Picture this:
You’re driving down the road, heading to pick up donuts for the office, when your gas light comes on. You know it’s time to stop and refuel; otherwise, you won’t get very far. Now, let’s shift to another scenario. You’re at your desk, working on a presentation for your next big meeting, when a pop-up appears on your screen reminding you to install the latest security updates.
Do you treat that notification with the same urgency as when your gas light comes on? If not, consider that just like your car needs fuel to keep going, your computer needs those updates to stay secure and run smoothly.
Both are essential to keeping things moving at their best.
Software Updates
Keeping your digital systems running smoothly, securely, and efficiently relies on regular updates. These often include patches that fix security vulnerabilities, bug fixes to resolve technical issues, and new features to enhance usability. Regularly installing updates is crucial for protecting your system from known threats that cybercriminals can exploit. Without timely updates, your software may become outdated, leaving it vulnerable to malware or other system failures. Neglecting updates can also lead to compatibility issues and degraded performance, putting your organization at risk.
Operational Technology
Many organizations, from healthcare to manufacturers, are undertaking digital transformation projects that provide more data to make informed, data-driven decisions. This data is coming from “nontraditional” computer systems such as internet of things (IoT) or operational technologies (OT). While these systems provide more efficiencies and better insight into the business operations, the come with additional risks of having technology vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can attack.
Keeping these systems updated is a little more complex than traditional IT systems like your computer or smart phone. Downtime for IOT or OT means delays on production lines or loss of monitoring of a patient. It’s a delicate balance between scheduling downtime for updates and avoiding unplanned downtime from a cyber event.
Here are some considerations when deciding whether to implement these technologies as part of a digital transformation:
- Do these systems have manual override or failover capabilities?
- What are the support and service level agreements from the manufacturer or vendor?
- Has the business updated its Incident Response and Business Continuity Plans to operate without these systems?
- What is the regular patching schedule to keep them updated and minimize cyber risk?
- Is the network these systems run on segmented from our IT network that has internet access?
Vulnerability Scanning
“Trust but verify” is a concept that’s been around since the Cold War, and it applies just as well to security today. Most organizations handle security updates and patches through something called a patch management solution. These tools usually give reports showing where patches or security fixes have been applied or where gaps still exist. But relying solely on these reports can feel a bit like letting the fox guard the henhouse. This is where a vulnerability scanner comes in.
A vulnerability scanner is a software tool designed to automatically scan for and report back any security weaknesses, misconfigurations, and vulnerabilities in your system, network, or applications. It provides detailed reports on potential risks that could be exploited by cybercriminals.
Using a vulnerability scanner in your security program is critical because it helps you to more proactively detect and address security flaws before they are exploited by a cybercriminal. It ensures that your systems remain compliant with recognized security standards, reduces the risk of breaches, and strengthens your overall cybersecurity posture by continuously monitoring for vulnerabilities and keeping your defenses up to date.
Key Takeaways
Cybersecurity is like keeping your gas tank full—it’s an ongoing effort to prevent problems. Just as you wouldn’t ignore the gas light, don’t overlook system updates and best practices. Staying current with security patches helps protect against breaches. While no solution is foolproof, each defense layer strengthens your system, aiming to deter or detect cybercriminals before they cause harm.
Reach out to your M3 Client Executive to discuss your current protection for your organization and to learn more about cybersecurity risk management.
