October’s Cybersecurity Month reminds businesses that simple, consistent actions can have a big impact. According to the FBI’s Internet Crime Report 2024, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) received 859,532 complaints, and reported losses exceeding $16.6 billion, marking a 33% increase from 2023. Phishing, extortion, and personal data breaches were among the most common threats.
This sharp escalation highlights the need for Board-level cyber accountability. ISO/IEC 27001 is the international standard for an Information Security Management System (ISMS), enabling businesses to lead with confidence and build trust with customers through recognized certification.
The good news? Security doesn’t always require dramatic change. It starts with consistent, purposeful actions. Here’s how that could look in action:
Every Week: Build Daily Discipline
Many organizations use weekly habits to reduce everyday risks and spot issues early:
- Update and check that endpoint protection is active
- Back up critical data and verify its integrity
- Identify and report phishing emails promptly
- Monitor account and device activity for anomalies
Every Month: Strengthen Internal Controls
Monthly reviews can reinforce resilience and provide assurance for internal oversight and reporting:
- Run organization-wide antivirus scans
- Change passwords for critical systems
- Test backup recovery processes
- Review user access permissions
Every Quarter: Manage Enterprise Risk
Quarterly reviews help demonstrate proactive risk management to stakeholders:
- Refresh employee cyber awareness training
- Update IT and device inventories
- Apply updates to third-party software to fix known vulnerabilities
- Review internal security policies, such as when to report a data breach—U.S. state laws for businesses
Every Year: Demonstrate Long-Term Commitment
Annual actions may provide assurance for regulators, customers, and investors:
- Commission independent penetration tests or audits
- Review and rehearse the incident response plan
- Renew security training and maintain relevant certifications
- Assess third-party risks by reviewing supplier and partner security practices
How ISO 27001 Certification Can Help Your Business
ISO 27001 is the internationally recognized standard for information security. Certification to this standard demonstrates a robust approach to managing cyber and information security risks, helping to build trust with stakeholders and support resilience across supply chains and business operations.
Discover the benefits of ISO 27001
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Cybersecurity is no longer just a tech issue—it’s a boardroom priority. Contact our team to start your ISO 27001 certification journey today.
