With the end of 2023 fast approaching, it’s important to take time to prepare your IT for the new year. When employees are on holiday vacation it’s a great time to do an end-of-year IT security check. Updates can be made on equipment and servers without interrupting the workflow. Ensure your company’s digital files and sensitive information remain protected. Here are five IT security checkpoints that a company should consider as part of its end-of-year routine:
Conduct a security audit and assessment of your company's IT infrastructure. This includes reviewing security policies, network configurations and system logs. Ensure firewalls are still in place and that your wi-fi network is secure, to protect your network. Identify and address any vulnerabilities or weaknesses that may have emerged over the past year.
Ensure that all systems, software and applications are up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. This includes computers’ OS and antivirus software. You may have some software with automatic updates, but double check to ensure the most recent updates are installed. Regularly update your programs to reduce the risk of exploitation.
Verify the effectiveness of the company's data backup and recovery procedures. Conduct regular testing to ensure that critical data can be restored if necessary. Confirm that backups are stored securely and are easily accessible when needed. Backups can be located on a local server, on external hard drives or off-site in cloud storage.
Review and update the company's incident response plan. Ensure that all team members are familiar with their roles and responsibilities during a security incident. Test the plan through simulated exercises to identify areas for improvement. Update contact information for key personnel and external contacts who would be part of the response.
Reinforce employee training on security best practices and raise awareness about potential threats. Provide refresher courses on topics such as phishing, social engineering and password security. Ensure that employees are up-to-date on the latest security protocols and are aware of their role in maintaining a secure environment.
In addition to these checkpoints, it's essential to stay informed about the latest cybersecurity threats and trends. Keep in mind that cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and the end-of-year routine should be part of a larger, continuous effort to protect against evolving threats.
If any of this seems a bit overwhelming and you’re unsure where to start or how to manage your own IT security, contact Kota. We provide IT services, including fully-managed IT, to keep your business or organization working at peak efficiency.