Cyber Security Essentials for Clubs
To help to understand how Club Insure approach improving the cyber security at your club, we break down our process into three parts. These core pillars are essential to your business protection.
Breaking down the process help us focus on what matters; taking a step by step approach to make sure we’ve covered every base. We ask you look through these three crucial areas and also discover our upcoming features on more ways you can protect yourself.
People
The biggest threat to any business is you and your employees. One small mistake could cost your business precious time, money and its reputation.
Human error remains the leading cause of data breaches. It’s very important that all staff are able to identify and report all types of cyber threats. You are only as strong as your least informed employee.
Process
Every company, big or small, needs to communicate their organisations cyber security policy – this is a cyber security essential! Computer systems should have defined roles and departments need to follow documented procedures.
Businesses should determine what rights and privileges users need to perform their duties, making sure higher-level system privileges are carefully controlled and managed. As well as individual logins for employees whenever possible, redundant accounts should be removed immediately.
A strong cyber leadership is needed to establish and enforce processes. Management must be prepared to invest in cyber security resources.
Cyber threats are not just online – think physical. Unauthorised visitors, removable media, unsecured IT equipment are all examples where data can go missing.
Technology
You need the help of external hardware and software. This may come in the form of a Firewall, Antivirus or Spam filter, all helping to mitigate cyber risks.
Your main business system may be current and supported, but when paired with another solution, vulnerabilities usually appear.
It’s a good idea to hire an external expert to evaluate your risks. Periodic cyber security assessments are a central element in any good security programme because it highlights the strengths you can amplify and the weaknesses you can improve. An external penetration test will provide a comprehensive report of your company’s exposure.
Updates are essential. As new security risks are invented and found out, security updates need to be installed regularly. They are likely to incorporate more secure measures including dual authentication and security questions – both part and parcel of today’s cyber security.
The importance of understanding the cyber security essentials
Now you know what to look out for, take some time out and look at your people, processes and technology. Are they up to scratch? Could they prevent a potentially catastrophic attack on your venue?
Research suggests a successful cyber attack could cost a UK sports club around £10,000. Make sure an attack doesn’t cripple your business by arranging cyber insurance.
Here at Club Insure, we truly want to help your club stay covered. While insurance will help avoid a financial fiasco, you should always consider risk management too. That’s why we published a range of cyber security articles to help you safeguard your club against cyber attack risk. For more information, or to speak to our risk management team, please get in touch.
If you’re not sure, chat to our team and we can walk you through how to make sure you’re safe.