How to choose the right cyber security solution for your business

Written by Adam Flynn from Technical Drive

Having the correct cyber security systems in place is vitally important for businesses of all sizes.

Cyber crime is more indiscriminate than ever before, targeting everything from start-ups to West Midlands SMEs and global enterprises with sophisticated and convincing cyber attacks.

According to the government’s Cyber Security Breaches Survey, 43 per cent of businesses experienced a cyber security breach in the past 12 months. This includes countless incidents where cyber criminals were able to get into systems, trigger ransomware, send fraudulent payments or access sensitive or valuable corporate data. Businesses cannot afford to ignore this rising threat.

Beyond the cost implications, organisations also have their reputation and compliance requirements to consider, including Cyber Essentials and GDPR. Failing to protect a company can cause customers to lose trust or deter other organisations from working with them.

The right cyber security solution isn’t just ticking a box – it’s directly protecting a business against real, evolving threats. This is even more important for companies facing cloud security challenges or managing remote workers, where there are more gateways for malicious attackers to gain access.

Understand your business’s security risks first

The optimal cyber security solution for any organisation should be tailored to its specific risks rather than built around the latest trends. Here are the core steps businesses can take to define their specific risk factors.

Identify critical assets

Understanding critical assets is an essential first step. This includes data that is vital to operations, irreplaceable operational information, financial records that could be used to gain access to funds, and customer information that must be protected in line with GDPR.

Key types of critical assets

• Customer data
• Financial information
• Intellectual property
• Operational systems

Assess potential threats

Cyber threats are not just a single risk. They encompass a range of sophisticated scams and fraudulent methods that can target a company from multiple angles.

It’s important to examine how an organisation may be vulnerable to individual cyber attacks rather than looking only at the bigger picture. According to the ICO, phishing and its variations (such as vishing and smishing) account for over 90 per cent of all cyber attacks, making them a vital consideration.

Types of cyber threats to assess

• Phishing (including spear-phishing, vishing, smishing, etc.)
• Ransomware and malware
• Insider threats
• Business email compromise
• Supply chain attacks

Evaluate current security gaps

Determining the specific gaps in current cyber security enables organisations to fill these holes and prevent attackers from gaining unauthorised access.

Some of these gaps will be technical, such as not patching software as frequently as needed, while others are social or training issues, such as employees failing to follow guidelines or a lack of security awareness.

Current security gaps to consider:

• Using outdated or unpatched software
• Using weak passwords
• Lack of centralised management for company devices
• Lack of employee awareness and training
• No administrator blocks on app and software downloads

Types of cyber security solutions businesses should consider

Endpoint protection

Endpoint protection directly secures the devices in a workplace—including laptops, smartphones, and servers—individually against malicious cyber threats.

This is achieved through a combination of processes working together to significantly reduce risk, such as those implemented by IT and security specialists at Technical Drive:

• Antivirus: A program that detects and removes malware.
• EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response): A behavioural analytics-based solution that mitigates threats through ongoing monitoring.
• Device monitoring: Keeping track of the usage of individual devices, including websites and software accessed.

Network security

Network security protects an organisation from cyber attacks caused by vulnerabilities in interconnected systems, such as servers, computers, office devices, and data storage methods. Most companies rely on networks to run day-to-day operations, leaving them vulnerable without proper protection. Implementing tailored network and cloud security solutions helps guard these key entry points:

• Firewalls: A security system that monitors and filters the data packets entering and exiting an organisation.
• Intrusion detection: Security tools that monitor networks around-the-clock for unauthorised access or policy violations.
• VPNs: Secure, encrypted connectivity between devices and a remote server or in-house network.

Cloud security

Cloud systems are increasingly popular for businesses, providing an easy way to access apps, data, and systems from anywhere instead of being tied to a physical office server. However, these systems can also introduce vulnerabilities if they are not well-managed:

• SaaS security: Protection for cloud-based applications, preventing unauthorised access to sensitive data.
• Cloud configuration management: Ensuring continual compliance and security with active management and monitoring.
• Identity and access controls: Verifying the identity of users and controlling access to key resources.

Email security

Email security is a vital consideration, as phishing remains one of the most prevalent cyber threats. An estimated 3.4 billion phishing emails are sent globally every single day. Integrating protections into systems reduces risk alongside improving staff awareness:

• Phishing protection: Identification of phishing emails that may otherwise be convincing to employees.
• Spam filtering: Removing spam emails from inboxes to reduce risk and prevent employees from missing genuine emails.
• Email authentication: Requiring authentication of the sender for outgoing emails, preventing domain spoofing.

Security monitoring and threat detection

Security monitoring and threat detection are fundamental parts of a modern cyber security strategy. These solutions provide a proactive way to prevent cyber attacks before they can cause harm. Up to 88 per cent of ransomware attacks occur outside of normal office hours, making 24/7 security monitoring essential to prevent successful breaches:

• SIEM: A platform that aggregates and analyses security data in real-time to detect and investigate cyber threats.
• MDR (Managed Detection and Response): Advanced detection and rapid incident response for cyber security incidents.
• 24/7 monitoring: Around-the-clock protection for companies outside of working hours, with immediate notification of issues.

Key factors to consider when choosing a cyber security solution

Business size and industry

While cyber security is essential for businesses of all sizes, the exact strategy will vary depending on the industry and scale of the organisation.

For example, small businesses may have differing security requirements from large enterprises due to simpler systems and less complex infrastructure. Companies operating in specific sectors—such as healthcare, finance, and legal—have stricter legal requirements for data protection and higher security standards.

Compliance requirements

Compliance with cyber security standards is mandatory for a range of certifications and tenders in the UK:

• GDPR: Law concerning the use, storage, and processing practices for personal data, required for all UK businesses.
• ISO 27001: The international framework standard for managing Information Security Management Systems (ISMS), required for specific supply chains and public sector tenders.
• Cyber Essentials: A government-backed scheme helping companies protect against cyber threats, where CE or CE+ certification often results in lower cyber insurance premiums.
• PCI DSS: The cyber security framework for protecting cardholder data during processing, transmission, and storage.

Scalability

Scalability is an important consideration when implementing new security measures. Organisations need a solution that adapts as they grow, ensuring continuous protection. A strong solution must also integrate smoothly with existing systems and scale alongside them to prevent coverage gaps.

Ease of management

Cyber security is more complex than ever, with AI driving a significant increase in the volume and sophistication of attacks. Depending on requirements, businesses can handle systems in-house as part of a dedicated IT department or work with an outsourced managed cyber security provider to handle all security needs, including around-the-clock incident support.

Questions to ask a cyber security provider before signing a contract

When considering working with an external provider for managed cyber security services, it is important for decision-makers to ask the right questions before committing:

• What certifications do you hold?
• Do you provide 24/7 monitoring?
• How quickly do you respond to incidents?
• What reporting is included?
• Can you support compliance requirements?
• What technologies do you use?
• What is included in onboarding?