Quick Tips for Entities Looking to Protect Against Cyber Breaches
By Jim Bulling
Research in Australia and overseas suggests that most cyber breaches can either be prevented or the impact of any attack can be significantly limited by a range of low cost and easy to implement measures. These include the following:
- Username and password standards should be sophisticated.
- Administrative and privileged access should be controlled.
- Undesirable applications should removed.
- Automated patching tools and processes should be used.
- Data should be backed up regularly.
- Access to mobile devices should require authentication and data should be encrypted.
- Anti virus software and filters should be used.
Research released by the Australian Defence Signals Directorate (DSD) indicates that at least 85% of the cyber intrusions that the DSD has responded to would have been mitigated had organisations implemented the above strategies.