A vulnerability is a flaw in the design of your cyber security system. A threat is a potential threat that could exploit a vulnerability. A risk is the potential for damage or loss when a threat exploits a vulnerability.

Your cyber security strategy should directly address these three elements. It’s not enough to guard against one. For example, you could use a firewall to prevent potential attacks on your network. Your firewall may prevent most threats, but the risk is still high, because a successful attack would give the threat actor access to all your files.

In this case, the ideal cyber security strategy would include a firewall to protect against threats, data encryption to manage the risks of data that is stolen, and regular testing to identify vulnerabilities.

Two-factor authentication (2FA) is a cyber security protocol that requires users to show two forms of identification when accessing data (such as user accounts). 2FA dramatically reduces the risk when passwords are guessed, hacked or shared with the wrong people.

For example, it’s common for 2FA systems to request a password and then send a verification code to a nominated phone number. If the user’s password is ever compromised, the threat still won’t be able to access the account if they can’t get the verification code.

A firewall secures your network and prevents cyber attacks by monitoring incoming and outgoing network traffic. This safeguards your network against unauthorised access which may lead to the loss or destruction of important data.

The most common implementation of firewalls is the software firewall. A software firewall inspects data moving in and out of your network and compares it against known threats. The data is discarded if it matches a threat.

Software and hardware firewalls should be implemented by professionals offering cyber security Brisbane wide. Businesses typically have greater security needs, so your system should be designed by a cyber security expert.

A vulnerability assessment is used to detect existing flaws in your cyber security systems. On the other hand, penetration testing attempts to exploit those vulnerabilities and identify which flaws pose a genuine threat to your business.

It’s recommended that your cyber security strategy be subject to both a vulnerability assessment and penetration testing. These two tests work together to show where improvements are required and how to minimise the risk to your business.

The most common types of cyber security attacks are:

• Internal threats
• Malware
• Denial of Service (DoS) Attacks
• Phishing
• Man-in-the-middle attacks
• SQL injection
• DNS tunnelling

Cyber security threats are on the rise around the world. There are millions of cyber attacks every year, and they often use one of the methods listed above. A strong cyber security strategy can identify and address these main threats. In addition, your strategy should include an internal risk assessment and training to minimise the risk of employees intentionally or accidentally compromising data.

A team that offers cyber security Brisbane wide can put together a strategy and training package that manages these threats and keeps critical data safe.

The best way to keep yourself up to date on the latest cyber security news is to follow reputable sources. Companies such as Cisco, McAfee, Microsoft and Check Point regularly distribute blogs, articles and newsletters with cyber security news, updates and best practices.

You can also keep up with the news by visiting the Surety IT blog. We’re Brisbane’s cyber security experts, so we’re always on top of the latest threats, and we provide industry updates that help manage the risk to your business.

A cyber security risk assessment is a test that defines potential cyber threats, identifies vulnerabilities, and determines the risk to your business.

This helps cyber security experts figure out your actual cyber risks and audit the effectiveness of your system. From there, a professional can develop a cyber security strategy that lines up with your needs and objectives.