Between best practices and tools, how to guarantee your company's IT security

One morning like any other, you open your computer, and then disaster strikes. A cyber attack has paralysed your system, your data is encrypted, and there's nothing you can do. As a result of negligent IT security, your business is at risk.

This is not an unlikely scenario. In 2024, more than 195 million pieces of data were compromised worldwide and there were more than 5,400 ransomware attacks, according to a Comparitech study. In this article, we take a look at the main IT security risks, as well as the best practices for ensuring your protection and the essential tools that will allow you to sleep soundly at night. Let's take a look at how to deal with digital threats.

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What are the challenges of corporate IT security?

A cyber attack can cause a lot of damage. Here are the main dangers of these digital attacks:

Leakage of sensitive information

If your online security is not guaranteed, a hacker can carry out a computer attack in the form of an intrusion. He gains access to your confidential data, data relating to the development of your business or even customer information. 😨

Financial losses

Not complying with regulations can cost you dearly. During 2024, the CNIL handed down penalties amounting to several thousand euros for companies with too little data security. The fine can even be several tens of thousands of euros, as in the case of a failure to comply with RGPD, concerning information to individuals and consent, where the fine reached 15,000 euros.

Damaging your brand image

Even if your company does not manage sensitive data, being able to reassure your users that your services are secure shows that you take the information they entrust to you seriously. Adopting a reliable infrastructure helps you to position yourself as a player who knows how to deal with technical risk.

5 best practices to guarantee your company's IT security

The best guarantee of your IT security in the long term is your ability to adopt good practice. To develop a culture of cybersecurity within your company, start by applying these 5 practical tips.

1. Draw up a clear IT security policy

Start by defining your IT security objectives. The first step is to clarify your security rules and procedures. Make sure you know what the rules are in your industry. Draw up a policy that complies with these regulations and communicate it to all your employees. Protecting your business cannot be left to improvisation: you need to be able to give your employees clear answers about what to do!

2. Educate and train your employees

Adopting good practice starts with a thorough understanding of the subject. To achieve this, organise regular training sessions so that everyone knows which applications to use and how to do so safely. The aim is to become a little more familiar with the digital world, so that every employee can learn about data protection.

Also set up campaigns to raise awareness of risks such as phishing and the use of weak passwords.

3. Update systems and software regularly

To ensure you have a system capable of dealing with cyber threats, install security updates as soon as they are available. We're often tempted to delay these updates when we're caught up in the day-to-day, but using outdated technology is likely to increase your level of vulnerability.

👉 To limit the temptation to put off implementing your next update, consider using management tools that automate the process.

4. Back up data securely

Although it may seem obvious, backing up your data properly is good practice in itself. Particularly if you keep sensitive data about your business or your customers, you need to keep this personal information secure.

To do this, set up regular, automated back-ups. Also remember to store back-ups in secure locations, ideally off-site. Here too, it's a good idea to use backup software to make sure you're on the safe side and don't lose any precious data.

5. Control access to systems

If it is difficult to ensure that your entire organisation is trained in security, or simply to reinforce the processes you already have in place, you can use identity and access management policies.

Identity and Access Management (IAM), as it's known in the US, allows you to :

• manage who has access to certain resources
• verify the identity of users
• and monitor their actions.

✅ To control authentication on your network even more easily, you can also strengthen your monitoring by implementing multi-factor authentication.

Additional best practices for VSEs and SMEs

The government has produced this clear and precise video on cybersecurity issues and solutions for VSEs and SMEs.

Topics covered included

• teleworking and related security issues,
• the dematerialisation of exchanges
• the possible consequences of a cyber attack for a small business
• where to find a cyber expert, etc.

The 5 essential tools for IT security

1. Adopt the right anti-virus and anti-malware software

Cyber attacks often mean malware, ransomware or other threats that you might not think of. That's where anti-virus and anti-malware come in, real-time solutions that detect and remove malicious software. The idea is simple: to protect your operating systems from harmful programmes that can compromise the security of your company's data. 🛡️

Make sure you choose a recent solution that offers regular updates, to prevent your antivirus from becoming obsolete in the face of new risks. After all, a well-updated antivirus is your guarantee of better security management for your business.

2. Use a VPN

VPNs are often associated with personal use, but they play a strategic role in corporate cybersecurity. When it comes to cyber security, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is your digital shield when it comes to securing remote connections. It encrypts the data transmitted between your employees and the company network, ensuring that their exchanges remain private, even when they connect via public or insecure Internet access.

With data interception attacks on the increase, using a VPN is a valuable security measure for improving the security of your company's exchanges and networks. Setting up a VPN is relatively simple and accessible to all sizes of business, including SMEs and VSEs. This reduces the risk of leaking crucial information and preserves your company's brand image.

