• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

My TechDecisions

  • Log In
  • Best of Tech Decisions
  • Topics
    • Video
    • Audio
    • Mobility
    • Unified Communications
    • IT Infrastructure
    • Network Security
    • Physical Security
    • Facility
    • Compliance
  • RFP Resources
  • Downloads
  • Podcasts
  • Subscribe
  • Project of the Week
  • About Us
    SEARCH
Network Security

Best Practices for Cybersecurity: Stay Cyber SMART

When it comes to best practices for cybersecurity, you want to be SMART. The CTO of Abacode explains exactly what that means.

February 12, 2018 Jeremy Rasmussen 2 Comments

Cyber Security

The usual advice we provide to companies on best practices for cybersecurity boils down to a 5-pronged approach we call Cyber SMART:

  1. S = Self-governance: Make sure you have the proper cybersecurity framework in place with governing policies & procedures.
  2. M = Monitoring: You need to have visibility into your IT infrastructure and always be watching for potential attacks and indicators of compromise (IOCs).
  3. A = Assessments: Get third-party audits of your systems on a regular basis, and develop a plan of actions for addressing any gaps.
  4. R = Remediation: This is not only having a system of regular vulnerability scanning & patching in place, but also having a formalized incident response policy and forensic readiness (i.e., have adequate audit logs and an investigative team standing by should something happen).
  5. T = Training: People are the first and last line of defense, and by enhancing education & awareness, we can help keep them from undermining the other security controls that are in place in the system.
Tips for Buying Cybersecurity Technology

Learn how to write a cybersecurity RFP, choose cybersecurity partners, and implement cybersecurity technology. Download this free report for all the details.

The Technology Manager’s Guide: Tips for Buying Cybersecurity Technology

Unfortunately, I believe the “new normal” is assumption of breach. Just as ships need to be built to float with the knowledge there will be leaks, modern systems are so complex and interconnected with so many points of entry that it’s almost impossible to plug every hole. So, we believe that having visibility, performing threat hunting, and continuously monitoring for indicators of compromise is most effective. Sure, you still try to put in layers of defense to make the system as hard to penetrate as possible; but nothing’s every foolproof. That’s why you need constant vigilance and effective incident response.

Abacode provides outsourced Security Operations Center (SOC) services with continuous 24/7/365 monitoring of companies’ networks, and we spring into action with incident escalation protocols whenever we see something happening.

Indicators of compromise (IOCs) can come from numerous sources, such as Intrusion Detection Software (IDS), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), antivirus, file integrity checking, third-party monitoring services, OS & app logs, network logs, network flows, info on new vulnerabilities & exploits, and people noticing things. The actual IOCs include things such as network connections to known malware command & control sites, files being encrypted, Windows Registry changes, system crashes, packet floods, unauthorized use of system privileges, unauthorized access to sensitive data, execution of malware, etc.

Jeremy Rasmussen is Chief Technology Officer of Abacode, a Tampa, Florida based company that provides managed cybersecurity services for growing businesses across all industries. Abacode employs global thought leaders and industry experts in ethical hacking, corporate governance, and incident response to provide its clients with a holistic view of cybersecurity.  He is also an instructor at the University of South Florida and founder of the USF Whitehatters Computer Security Club (WCSC).

Tagged With: Cyber Attacks, Cyber Security

Related Content:

  • Who Got Hacked This Week? February 15 Edition
  • Illinois Supreme Court Aims to Protect Privacy from…
  • Who Got Hacked This Week? February 8 Edition
  • Who Got Hacked This Week? February 1 Edition

Free downloadable guide you may like:

  • RFP Template: Essential Guide

    If you are a technology decision-maker, chances are that you have to write requests for proposals (RFPs) on occasion. It’s an important part of every IT pro’s job. Unfortunately, it also one of the most dreaded. Our editors can help.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Joseph stark says

    December 16, 2018 at 12:29 am

    You are right that best way to secure online is to be smart. Cybersecurity is a big threat and everything on stake online. Hackers always find new ways for steal people information. If we will learn how to secure and aware of these kinds of things. We can secure our self.

    Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Best Practices for Cybersecurity: Stay Cyber SMART – Security e-News says:
    February 14, 2018 at 8:51 am

    […] Best Practices for Cybersecurity: Stay Cyber SMART | #TpromoCom #cybercrime #hackers #hacker #cybersecurity | When it comes to best practices for cybersecurity, you want to be SMART. The CTO of Abacode explains exactly what that means. The usual advice we provide to companies on best practices for cybersecurity boils down to a 5-pronged approach we call Cyber SMART. To read the remainder of this informative article, click here. […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Get the FREE Tech Decisions eNewsletter

Sign up Today!

Latest Downloads

RFP Template: Interactive Whiteboards

Are you in the market for an interactive whiteboard? Whether you are a company shopping for a huddle room or school looking for a classroom solutio...

RFP Template: Video Walls

You may be looking for a video wall to promote the next sporting event on a college campus or an eye-catching display at your new company headquart...

RFP Template: Projectors

Writing a request for proposal (RFP) takes a lot of time. Many of our readers say that it is one of the least favorite parts of their job. We want ...

View All Downloads

Would you like your latest project featured on TechDecisions as Project of the Week?

Apply Today!

More from Our Sister Publications

Get the latest news about AV integrators and Security installers from our sister publications:

Commercial IntegratorSecurity Sales

Footer

TechDecisions

  • Home
  • Welcome to TechDecisions
  • Subscribe to the Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Media Solutions / Advertise
  • Comment Guidelines
  • RSS Feeds
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Linkedin

Free Technology Guides

FREE Downloadable resources from TechDecisions provide timely insight into the issues that IT, A/V, and Security end-users, managers, and decision makers are facing in commercial, corporate, education, institutional, and other vertical markets

View all Guides
TD Project of the Week

Get your latest project featured on TechDecisions Project of the Week. Submit your work once and it will be eligible for all upcoming weeks.

Enter Today!

© 2019 Emerald Expositions, LLC. All rights reserved.