Technology is rapidly progressing, countless amounts of data can be stored in a virtual cloud and you can instantly swap faces with your favourite pet, unfathomable years ago. However for the advances in technologies that make our business easier, there are an insidious group of hackers and criminals, intent on using it for sinister purposes.
For every major, headline grabbing data breach, there are thousands of calculated attacks on smaller businesses and third-party vendors. Many businesses adopt a whack-a-mole approach to security threats, but if the hammer misses, the consequences can be disastrous.
Here are the five ways to constantly improve your company’s security program:
1) Never be satisfied:
A strong security program continuously evaluates and adapts to new technologies. Rather than depending solely on traditional anti-malware software, consider exploring advanced solutions—such as analyzing file behavior in a virtual cloud-based sandbox environment before allowing execution. This proactive approach helps detect sophisticated threats earlier. Additionally, consider transitioning from outdated on-premise security appliances to modern, scalable cloud-based alternatives that offer better flexibility, faster updates, and real-time threat intelligence.
2) Share your security program with customers:
Inviting your customers to review your security program can provide valuable insights and strengthen trust. Some customers may have industry experience or technical expertise that could highlight areas for improvement you hadn’t considered. While not every suggestion will be applicable, being open to constructive feedback shows your commitment to transparency and continuous improvement—qualities that can set your business apart in a competitive market.
3) Invest in third party audits:
By investing in SOC2 Type 2 or ISO 27001 certifications, you’ll assurances that your security controls are being correctly designed and implemented. Completely internal security management is difficult; having an external auditor identify any gaps or improvements will help ensure you’re as secure as you can be.
4) Listen to your employees:
Engaging with employees can be a great way to maintain a security program; you could create a ‘Security Group on the intranet, hold regular inter-departmental meetings
5) Learn from your mistakes:
Issues will unavoidably occur, when they do conduct a ‘post-mortem review’ for every security incident or significant event. More importantly, create an action item list with delivery dates – and follow up for corrective actions or to identify areas that need improvement.
The most important thing to remember is that no program is perfect, and assuming yours is can be damaging. If a customer or potential customer views your business as unsafe, then there’s no coming back. To be truly secure, your business has to be proactive rather than reactive.