THE 10 CYBER SECURITY STEPS guidance is for businesses looking to protect themselves in cyberspace. Originally published by the Government in 2012 and now used by around two thirds of the FTSE350, the guidance remains the same and is reproduced below.
Central to any organisation’s overall strategy to manage and control the threat of cyber-attacks is the Information Risk Management Regime – this is Step 1. Surrounding and supporting this regime are 9 additional steps that, collectively, provide the basis for a more secure cyber environment.
Through following the 10 steps, your business will then be ready to gain accreditation through the Cyber Essentials Scheme – and remember that your IT or Managed Service Provider has the knowledge and expertise to guide you on how best to address each of the steps.
STEP 1:
Information Risk Management Regime
Assess the risks to your organisation’s information assets with the same vigour as you would for legal, regulatory, financial or operational risk. To achieve this, embed an Information Risk Management Regime across your organisation, supported by the Board, senior managers and an empowered information assurance (IA) structure. Consider communicating your risk management policy across your organisation to ensure that employees, contractors and suppliers are aware of your organisation’s risk management boundaries.
STEP 2:
Secure configuration
Introduce corporate policies and processes to develop secure baseline builds, and manage the configuration and use of your ICT systems. Remove or disable unnecessary functionality from ICT systems, and keep them patched against known vulnerabilities. Failing to do this will expose your business to threats and vulnerabilities, and increase risk to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of systems and information.
STEP 3:
Network security
Connecting to untrusted networks (such as the Internet) can expose your organisation to cyber-attacks. Follow recognised network design principles when configuring perimeter and internal network segments, and ensure all network devices are configured to the secure baseline build. Filter all traffic at the network perimeter so that only traffic required to support your business is allowed, and monitor traffic for unusual or malicious incoming and outgoing activity that could indicate an attack (or attempted attack).
STEP 4:
Managing user privileges
All users of your ICT systems should only be provided with the user privileges that they need to do their job. Control the number of privileged accounts for roles such as system or database administrators, and ensure this type of account is not used for high risk or day-to-day user activities. Monitor user activity, particularly all access to sensitive information and privileged account actions (such as creating new user accounts, changes to user passwords and deletion of accounts and audit logs).
STEP 5:
User education and awareness
Produce user security policies that describe acceptable and secure use of your organisation’s ICT systems. These should be formally acknowledged in employment terms and conditions. All users should receive regular training on the cyber risks they face as employees and individuals. Security related roles (such as system administrators, incident management team members and forensic investigators) will require specialist training.
STEP 6:
Incident management
Establish an incident response and disaster recovery capability that addresses the full range of incidents that can occur. All incident management plans (including disaster recovery and business continuity) should be regularly tested. Your incident response team may need specialist training across a range of technical and non-technical areas. Report online crimes to the relevant law enforcement agency to help the UK build a clear view of the national threat and deliver an appropriate response.
STEP 7:
Malware prevention
Produce policies that directly address the business processes (such as email, web browsing, removable media and personally owned devices) that are vulnerable to malware. Scan for malware across your organisation and protect all host and client machines with antivirus solutions that will actively scan for malware. All information supplied to or from your organisation should be scanned for malicious content.
STEP 8:
Monitoring
Establish a monitoring strategy and develop supporting policies, taking into account previous security incidents and attacks, and your organisation’s incident management policies. Continuously monitor inbound and outbound network traffic to identify unusual activity or trends that could indicate attacks and the compromise of data. Monitor all ICT systems using Network and Host Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS/HIDS) and Prevention Systems (NIPS/HIPS).
STEP 9:
Removable media controls
Produce removable media policies that control the use of removable media for the import and export of information. Where the use of removable media is unavoidable, limit the types of media that can be used together with the users, systems, and types of information that can be transferred. Scan all media for malware using a standalone media scanner before any data is imported into your organisation’s system.
STEP 10:
Home and mobile working
Assess the risks to all types of mobile working (including remote working where the device connects to the corporate network infrastructure) and develop appropriate security policies. Train mobile users on the secure use of their mobile devices for locations they will be working from. Apply the secure baseline build to all types of mobile devices used. Protect data-at-rest using encryption (if the device supports it) and protect data in transit using an appropriately configured Virtual Private Network (VPN).
The Cyber Essential Scheme
The Cyber Essential scheme has been put in place to help protect companies against the majority of cyber-attacks to IT systems, in the main involving relatively low levels of technical capability. However, if you are serious about preventing attacks on your business it is likely you will need to do more.
Either way, unless your organisation has the expertise in-house, it is recommended that companies should enlist the expertise of their IT or Managed Service Provider. Synergy Technology can help you do this. Our hosted workspace solutions can provide your business with a secure yet flexible IT system. Coupled with effective email delivery services and anti-spam software solutions, Synergy Technology offers complete IT business solutions and subsequently peace of mind for your business.
Image by courtesy: StuartMiles
