How to Protect Your Association from Cybercrime

Unfortunately, cybercrime is a very real threat to the safety and security of your association. In an increasingly digital world where data breaches, identity theft, and attacks are becoming more sophisticated and harder to defend against, it's essential to understand how to protect your association from these threats. In this blog post we will outline the steps needed for ensuring that your IT infrastructure is outfitted with the latest tools, protocols, and procedures required to keep your organization safe while still facilitating business as usual.  

Some Basics 

Is your association's security truly impenetrable, or are there potential vulnerabilities that you may not be aware of? A comprehensive security assessment is the key to answering that question. It will also help in creating a plan to keep your data and systems safe. Once you have an idea of what your security looks like, it will help you establish a plan of what needs to happen next. Most likely, it will include a complete overhaul of your security practices.  

First, you’ll want to examine how secure your passwords are across your organization. Leaving password-related security breaches to chance can result in serious consequences. By enforcing a strong password policy, you can reinforce your organization's security measures and protect confidential information from potential threats. With periodic password changes and a steadfast commitment to password strength, you can safeguard the data of your association, employees, and members against cyber-attacks.  

In addition to implementing a strong password policy, Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) is an extra layer of protection to your online arsenal. Instead of solely relying on a password, MFA requires multiple forms of verification, making it much more difficult for hackers to breach your account. AMS and other software vendors are now requiring the use of MFA when staff access those software programs. This added security measure can give you peace of mind, as it acts as a last line of defense in case your password falls into the wrong hands.   

Having a strategy for password security can be useless if you don’t keep your technology up to date. Don't risk your data and personal information falling into the wrong hands by staying ahead of potential attacks. This can be done by regularly updating your devices and software so that they are always protected. 

Moving Forward 

Going beyond assessing your security and having a strong password management system, it’s also important to safeguard your network from potential breaches and attacks. Security Incident and Event Management (SIEM) is a remarkable tool that harnesses the power of big data engines and business intelligence to comb through event and security logs from all of your devices. By doing so, SIEM enables you to stay ahead of the curve and detect any possible signs of a data breach or cyber-attack on your network.   

In today's digital age, protecting your sensitive data is more important than ever before. One effective way to do this is through encryption. By using encryption, you can obscure your data from prying eyes and ensure that only authorized personnel can access it. Whether you are transferring data or storing it, encryption is a powerful tool that can keep your information secure. So don't take any chances with sensitive data - make sure you use encryption wherever possible. Another way to get ahead of potential threats and safeguard your infrastructure is with firewall protection. Integrate advanced features like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and intrusion defense systems (IPS) to ensure maximum security.  

Protecting your important data from unexpected disasters is critical, and having just local backups isn’t enough. Imagine if your computer was stolen or hit by ransomware - you'd be left without your valuable information. That's why it's essential to use a cloud backup service or keep offsite copies. This extra level of protection ensures that if the worst happens, you can still recover your files and keep your business or personal life running smoothly. Don't let cyber criminals or natural disasters throw you off track - invest in backups today. 

Staying Aware 

Once you’ve taken a hard look at your association’s IT security and made the necessary changes, it’s still important to be aware of the ever-evolving dangers that lurk in the cyber world. As technology advances, cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics to obtain sensitive information. However, there is a powerful tool that can help combat these threats: employee training. By providing regular education and resources, you are empowering your team to identify the red flags and fend off potential attacks. This means regularly scanning the dark web for any sign of compromised passwords or sensitive account information is a surefire way to stop data breaches in their tracks before they can cause any damage. Don't wait for disaster to strike - be in the know and stay one step ahead! 

Enjoy World-Class Managed Security with Concierge IT 

Designed for organizations that may not have the budget for a dedicated IT staff, Cimatri’s Concierge IT is a comprehensive, industry-focused technology partner that offers high-touch, white-glove services. This includes a Security Operations Center that monitors all your endpoints, your network, and even your cloud services. Our team of security veterans proactively hunts for and remediates activity across your IT enterprise. Know that your organization is safe and secure with these tools:  

• Security Operations Center monitoring and managing security threats to your covered devices and accounts 24 hours per day, 7 days per week 
• Advanced managed endpoint security such as threat detection, malware detection, breach detection, intrusion monitoring 
• Enterprise managed antivirus 
• Proactive website security 

• Business password manager 

Don't let your data fall into the wrong hands - invest in the security of your business today.

Learn more here.