Note: While this post is geared toward providing our clients, it is also essential information for others in business or even individuals. Please read on no matter what your connection is.
Here at Northstarr System Solutions, one of our primary goals is to protect our clients’ information. As a Managed Service Provider (MSP) and information technology (IT) provider, our clients are our first priority.
But, what does it mean when we talk about “cybersecurity,” and how does that affect you as a client?
Cybersecurity is the overall topic of what, how, when, and why anyone should protect any information that is important and has value. Cybersecurity is important to you if you have data that could be used to cause harm or that needs to be protected from theft, destruction, or any other form of loss. Whether it’s PII, PHI, or intellectual property, notice the word “loss” above. We will discuss what loss means shortly.
Let’s start with a more in-depth definition of what cybersecurity is.
What is Cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity relates to any plans or efforts set in motion to protect data that is of value to an organization or individual. It can be as simple as putting it into a lock box and locking it or as complex as stashing it behind multiple levels of physical security, personnel, storage processes, etc.
Why do we protect it? That is a pretty simple answer for us to provide. We protect data so that it continues to have value to us and can be used until it is no longer needed. We can expand on the information and multiply the value of what we have already by adding detail and depth that defines a greater possible use. For instance, if you have information on an individual and then can add what products and services they like to use, you can cater advertising campaigns to those people for more significant potential profit. Think Google data collection and then resale to its customer businesses.
So, data is what is protected, and cybersecurity is how it is protected. Pretty simple, yes? Not really!
Securing data can sometimes be simple but is usually a much more complicated affair and requires knowledge and expertise that many small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) just do not have in-house. That is why Northstarr is here for you.
In the field of professional cybersecurity, we look at many different ways to protect your data. Some providers give you physical security, such as security guards, access controls like locked-down facilities, and traffic control into and out of them. Others provide more technical expertise in the way of biometrics (fingerprint/retina scanners), computing device control (access control lists, role-based access control, etc.), or software that protects from malware and viruses.
Another type of cybersecurity provider would be those that provide legal or organizational policy level protection for your data.
- Cybersecurity legal counselors make sure you understand the laws, regulations, and requirements for the types of information you use and support you if there are ever court-related issues to handle.
- Policy managers make sure your internal regulatory efforts are in line with the organization’s purpose and that the company’s policies meet the requirements for security and data protection based on advice from your legal counsel and internal cybersecurity management.
As we can see, cybersecurity is much more than just knowing you have data to secure and putting it in a vault. There is a complexity to it that can be very overwhelming.
What does “Loss” mean in the context of cybersecurity?
Loss is the word that is sometimes used to describe what happens when your data is no longer available, confidential, or its integrity can be questioned. When one of these situations occurs, there is a problem that must be solved.
Loss can be any number of things, such as:
- Destroyed
- The storage media has been corrupted or destroyed
- Inaccessible
- Someone locked it, encrypted it, or it has been mislabeled and thus is not accessible to those that need it for their work.
- Lost
- Where did it go? Has it been moved?
- No longer confidential due to theft or inappropriate access
- Ransomware, an employee that shouldn’t have had access, was able to see it
- Or no longer of value
- The information is no longer needed in your organization’s work context.
When your organization suffers a data loss, your ability to accomplish work and provide services is compromised. The value of that data is no longer what it was.
How will this Affect You?
The effects of a data loss can be financial, regulatory, or social. A breach due to a lack of (or sub-par) cybersecurity can cause your business to fail. You could be subject to fines and financial obligations such as lawsuits from customers, or you could be restricted from doing certain types of work or providing related services. Socially, your clients or potential clients might decide not to do business with you, leading to a permanent closure or worse.
So, what if the loss isn’t as earth-shattering as some of the above? What if, say, a salesperson enters the correct information into the wrong customer file? Is that so bad? It depends.
If the problem is noticed and corrected quickly, with no one that shouldn’t have access to the information, you are likely ok. If this isn’t the case, though, there is a breach that must be addressed. Depending on the type and form of the information, this may require a breach notification to the customer whose data was exposed to a regulatory agency, or there may be legal repercussions.
The salesperson may be required to re-certify on the data security or could even lose their job. Their supervisors/managers, or potentially someone higher in the organization’s hierarchy, could lose their position or job, depending on the information divulged.
What should you do?
Whatever your position, be it in upper management, somewhere in the middle, or as an employee, it is important to make sure that you understand what the cybersecurity requirements are within the organization and what duties you must attend to as relates to them.
Northstarr Recommendations
Northstarr is here for you! Helping you and your organization to discover, define, and protect your data is what we do. Give us a few minutes of your time, and let us help you to put your data and security where they belong, at the top of the list!
Contact us for a free assessment, or call us at (888) 767-2210 for more information.
If you want to check out more of our blog posts, go here.
If you would like to chat with us on a more social level, visit us at:
