and commercial software have sent a ripple effect throughout our nation’s supply chain.

As cloud service consumers, we have become accustomed to downloading productivity applications or using cloud storage repositories to help us in our daily activities. With the recent rise of remote working, it was not uncommon for an employee to use apps and tools that helped them be productive and fill a need in their workday. Their good intentions were honorable, however, this type of activity can create cybersecurity risks for an organization. The practice of employees deploying tools and services without the knowledge or proper vetting from IT management is known as Shadow IT.

The promise of increased productivity in the cloud continues to ring true now more than ever. Access to corporate data from anywhere at any time while simultaneously collaborating as a team has kept so many businesses productive and competitive in our remote work environments. The caveat of access from anywhere is that without sufficient cybersecurity and risk management strategies, threat actors can also gain access to your sensitive corporate data.

In light of the uptick in breaches at small and medium-sized businesses (SMB), I wanted to briefly review the cyberthreat landscape and offer some cybersecurity best practices organizations can implement to better position their businesses against the bad guys.