Denis Ryan
Lead Auditor, National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI)
Discover five crucial cybersecurity tips for Irish businesses in 2024. Empower your organisation against evolving cyber threats.
As cyber threats continue to evolve, it’s essential for all organisations to proactively protect their digital assets and customer data. Regardless of the size of a business, cybersecurity must be a priority. Outlined are five cybersecurity tips to help Ireland’s businesses become less vulnerable in 2024.
Educate and empower employees
According to the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), one of the foundational steps for bolstering cybersecurity is to invest in comprehensive employee awareness and training programmes. Everyone has a role to play in recognising phishing attempts and following security protocols. Training sessions should cover best practices for data protection and identifying suspicious activities.
Embrace multi-factor authentication (MFA)
Irish firms are urged to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA) to fortify their digital defences. MFA adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to provide multiple forms of identification before accessing sensitive information or systems. Authentication can prevent unauthorised access, even if passwords are compromised. Organisations should integrate MFA solutions across networks, applications and cloud platforms to reduce unauthorised access risk.
Cybersecurity issues, such as data theft or service
disruption, cause significant financial losses.
Commit to regular cybersecurity health checks
To stay ahead of cyber threats, organisations should conduct regular security assessments, software updates and employee training. These assessments help identify vulnerabilities in systems and networks that could be exploited by hackers. By promptly addressing security gaps and applying patches and updates, businesses can reduce the likelihood of successful cyberattacks. Adopting an information security management system can also help.
Establish an incident response plan
Despite proactive measures, cybersecurity incidents may still occur. Therefore, businesses should strengthen their incident response capabilities. Establishing a robust incident response plan enables organisations to swiftly detect, contain and mitigate the impact of security breaches. Regularly helping all teams refine response procedures will help the business as cybersecurity issues, such as data theft or service disruption, cause significant financial losses.
Secure cloud environments
Leverage the advantages of cloud computing while ensuring strong security protocols. Implement encryption measures and access controls while consistently monitoring cloud services. By securing cloud environments, businesses can enjoy the scalability and flexibility advantages without jeopardising data security.
Cybersecurity pays dividends and is a collective responsibility that extends beyond the IT team. Irish businesses are encouraged to foster collaboration and information-sharing within the industry to combat emerging threats effectively and minimise losses.
ISO/IEC 27001 is one of the world’s best known Information Security Management Systems and the NSAI is accredited by the Irish National Accreditation Board (INAB) to certify organisations to ISO/IEC 27001:2022.
To learn more about certification to ISO/IEC 27001 and to access free resources, tools and webinars, visit nsai.ie/27001