Five Cybersecurity Areas for Review This Month
Small Business
The following article was provided by Whittlesey. It is posted here with permission.
Cybersecurity conversations often stay within the IT department until a disruption affects operations, financial reporting, customer relationships, or day-to-day decision-making. By that point, the impact can already be significant. Cybersecurity Awareness Month is an excellent opportunity to step back, identify areas of exposure, and make practical decisions before year-end planning begins.
A good review does not require solving every issue at once. It should help you understand:
- Which risks are most relevant to your business
- Where responsibilities are unclear
- Which actions should be prioritized
Leadership can play a crucial role in creating momentum for this process.
1. Access, Permissions
Start by asking:
- Who currently has access to critical systems, financial platforms, shared files, and sensitive business data?
- Do former employees still have credentials?
- Do team members have broader permissions than necessary?
- Are vendors connected to systems longer than needed?
This area often reveals immediate improvements.
2. Vendor and Third-Party Exposure
Many cyber risks originate from third parties, including:
- Software providers
- Outsourced partners
- Payroll systems
- File-sharing tools
This is also a good time to evaluate key vendors. These relationships often handle sensitive information, financial workflows, or operational systems.
A practical review should:
- Identify third parties with access to important data and systems
- Determine the safeguards in place
- Ensure business reliance is based on defined processes, not assumptions
3. Incident Response Readiness
A cyber incident creates intense pressure. Organizations that respond effectively usually have:
- Clearly defined roles and responsibilities
- Establish decision-making processes
- Prioritized business functions to protect
You do not need a large, formal playbook to be prepared.