Worried About Cyberattacks? Here Are Ideas To Improve Cyber Defenses

On March 22, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray warned the private sector to prepare for potential cyberattacks by Russian agents. The warning came one day after the White House instructed companies to bolster defenses and prepare for potential cyberattacks.

In a fact sheet available here, the White House said companies should shore up their cyber defenses by:

• Mandating the use of multi-factor authentication to make it harder for attackers to get onto systems;
• Deploying modern security tools on computers and devices to continuously look for and mitigate threats;
• Checking with cybersecurity professionals to make sure that systems are patched and protected against all known vulnerabilities;
• Changing passwords across networks so previously stolen credentials are useless to malicious actors;
• Backing up data and ensuring there are offline backups beyond the reach of malicious actors;
• Running exercises and drilling emergency plans to be prepared to respond quickly to minimize the impact of any attack;
• Encrypting data so it cannot be used if it is stolen;
• Educating employees to common tactics that attackers will use over email or through websites, and encouraging them to report if their computers or phones have shown unusual behavior, such as unusual crashes or operating very slowly; and
• Engaging proactively with local FBI field office or U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency Regional Office to establish relationships in advance of any cyber incidents.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce provides more information and recommendations here.