3. Consider automated backup solutions

Whether it's due to a cyber-attack, an accident, or simply human error, your data can disappear in the blink of an eye if you're not protected. As we mentioned earlier, in such a situation, it's best to have a backup of your data! With an automated backup solution, you can considerably reduce the risk of data loss.

These tools allow you to schedule regular back-ups, without manual intervention. In the event of a problem, rapid restoration means you can get back to normal quickly and avoid service interruptions.

4. Discover identity and access management (IAM) tools

IAM tools enable you to control access rights to resources centrally. With a centralised system for managing identifiers and authorisations, you have total control over who can access which data or applications, reducing the risk of information leaks or internal abuse.

By integrating IAM tools into your IT security policy, you can strengthen the security of your systems while guaranteeing an optimum level of security for your employees.

5. Invest in a threat detection and response system (EDR/XDR)

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and Extended Detection and Response (XDR) go far beyond traditional anti-virus. They provide in-depth visibility of suspicious activity within your IT network, enabling proactive detection of threats and rapid response to incidents. It's not the most common tool, so take the time to find one that suits your needs. Here's a quick overview based on your business structure:

• VSEs/SMEs: For SME IT security, EDR solutions such as SentinelOne or CrowdStrike offer tailored solutions that are easy to implement and affordable. These solutions can be used to strengthen corporate IT security without the need for a dedicated cybersecurity team.

• Medium-sized businesses: For medium-sized businesses, XDR platforms such as those offered by Palo Alto Networks or Microsoft Defender XDR provide extensive coverage, integrating security for endpoints, email and cloud applications. They facilitate security management by centralising alerts and automating incident response.

• Large enterprises: If you're part of a large enterprise, you can take advantage of advanced XDR solutions, incorporating artificial intelligence for real-time detection of complex threats. Specialist companies such as IBM Security with its IBM Security QRadar XDR, or IT company Cisco with its Cisco XDR, both offer customised services. These include setting up a security operations centre for continuous monitoring.

[Bonus] Top 10 companies specialising in cybersecurity

Here is a selection of the 10 most influential cybersecurity companies in France, recognised for their expertise and commitment to data protection.

1. Atos: European leader in cybersecurity, Atos offers comprehensive solutions ranging from secure clouds to supercomputers. In 2023, the company strengthened its cybersecurity division with the creation of Eviden, consolidating its position in the market.

2. Thales Group: A major player in the defence and aerospace sectors, Thales also offers advanced cybersecurity solutions, particularly for critical infrastructures. With more than 83,000 employees, the company invests heavily in research and development to anticipate future threats.

3. Systancia: Specialising in access and identity management, Systancia offers innovative solutions such as the Zero Trust SaaS platform "cyberlements.io". In 2021, it launched Neomia, a subsidiary dedicated to artificial intelligence, strengthening its cybersecurity offering.

4. Stormshield: An Airbus subsidiary, Stormshield is renowned for its network security solutions, in particular its ANSSI-certified firewalls. The company plays a key role in protecting critical infrastructures in France.

5. Wallix: A specialist in privileged access management, Wallix is a listed French company with a presence in more than 10 countries. It has been recognised by Gartner as a key player in its field.

6. ITrust: Based in Toulouse, ITrust offers incident detection and response solutions (SOC and SIEM) based on artificial intelligence. The company was recently selected to secure sensitive projects in the healthcare sector.

7. YesWeHack: A bug bounty platform, YesWeHack connects businesses with a global community of ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities. It has been chosen by the French government to strengthen the security of its digital services.

8. Tehtris: Tehtris develops an XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platform that centralises threat detection and response. The company is renowned for its ability to neutralise cyber attacks in real time.

9. Digital Security: A subsidiary of Orange Cyberdefense, Digital Security specialises in cybersecurity auditing and consulting, particularly for connected objects (IoT). It helps companies to comply with current regulations.

10. Synetis: Synetis offers cybersecurity consulting and integration services, with particular expertise in identity and access management (IAM). The company has grown rapidly, doubling its workforce in two years to meet growing demand.

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IT security for businesses, in a nutshell!

Now you have everything you need to secure your data and keep your systems safe. The risks of cyber-attacks should not be overlooked, as they can be costly in terms of time, money and brand image, but with the right practices and the right tools, you can deal with them calmly.

Get trained, store your data in secure locations and establish clear control over access. As for the rest, don't forget that even the best tools can't protect you if they're not kept up to date! It's up to you, it's time to make sure your business becomes the model to follow when it comes to cyber security. 💪