How to Stay Updated on Cybersecurity

Cyberthreats are always changing, and this often leads businesses to the question of how to stay updated on cybersecurity?

Why is it Important to Update Cybersecurity?

It’s important for businesses to constantly be updating their cybersecurity strategies, procedures, equipment, and software simply because of how fast the world of modern cybersecurity moves. Things that worked a week ago might be vulnerabilities today. What prevented an attack last month might be the cause of one now.

Cybercriminals adapt fast and can evolve their attacks to beat antivirus software and firewalls. Having old systems in place just makes it easier for them to break in.

This is because once a new update, patch, or software is installed, it’s instantly picked apart by criminals who will eventually expose and exploit vulnerabilities they find. The game for businesses and cybersecurity experts is to beat them to the punch. This is done through constant updates and is the main reason why businesses must keep on top of the latest cybersecurity trends, patches, updates, equipment, and software.

You can’t afford to fall behind because if you do, you put your business at risk.

Best Practices for Keeping Your Cybersecurity Up to Date

To stay ahead, here are some general cybersecurity best practices that every business should follow:

Update Software and Tools

Having the best software and equipment is a critical part of modern cybersecurity. Relying on legacy systems like old antivirus software simply does not provide what businesses need to stay secure against modern threats.

This is because cybercriminals have figured out how to beat these old systems, but also because they lack the critical features that are commonplace in newer versions. Additionally, older systems might not be supported by their developers meaning that known vulnerabilities aren’t being patched over anymore.

Related: What is Next-Gen Antivirus?

More modern tools have the features needed to fight new threats and are being consistently updated and patched to fix vulnerabilities. Additionally, a major part of tending to your security tech stack is ensuring your tools have the latest updates and patches, including updated operating systems, because the newest versions of these systems are the most secure.

One thing businesses can do to help ensure their tools are up to date is to initiate automatic software updates to their devices, computers, and programs.

Follow the Industry Closely for News and Trends

In an industry that changes so frequently, staying current on the latest trends, news, and threats can be extremely difficult. The best way to do this is to be immersed in it all by attending events, watching videos and webinars, following security-based accounts and influencers, listening to podcasts, subscribing to newsletters and publications, and generally being plugged in and connected.

Additionally, there are accounts, websites, and tools available to help security teams become aware of new threats and trends in cyberattacks to help you spot vulnerabilities in your own systems.

If this sounds like a lot, that’s because it is. Cybersecurity is complex and involves many moving parts and businesses working together to share expertise, warn of new threats, and develop modern security technology. If you aren’t following the news, you’ll be unaware of innovations in the field which can leave you behind your competition and vulnerable to attackers.

Stay Up to Date on Awareness Training and Education

The human element of your cybersecurity is one of the most important. That’s why it’s important to keep your people updated on the latest cybersecurity trends and attacks that would be aimed at them (social engineering attacks, phishing, etc.).

Related: The Importance of Cybersecurity Awareness, Training, and Education

Awareness training helps them understand how cybercriminals are attempting to attack them, what to look for in their inboxes, and how to spot a potential attack, how to report it to your security teams, and how to react if they do click on a suspect link.

To administer such training, businesses need access to training tools or cybersecurity experts that can share their knowledge in an effective way whether it’s online courses, classroom training, hands-on experiences, or interactive digital programs.

How Can Businesses Balance All This to Stay Secure Over Time?

It can be difficult to stay on top of it all. Businesses that have internal IT or security teams can provide them the tools they need to stay current, but even still it’s a part of the job that can require immense resources, including a lot of time, but which is still a requirement for strong security postures.

Another option for businesses without internal teams, or that have smaller teams, is to partner with a managed security services provider (MSSP) that provides the expertise, teams, and tools needed to stay secure.

These providers have analysts and other personnel whose job is to stay up to date on all happenings in cybersecurity, so you don’t have to. They monitor for disruptions, check for new patches and threats, and communicate these to you so you can worry less about them and focus on business-oriented tasks instead.

In Conclusion

How can businesses stay updated on cybersecurity best practices, tools, updates, and threats? By spending the time it takes to learn, research, and connect with other experts, as well as understanding the technology that’s necessary to keep systems updated.

Cyberthreats are always evolving. Check out our infographic showing exactly how these threats change and how businesses can adapt their own systems to stay protected. View the infographic now.