In late February, the United States Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a Shields Up warning, stating that the Russia-Ukraine crisis could impact organizations within the U.S. Now with tensions escalating even further, the White House is encouraging all U.S. businesses to take steps to strengthen their cybersecurity defense against Russia. On March 21, President Biden released an official statement regarding our nation’s cybersecurity, citing “evolving intelligence that the Russian Government is exploring options for potential cyberattacks.”
“If you have not already done so, I urge our private sector partners to harden your cyber defenses immediately by implementing the best practices we have developed together over the last year,” said Biden.
In addition to his statement, Biden also signed a National Security Memorandum (NSM) to bolster cybersecurity for the National Security, Department of Defense, and Intelligence Community Systems. This follows his Executive Order (E.O) 14028, Improving the Nation’s Cybersecurity, which he signed in May last year.
The White House is encouraging all American organizations to implement the following eight steps to improve their cyber defense:
- Mandate multi-factor authentication on your systems.
- Install the latest security tools on your computers and devices to monitor and mitigate threats.
- Meet with cybersecurity experts to ensure systems are protected and patched against all known vulnerabilities and change passwords across your networks.
- Back up your data both online and offline.
- Run emergency drills to prepare for immediately responding to cyberattacks.
- Encrypt your data.
- Educate your employees about common strategies used for hacking via email or through websites, and encourage them to report any unusual behavior demonstrated by their computers or phones, like crashing or operating very slowly.
- Be proactive in establishing relationships with your local FBI field office or CISA Regional Office, and reference the CISA and FBI websites for technical information and resources.
With so many precautions required, implementing proper security measures for your business can seem overwhelming. Thankfully, Uprite Services can help you get started.
Now is the time to reach out to a cybersecurity partner you can trust. You can call Uprite Services today at 866-570-3065 to find out how we can protect your Texas business. We are a managed IT and cybersecurity provider specializing in solutions to streamline your business.