4 Signs a Business Needs to Upgrade Its Cybersecurity System

Most people won’t know they need to update their cybersecurity platform until it’s far too late. That’s why it’s a good idea to keep an eye out for potential signs while you have the privilege of doing so. Keep an eye out for any of the following problems, because they’re an excellent indication that there’s something wrong with the status quo. Of course, you don’t need any particular pointer to start looking into increased cybersecurity. It’s always a good idea to evaluate your position and identify areas that could use some improvements.

 

1. Six Months Have Passed Since An Update

 

Take a look at the modification date on every file that your organization writes to when there’s an update. If any of them are more than six months out of date, then that’s a serious problem even if you haven’t noticed anything else wrong with your cybersecurity measures. Long update lapses can put your organization at risk for zero-day bugs that have only recently come to light. As more people know about these potential exploits, there’s a greater chance that your network will eventually fall victim to them.

 

2. Your Business Has Grown Considerably

 

Monitoring all of the unknown factors your staffers face on a daily basis can be nearly impossible if your company continues to grow. Professional cybersecurity audit staffers will track all of these elements when you’re not able to so you’d know right away when something needed an upgrade. As a company grows, the amount of technology needed to keep it running will grow along with it. That can increase pressure on your current information services staff, which means you might want to work with an outside provider to keep abreast of any potential changes.

 

3. New Regulatory Standards Have Come Into Play

 

Depending on the specific industry your firm competes in, you might have to upgrade your security features just to keep pace with a changing regulatory climate. Public sector authorities are always revising the laws that impact those who provide healthcare-related or educational services to clients. The same goes for financial providers, who might be under some of the strongest

 

4. Additional Features Are Announced

 

Not all of the reasons to upgrade your cybersecurity system have to be negative necessarily. Developers are constantly coming out with new security features that you might be missing if you don’t make sure to upgrade your software each time hotfixes get released. Small user interface changes probably make up the bulk of most of these new features, and they certainly won’t get too many people excited. However, new scanning techniques and the ability to keep watch over certain storage locations are often requested by users. When enough people ask for them, these things are added to programs and those who neglect to upgrade will never get a chance to try them out.

 

Automatic updates could make upgrade concerns a thing of the past, but even these have to be turned on in most cases. Spending just a few moments improving your cybersecurity position can reap big benefits later on.

Alex
 

Alex is a small business blogger with a focus on entrepreneurship and growth. With over 5 years of experience covering the startup and small business landscape, Alex has a reputation for being a knowledgeable, approachable and entrepreneurial-minded blogger. He has a keen understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing small business owners, and is able to provide actionable advice and strategies for success. Alex has interviewed successful entrepreneurs, and covered major small business events such as the Small Business Expo and the Inc. 500|5000 conference. He is also a successful entrepreneur himself, having started and grown several small businesses in different industries.