Secure Internal Communication: How to Protect Yourself from a Hack – Part 1

Cybercrime is on the rise, and your most vulnerable spot may come as a surprise—the most common attacks on businesses include phishing and ransomware, where attackers gain access to your network through your employees.

To protect yourself from a hack, your first line of defense should be to secure internal communication and equip your staff with the knowledge they need to keep your network, data, and communications secure. 

Part 1: Secure Internal Communication Fundamentals – The First Steps to Protect Your Business from Hackers 

In part one of this series, we’ll cover the first steps you need to take to secure internal communications.  

Hackers are constantly evolving their techniques to exploit vulnerabilities, making it critical for organizations of all sizes and industries to prioritize cybersecurity. In addition to phishing and ransomware, other methods attackers exploit include business email compromise scams, cryptojacking, DDoS attacks, spoofing Wi-Fi networks, identity theft, IoT breaches, and many more. Thankfully, many of these threats can be mitigated and reduced by following these 4 steps: 

1. Educate and Train Your Team 

Your employees are your first line of defense. Cyberattacks like phishing often rely on human error to succeed. Regular training on recognizing suspicious emails, links, and attachments can drastically reduce the likelihood of a breach. 

• Conduct periodic phishing simulations and reward employees for correctly identifying and reporting phishing attempts. Share the results with the entire company to get everyone on the same page of what to look for and how to proceed. 

• Share updates on the latest cyber threats. Knowledge is power when it comes to ensuring secure internal communication.  

• Reinforce the importance of strong, unique passwords and implement regular password updates for the entire company. Consider a password management tool to relieve some of the burden on staff while simultaneously strengthening password protections. 

2. Invest in Robust Cybersecurity Tools 

A layered security approach that optimizes human and digital assets is key to protecting sensitive data. To harden your secure internal communication strategies, equip your business with the right technologies to deter, detect, and respond to threats. 

• Use managed firewalls and intrusion detection systems as your first line of network defense. Add Secure SD-WAN for complete oversight and management of your network. 

• Install endpoint security software such as Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) that can protect your business from any endpoint or device, onsite or remotely. 

• Regularly update all software and operating systems to patch vulnerabilities. This is a crucial and often overlooked vulnerability that is relatively simple to implement and maintain. 

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) 

MFA adds an additional layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity through two or more methods. This simple step can prevent unauthorized access, even if login credentials are compromised. 

4. Secure Your Network 

Unprotected networks are easy targets for hackers. Take measures to fortify your network security: 

• Make sure your communications provider provides a secure platform with physical and digital security such as housing data in secure servers and end-to-end encryption. 

• Use Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) for remote workers. SASE is an even better option since it encompasses zero trust network architecture, SD-WAN, and next generation VPNs that protect your network both onsite and from any remote endpoint. 

• Regularly change Wi-Fi passwords and segregate guest networks from your primary business network to ensure your most sensitive and mission-critical data is only accessible to trusted and authenticated users. 

Looking Ahead 

These foundational steps are critical to creating a strong secure internal communication framework. But as cyber threats continue evolving, you’ll need to learn how to adapt and stay ahead of the curve.

In the next part of this series, we’ll explore advanced strategies, including incident response planning and the role of your communication provider, to further strengthen your defenses.