Keep your network safe with a risk management policy
Effective management of your IT assets is paramount to your network’s success. Without a clear, cohesive plan for how to keep your ducks in a row, you run the risk of losing track of your data, mismanaging your security policy, and increasing downtime due to inefficient operation strategies If you want to mitigate risk and improve security for your entire network, an updated security policy is critical. So, what steps do you need to take to mitigate future risk for your network? We’ve outlined a plan that can help you achieve optimal performance.
Catalog IT assets
Leave nothing up to chance—without a clear, unambiguous record of all of the equipment you use (whether or not you use it every day), you might lose track of valuable information and fail to comprehensively update all of your hardware. This includes cataloging your computers, routers, software, data, emails, networks, files, and mobile devices (that are used for work purposes)
Identify threats (and where you might be most vulnerable)
Now that you have an accurate representation of all of the assets you operate, it’s time to determine how they might be vulnerable if a cyberattack were to take place. This is the step when you should reach out to an IT provider for A) security risk assessment and penetration tests B) disaster recovery and business continuity plans and C) risk mitigation.
Put together an estimate
Once potential risks have been identified, you need to take the time to determine what mitigating that risk might look like. Part of the of the risk management process is aligning your budget with what areas you need to cover. The risk evaluation (and analysis afterward) should give you a clear indication of what areas require more resources and attention.
Put a plan in place
Now that you know what steps you need to take, it’s time to roll out your new risk management policy. Examples of what a security policy may include are encryption strategies, routine backups, and updated security standards.
Integrate your team
Your security policy is only as strong as the employees who abide by it. If you’re not taking the time to outline how it works (and what they need to do/not do to make sure it stays that way), you run the risk of inviting a whole host of new problems. For example, your employees need to be able to identify a phishing attack to the best of their abilities. Make sure that everyone in your company is on the same page and are taking the proper precautions.
Track your progress
Now that you have a solution in place, it’s time to see how effective it is. Recording data for later analysis is a great tactic for identifying areas of improvement. With a detailed, comprehensive view of your security policy and its effectiveness, you’ll be able to make the necessary changes going forward.
