{"id":6561,"date":"2020-10-30T15:44:52","date_gmt":"2020-10-30T15:44:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cybersmart.com\/?p=6561"},"modified":"2021-08-04T13:56:48","modified_gmt":"2021-08-04T13:56:48","slug":"what-is-cyber-hygiene","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cybersmart.com\/blog\/what-is-cyber-hygiene\/","title":{"rendered":"What is cyber hygiene?"},"content":{"rendered":"

If you\u2019ve been considering improving your cybersecurity lately, chances are you\u2019ve come across the phrase \u2018cyber hygiene\u2019. And you\u2019re probably also wondering what it means. Cyber hygiene is one of those slippery phrases that seems to change meaning depending on who\u2019s using it. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>So, in the interests of clearing up some confusion, here\u2019s our guide to cyber hygiene. What it is. Why it\u2019s important. And, what it looks like in practice.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A definition of cyber hygiene<\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Simply put,<\/span> cyber hygiene is the steps and practices every organisation should take to ensure good digital health and protect themselves against cyber threats. The idea behind cyber hygiene is that these practices should become part of our day-to-day routine. Think of it as a bit like your physical hygiene, say brushing your teeth twice a day, washing your hands regularly, or wearing a face mask.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why is it important?<\/b><\/h3>\n

In the same way that if you don\u2019t look after your teeth you\u2019ll eventually end up with a hefty dentist\u2019s bill, your cybersecurity needs constant maintenance to avoid a breach.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

But cyber hygiene’s importance goes beyond simple maintenance. There\u2019s a widespread perception among SMEs that cyber-attacks are something that happens to bigger, higher-profile companies. It\u2019s not hard to see why- after all, the news cycle is filled with tales of the latest Fortune 500 behemoth to suffer an embarrassing breach. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Unfortunately, this couldn\u2019t be further from the truth. According to research from the <\/span>Federation of Small Businesses<\/span><\/a>, in the last two years alone, SMEs were subject to <\/span>10,000 cyberattacks daily<\/span><\/a>. And 1 in 5 reported suffering a breach during the same period.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the last two years alone, SMEs were subject to <\/span>10,000 cyberattacks daily<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

What\u2019s more, the risks are only growing with many businesses switching to <\/span>remote working<\/span><\/a>. A recent report from VMWare reveals that <\/span>91%<\/span><\/a> of businesses globally have seen an increase in cyber attacks since countries began implementing lockdown measures. On top of this, home office networks are 3.5 times more likely to be hacked than corporate ones.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Maintaining a good standard of cyber hygiene is the most effective way to guard against all of these threats.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What does good cyber hygiene look like in practice?\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

We\u2019ve tackled why cyber hygiene is important but what does achieving it actually involve?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Good cyber hygiene is probably best divided into three broad categories: occasional check-ups, daily routines and good behaviours. Let\u2019s take each in turn.<\/span><\/p>\n

Occasional check-ups\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

People are often surprised by how many cyber threats can be averted simply by giving your corporate devices and networks a regular health check. When software is out of date, firewalls and anti-malware aren\u2019t switched on, or security settings aren\u2019t configured properly, you provide cybercriminals with an easy route into your business.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Start by checking every device in the company is running the latest version of any software you use and it\u2019s security settings are configured to the highest level of protection. Also ensure that your network is secure and that all anti-malware and firewall tools are switched on, up-to-date and configured properly.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Daily routines\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

Cyber hygiene is as much about what you do and how you do it as it is about maintenance. A great place to start is by putting in place universal practices across your organisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

This includes steps like setting up a strong password policy, using two-factor authentication for anything coming in or out of your business and keeping work devices for work purposes.
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Good behaviours<\/b><\/h4>\n

Few of us set out to put our workplace at risk with our actions online. But we\u2019re all human. And whether it\u2019s through misunderstanding the risks or just being a little careless, many of us do exactly that on a daily basis.<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Getting everybody on your business on the same page about your cybersecurity standards is just as important as keeping your tech fighting fit. The best way to do this is to ensure your business has clear, understandable policies in place so everyone understands what they need to do (or not do). And it\u2019s no use hiding them away on some long-forgotten corner of your server. Make sure they\u2019re easy to find and everyone has access to them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Three simple ways to get your cyber hygiene up to scratch\u00a0<\/b><\/h3>\n

The steps we\u2019ve outlined so far might feel a little overwhelming. Where do you start? Surely running through all that will take forever? And what do you do if cybersecurity isn\u2019t really your forte?<\/span>
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\n<\/span>Fortunately, there are three very simple routes to improving your cyber hygiene \u2013 regardless of your budget or level of expertise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1. Get a Cyber Health Check<\/b><\/h4>\n

Before you start improving your organisation\u2019s cyber hygiene, you need to know your current level. In other words, it\u2019s time for a check-up. <\/span>
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\n<\/span>Our soon-to-be-released Cyber Health Check is a simple way to assess your current level of cybersecurity. We\u2019ll run some tests to check how you\u2019re doing. Then, once we\u2019re done, we\u2019ll send you a free downloadable report to tell you what you need to improve and some recommendations for how to do it.
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2. Get Cyber Essentials Certified\u00a0<\/b><\/h4>\n

Another option is to complete the UK government\u2019s <\/span>Cyber Essentials certification<\/span><\/a>. The scheme covers the essential actions every business should take to ensure its digital security and protect against cyberattacks. Cyber Essentials assesses five criteria on the way to certification:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n