Enterprise cybersecurity is not just about preventing data breaches; it’s about safeguarding every device, system, and connection that keeps an organization running.
A single compromised password can halt the operations of an entire company. All it takes is one employee falling for a phishing email. Within hours, hackers access sensitive customer data, and internal systems, and can forcibly lock the company out of its own network. Operations are halted, and the business is left scrambling to contain the fallout.
Table of contents
- The growing importance of cybersecurity for large enterprises
- Protect yourself: Learn about 8 common enterprise cybersecurity threats
- How to strengthen enterprise cybersecurity to safeguard data and devices
- Samsung Knox: Government-grade security management for enterprises
The growing importance of cybersecurity for large enterprises
Enterprises are frequent targets for cybersecurity threats because they manage extensive IT systems, store valuable data, and rely heavily on technology to communicate with customers and partners. Their size and complexity make them vulnerable to attacks.
The growing use of mobile devices, cloud-based services, and the Internet of Things (IoT) is creating new attack surfaces for threat actors to exploit. This means that cybersecurity is becoming increasingly important. And, proper cybersecurity measures protect more than just company data.
In addition to data breaches, cyberattacks can have many serious consequences for businesses including financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance repercussions.
Protect yourself: Learn about 8 common enterprise cybersecurity threats
Enterprise cybersecurity threats come not only from external attacks but also from insider threats, negligence, misconfigurations, and software vulnerabilities. Read on to learn about eight of the most common cybersecurity risks for enterprises.
1. Social engineering attacks
Social engineering tactics manipulate people into giving away sensitive information. Phishing, one of the most common forms, tricks the recipient into providing sensitive information, such as passwords or credit card numbers.
2. Ransomware attacks
Ransomware attacks involve the use of malware that encrypts an organization's data, demanding payment for decryption keys. It leaves data inaccessible until a payout is made to the attacker.
3. Distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks
DDoS attacks are designed to overwhelm an organization's system (usually a server or network) with internet traffic to the point that it is unavailable to users.
4. Zero-day exploits
Zero-day exploits target software vulnerabilities before a patch solution is implemented. Attackers use these vulnerabilities to gain access to sensitive data, enterprise systems, or networks.
5. Cloud security breaches
Cloud attacks mainly target weaknesses in cloud environments such as misconfigured security policies, weak access control or insecure APIs. These attacks are usually a result of human errors, password theft, or poor cloud infrastructure security.
6. Insider threats
Insider threats come from within an organization, generally by employees or contractors, with authorized access to an organization's networks. There are two types:
- Malicious insider threat: An employee or contractor uses their corporate access to cause harm or steal sensitive information.
- Non-malicious insider threat: An employee or contractor accidentally causes a security breach by falling for a phishing scam or improperly handling data.
7. IoT-based attacks
An Internet of Things (IoT) attack is any cyberattack that targets an organization’s IoT devices. Once compromised, the hacker can assume control of the device or steal data.
8. AI-powered attacks
AI-powered attacks are becoming increasingly common and occur when a threat actor uses AI to automate, improve, or speed up certain phases of a cyberattack.
How to strengthen enterprise cybersecurity to safeguard data and devices
Cybersecurity solutions include best practices and technologies implemented by enterprises to protect their information systems, devices, networks, and data from cybersecurity attacks.
To strengthen your defenses against enterprise cybersecurity threats and safeguard your data and devices, consider implementing the following five best practices.
1. Assess your organization's security posture
Assessing your organization's risk is the first step in strengthening cybersecurity. Identify potential vulnerabilities in your systems and infrastructure by conducting regular risk assessments. This includes identifying critical assets, evaluating threats and vulnerabilities, assessing business impact, and developing mitigation strategies.
2. Evaluate your security requirements
Your organization's required scope of security will depend on the risk assessments, which differ depending on the sensitivity of the data, the type of business and the impact on the business from potential threats. At this stage, your organization will determine the best practices and technologies required to protect against cybersecurity threats.
3. Ensure leadership buy-in
Without leadership buy-in, your organization is left vulnerable to systemic security gaps that can be exploited by attackers. Cybersecurity is a business priority that requires support beyond IT admins to be effective. Without executive support, you can be left with underfunded security initiatives, inconsistent policies, and a lack of a security-first culture in the workplace.
4. Educate employees and reduce the risk of insider threats
Insider threats are common cybersecurity risks, and non-malicious insider threats are a significant contributor to enterprise security breaches. Enterprises must educate all employees on cybersecurity best practices and awareness. These training programs should include mobile device management, password management, social engineering awareness, and training on how to use new technologies.
5. Implement policies and technologies
With a clear understanding of your threat landscape, the required security against cyber threats, leadership buy-in, and educated employees, enterprises must implement organizational security policies and technologies that will be the direct defense against threats.
Establish company-wide policies that ensure stakeholders do their part in protecting your organization. Support your IT team with advanced security technologies to build a resilient cybersecurity framework. These policies and technologies should mitigate risks, enforce compliance, and provide continuous monitoring for potential threats.
Samsung Knox: Enterprise cybersecurity solutions
Ensuring the security of your enterprise against threats will not only protect your devices and data but will also protect against financial losses, reputational damage, and compliance repercussions. In addition to policies, the best approach to enterprise cybersecurity is one that involves leadership buy-in, regular assessments, and technology.
Samsung Knox protects work devices and data from every angle with government-grade security. With a single bundle that simplifies complex admin tasks, Knox Suite helps enterprises save time while keeping data and devices safe against cybersecurity threats. Start your free 90-day trial today.
