Optimize cybersecurity by these continuous monitoring best practices.
Continuous Monitoring Best Practices
1. Know what you are protecting
First, you should know what you are protecting. For instance, with the data you are protecting that is most valuable to your business.
What is the high-risk data? Which ones should be protected the most because of the risk they pose?
2. Use a risk-based approach
The second best practice is to use a risk-based approach. This means that you should concentrate first on those areas of highest risk. These areas should be determined by examining where your weaknesses are.
3. Use continuous monitoring to predict threats
A third best practice is using continuous monitoring to predict threats, because the earlier you know that there is a threat, the better you can prevent it.
4. Know what will happen if there is an attack
Also, you should know what will happen if there is an attack. What are the consequences of an attack?
5. Monitor everything
The last best practice is to monitor everything. This is not possible on a manual basis, but with continuous monitoring systems you can monitor everything in your network.
6. Use automation
Lastly, you want to use automation for your security efforts. So you can maximize your efforts and protect your business with limited resources.
Pitfalls to Avoid in Cybersecurity
1) Overlooking the importance of cyber risk oversight.
Many fail because they overlook the importance of cyber risk oversight. Cybersecurity efforts should be aligned to business objectives.
2) Not knowing where the real risks lie.
Another pitfall is not knowing where the real risks lie. So you can focus your resources on the correct areas.
3) Not taking the right approach to security.
And another one is not taking the right approach to security. What are you doing to protect yourself? Are you doing what other organizations are doing?
4) Ignoring your adversaries, and their tactics and capabilities.
Lastly, people often ignore their adversaries, and their tactics and capabilities. You want to know what they are capable of, so you can defend against them better.
5) Not using the right tools and techniques
Another pitfall is not using the right tools and techniques. You want to use tools and techniques that work.
6) Not having a clear understanding of your business risks.
If you do not clearly understand your business risks, you cannot put the right resources in place to protect against them.
7) Failing to take a risk-based approach to managing cyber risk.
Another pitfall is failing to take a risk-based approach to managing cyber risk. You want to concentrate on the highest risks first, and then move on from there.
Conclusion
You can make the best of continuous monitoring if you know what you are doing. And if you follow these best practices.
Continuous monitoring is defined as the process of monitoring an environment on a continuous basis.
An organization can use continuous monitoring to verify that all required controls are in place and functioning properly, identify new risks, and provide information for early response to security events.