Cybersecurity is a top priority for any organization. However, that doesn't mean that you shouldn't be aware of the potential gaps in your cybersecurity plan. This article will show you how to identify what needs attention and the best approach to addressing those weaknesses. 

Cybersecurity gaps 

Cybersecurity gaps are the flaws in your cybersecurity. There are five main gaps that can be found in any company: 

• Password management 
• Data encryption and key management 
• Endpoint protection (anti-virus, anti-malware) – endpoint security doesn't stop at just anti-virus software but also includes other products such as firewalls and HIPS (host intrusion prevention systems). This is because there are so many different types of attacks; one product cannot protect against all of them. Therefore, it's important to use multiple products from different vendors to cover all angles of attack. 
• Application safe listing only allows specific applications on your network rather than letting anything run/open by default; this helps prevent malicious code from running, further compromising your network.  
• Patch management - keeping all software updated with the latest patches and hotfixes keeps hackers out by making it harder for them to exploit known vulnerabilities within applications or operating systems; however, keep in mind not every patch will fix everything, so don't rely solely on patches being released by vendors. 

Vulnerability management 

Vulnerability management is identifying, classifying, remediating, and monitoring the status of vulnerabilities within the computing environment. Exposure is a weakness in systems, software, or hardware that can be exploited to cause harm. Vulnerabilities can be discovered via manual processes such as code reviews or scanning tools but are often found by accident when there are changes to an application's infrastructure. 

Employee training 

Training your employees is one of the most important things you can do to keep your company safe from cyber threats. There are many ways to train your staff, and it's critical to have a clear plan for how you will teach them about cybersecurity. 

• How often should you train? 
• What should be covered in training sessions? 
• How much does it cost? 

Detection 

Detection is the first step in the incident response process. It involves identifying a security incident and determining its extent. When a detection tool discovers something suspicious on your network, it alerts you so you can take action. While many tools help detect risks and threats, most are not holistic solutions. For example, an anti-virus program might pick up malware but not know whether that malware is related to another threat or if it's doing any damage (e.g., stealing data). 

To truly protect yourself from cyberattacks and prevent data breaches—and respond quickly when they occur—organizations need to invest in more comprehensive monitoring solutions that provide multiple views into their networks and infrastructure. 

Containment 

Containment is the process of stopping a cyber attack and minimizing its impact before it spreads. It's different from detection, which identifies an attack and stops it after it has occurred. Containment, then, focuses on setting up defenses to prevent future attacks by blocking malicious traffic and implementing policies that restrict what users can do once they have access to your network. 

It's important because if you don't contain an attack in its early stages, the damage can be much more significant than just losing some data or having to rebuild a server. If a hacker gains access to one endpoint in the network, he could access every other part of your system—which would be disastrous.  

Most modern malware comes equipped with self-propagating capabilities: Once one machine becomes infected with a malware like ransomware or viruses that spread through email attachments—even if you regain control over those machines—the infection will continue spreading until all of your machines are infected as well.  

In addition, even if you contain this initial wave of attackers before they spread too far through your networked systems. What about next time? Your perimeter defenses won't stop every attacker from sneaking past them; there will always be someone more intelligent than those barriers who finds another way around them. That's why we recommend implementing multiple layers of security measures when designing an effective defense system for any company's cybersecurity needs. 

Information security policy 

An information security policy is a set of rules designed to protect a company's information assets. It can be considered a contract between the company and its employees, customers, and vendors. 

In case there is no proper security policy implemented in your organization. You will likely suffer from some cyber attacks like data breaches or ransomware attacks. A comprehensive security policy should include: 

• Scope – What type of IT resources need protection? 
• Responsibilities – Who will be responsible for carrying out specific tasks? 
• Risk Assessment – How can these risks be minimized? 
• Monitoring and Auditing – How frequently shall we monitor and audit our systems so that we are aware of any unauthorized use or malicious program changes? 

There are specific gaps in cybersecurity that you need to know about and take action to improve. 

There are gaps that all companies need to be aware of and take action to improve. These gaps are vulnerability management, employee training, detection, containment, and information security policy. 

• Vulnerability management is the process by which you identify vulnerabilities in your computer systems and then implement security measures to protect against them. It also includes tracking vulnerabilities over time so that you can assess the effectiveness of your current protection strategy.  
• Employee training involves educating employees on how to behave safely within a company's cyber environment to avoid putting their company at risk from malicious attacks or accidental mistakes such as sending sensitive information out via email or social media channels without encryption protections enabled (more on this later). 
• Detection refers to monitoring your digital infrastructure for signs of unauthorized activity so that it can be stopped quickly before any damage is done. 

Benefits of a managed cybersecurity services provider 

• Reduce costs. Managing your cybersecurity program can be expensive and time-consuming, especially if you don't have the internal expertise or resources to do it yourself. Hiring a managed services provider can significantly reduce these costs by providing an all-in-one solution that addresses your organization's unique needs and requirements. 
• Increase efficiency and productivity. Using a managed services provider gives you access to a team of experts focused on keeping your business safe online while also improving employee engagement and satisfaction with their proactive approach toward protection efforts. 
• Eliminate risks associated with outsourcing solutions from third parties (such as lack of accountability) by working directly with an expert in this field who has deep knowledge about what works best based on their experience working with other clients like yours—and who will work closely with you throughout the process to ensure success. 

Final thought 

The key takeaway is that these five gaps in cybersecurity exist, and you need to know about them. The next step is to do something about it rather than wait for a breach or disaster. A managed cybersecurity services provider can help you address these gaps. 

Cybersecurity is a serious issue for companies of all sizes, and businesses are spending billions of dollars each year to secure their networks. But despite that investment, many companies still face security breaches and other vulnerabilities. 

That's why it's important to have an expert on your side who can identify potential gaps in your cybersecurity strategy and help you address them before they become problems. At SSI, we offer comprehensive services designed to help you protect your network and safeguard your data. 

We'll work with you to understand what's working in your current system and where there may be areas that need improvement. We'll also help you develop policies and procedures that will allow you to more effectively manage risk while remaining compliant with regulations like GDPR. 

If you're ready to take the next step toward better security, contact us today.