Cyber Security vs. Productivity: Can You Have Both?

It happens all too often: Cyber security is left in the dust by the need for productivity. You might feel like you’re in a constant battle with your cyber security team to get access to the files and information you need so your team can get their work done. But this doesn’t have to be the case. A balance between cyber security vs. productivity is possible and it’s on your horizon. SkyTerra’s methods ensure that your team can be productive but not at the cost of cyber security.

You and Tech: You’re On the Same Team

Envision this hypothetical scenario: It’s been announced a new cyber security team is coming in to limit access to files and close some gaps. You’re worried this  will create new issues in the system and something might break in the process. The new team steps in, does the security work and your fears are realized. Now your team has more obstacles and problems to fix before you can do your job. 

Here’s the truth:

1. This scenario does not have to be your reality. With the correct preparation, organization and strategy, implementation can go smoothly without any disruption to your team’s processes.
2. Outages are still possible: There is no outage plan that is 100 percent foolproof. Outages can surface when a new security plan is put in place. Your business has expanded over the years and it’s likely you’ve had multiple different teams coming in and setting up security measures and it’s possible processes weren’t documented to note what is connected to what. An outage is often the first and tale-tell symptom of an issue. However, this is nothing to panic about. These kinds of repairs are more often than not simple and quick. First you’ll restore to a point before the outage. Then you’ll review the data to create a solution before trying to implement the new security protocol again.

More Can Mean Less

There is such a thing as too much security. Yes, you read that correctly. Picture a door with a single lock on it. It’s not the most secure, so you add locks up and down the entire door. Now, it’s virtually impossible for an intruder to break in now. Mission accomplished, right? Wrong. Imagine if that “door” represented access to data. What if you left crucial information for an important stakeholder inside? Think about how long it’s going to take you to access that information with all of those locks you have in place. Not to mention you’ll have to do this every time you need to get in the door. 

Cyber security isn’t one size fits all. Your company’s needs will shape your security protocol. 

Discover Your Risk Tolerance

Factors that affect your business’s risk tolerance include:

• The nature of your business
• The possible fines or penalties you could face by failing to comply with regulations
• How much of your business is created, stored or paid for online

Cyber Security Is NEVER Optional

No business can survive without cyber security measures. If you don’t put any protection in place, you will get hacked. Plain and simple. 

It’s a common misconception that only major, well-known companies are targets for cyber attacks. Yes, there are cyber criminals that go after vulnerabilities in bigger companies. But most are just running software that scans through information everywhere and attacks any weakness it finds. Today’s cyber attackers don’t have to have any clue about who you are or what  your business is to put you out of business. 

Oftentimes, companies think as long as they have cyber insurance, there’s nothing to worry about. However, after a security breach they might find that their premiums rise or they can’t get cyber insurance. Even worse, their cyber insurance may not pay out. 

There’s currently one insurance company in court claiming the attack on their client was “an act of terrorism by a nation state,” and therefore not covered. Insurance companies can often deny a claim if they feel their client didn’t take necessary steps to protect themselves. And of course, not all cyber insurance covers the same things.

Cyber Security vs. Productivity: There’s Room for Both

SkyTerra’s approach to cyber security is simple, effective and keeps your business operations in mind. Our four basic steps are:

1. Do a solid review of your current systems and network to identify any issues or weaknesses
2. Have open and honest discussions with your whole team so we can understand your company’s risk tolerance and operational needs to educate everyone about the necessity for cyber security measures
3. Review your industry standard framework or controls that need to be applied to every tool and application you use
4. Create a cyber security plan that makes you more secure within your risk tolerance without disrupting productivity

Industry standard frameworks are an important piece to this process. We’ll use the continuously revised benchmarks provided by the Center for Internet Security (CIS) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). 

CIS benchmarks are detailed and thorough like “turning setting 27 off for Windows server 19.” There are tons of recommendations like this for many applications. We take all of these into consideration for the tools and applications your business needs to create a robust cyber security plan. Our cyber security approach is simple and effective. We’ll make sure you have the protection you need and not at the expense of your team’s productivity. Book an appointment with us today to discuss your cyber security needs.