The Pillars of Holistic Cybersecurity Services & Solutions

Holistic cybersecurity is an important part of any business digital transformation, regardless of the industry and market you are in. Cyber-attacks continue to increase rapidly and affect organizations globally, with the average cost of a data breach rising to almost 4.25 million USD in 2021. Companies are now shifting focus to protecting themselves and their business-critical data with advanced cybersecurity strategies and tools. 

It can be tempting however to become overly reliant on security tools that make all kinds of promises but fail to deliver, leaving a business vulnerable to attacks and security breaches. While it is imperative for all organizations to have a robust security program, this should cover more than digital tools, including people and processes as well as multi-layered security tools and other information technology.

Technology alone is not enough

Company executives recognize the huge cost that comes with data loss and the long-term damage they can do to a company's reputation. Many companies typically invest in the most advanced, state-of-the-art cybersecurity tools. Unfortunately, this is not a straightforward path to success. 

A company that has adopted a more inclusive approach to cybersecurity, integrating people and procedures with technological innovation, is much more likely to succeed than one which has not. As a broadened angle at security encompasses all kinds of online vulnerabilities, this strategy is destined to keep organizations safe from security threats. 

Consider the following cybersecurity pillars and how they can be effectively utilized to improve cybersecurity management: 

Cybersecurity awareness

People are a big part of any organization’s cybersecurity strategy. A holistic cybersecurity framework should take human psychology and behavior into account as it can often make the biggest difference to security vulnerabilities in a cybersecurity infrastructure. Human error is the leading cause of cybersecurity breaches, most commonly through unintentional acts or neglect to act that result in a security breach to occur. 

The best way to combat this is to ensure cybersecurity solutions integrate security awareness and education of employees, to create an extra layer of protection for an organization. This training teaches employees to identify and avoid dangers that may stem from email, the internet, and improper network password and access point protection procedures. Many states’ breach laws and federal regulatory standards require organizations to provide security awareness training to employees to comply. 

Cybersecurity audit

A cybersecurity audit examines and evaluates the complete network and IT infrastructure of an organization in a holistic way. This will help to identify if security policies and procedures are being followed, while also ensuring the business is in compliance with the relevant regulations. 

Organizations that undertake cybersecurity audits can then take a more proactive approach to security measures and strategies, which ultimately results in more robust threat management. 

Vulnerability scanning

Businesses need controls in place, as well as real-time flagging and alerting, to monitor for vulnerabilities to operate proactively. Vulnerability scans are automated, high-level tests that look for and report on potential weaknesses in an organization’s IT system. 

Automated and continuous vulnerability scans help to identify weak links and high-risk practices in real-time, which then informs security analysts where sensitive information is under threat and how to improve security for the entire IT environment. This information helps businesses to understand what their greatest risks are and provides the knowledge to improve security posture. 

Penetration testing

A penetration test, sometimes known as a Pen test, is another pillar of cybersecurity services. Penetration tests are authorized, simulated cyber-attacks performed by a cybersecurity ethical hacker or white-hat hacker. The goal of the simulated cyber-attack is to find exploitable vulnerabilities in an organization’s IT environment, using the same tools and techniques as threat actors use in the real world. 

Once the ethical hacker has penetrated the system, they will attempt to exploit any weaknesses or protocols to gain access to devices or servers. The information that is gained from a penetration test is useful for assessing the effectiveness of the current security system in place. 

Holistic security services and solutions 

A holistic approach to cybersecurity is the perfect way to achieve an effective and robust security infrastructure, as it combines technology, people, and processes to provide the most effective defense against the complex cybersecurity problems that exist in the modern world.

The ThreatAdvice Breach Platform offers a holistic and comprehensive solution that allows MSPs to manage their clients’ security most effectively and efficiently. Contact ThreatAdvice today and find out how your MSP can leverage the platform to provide holistic security solutions for clients.