6 Tips for Automating Cybersecurity for Your Business

Cybersecurity is a vital layer of protection in the modern world, for both personal and business computing. Some of it can be taken care of by people, but automating certain aspects can greatly improve your cybersecurity. Here are six tips for automating cybersecurity for your business.

1. Carefully Review Your Code

Periodic code reviews, as well as reviews whenever you update any code, are vital to ensure there are no security holes or issues in your code. However, reviewing your code manually can be tiresome and makes it easier to miss issues or mistakes. You can employ multiple automation tools, such as code editors, python static analysis and machine learning algorithms. These programs can run automatically or be turned on by a developer and check whole source codes or specific code snippets. Some programs can solve simple issues on their own, but you can also review the issue log and fix the code yourself.

2. Utilize Virtualized Personal Networks (VPNs)

If any of your employees access work devices outside of the office, you should equip their devices with VPNs, which are end-to-end encryption programs. These programs keep your device and your programs safe when you access the internet on public wifi. All the employee needs to do is log in to the VPN when he or she turns on the computer, and the VPN should protect the employee's data the entire time he or she is using the public wifi. It's an effective tool to keep employees safely connected while on the go.

3. Update Systems and Software Regularly

Most of your cybersecurity is going to be handled by software programs, such as firewalls and antivirus applications. These programs need to be updated regularly so any gaps in the security and issues with the code can be fixed and new security features can be utilized. You should also update your non-security-related systems regularly, as these systems may still have data and security patches included in updates to better protect them. For most systems and software, you can either install updates manually or set updates to install automatically.

4. Set Up Automatic Backups

Backing up all of your data and systems is a critical security task, but can take much more effort than can be afforded to do it manually. Instead, you should schedule frequent automatic backups of planning documentation, financial records, proprietary information, customer data and project information. You can set up a schedule in the cloud to automatically back up your data. The program can ensure all sensitive data is backed up on schedule, whereas a manual backup runs the risk of missing files or forgetting which files were updated and needs backing up.

5. Invest in Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The quintessential automation tool is AI. You can use AI and machine learning algorithms to automate many different programs, systems and applications in your workplace, including security. One of the advantages of AI is that it can learn on the job. You can program the algorithm with your cybersecurity information and requirements, and the AI will learn about cyber attacks as it protects your network and evolves to continue protecting you against threats as they evolve. Another advantage is that you can use the AI program to collect cybersecurity data and develop insights or predictive modeling to determine likely threats and develop strategies for protecting against them.

6. Leverage Multi-factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is an easy way to automate your cybersecurity. This type of authentication requires a user to have two or more identification and authentication methods to access content or a program. You do have to manually apply multi-factor authentication, but once it's applied to a system or program, it will automatically provide tighter, more multi-layered security for that software. You can use multi-factor authentication for everything from work devices to the cloud.

Ideally, you should have a mix of automated and manual security tools. This ensures your whole network and all access points have solid, multi-layered coverage in the event of an attempted hack or breach.