In today’s digital age, cybersecurity is more important than ever before.
You might have an online business and do not want it to be disrupted. You might just want your bank account not to be hacked. Or your personal information not be disclosed.
In all cases, the answer deals with information security.
However, despite its actual importance in one’s life (I am supposing here that you are not living in a cave), the majority of people lack the big picture of how cybersecurity connects with their lives.
Like many other things, we compartmentalize cybersecurity as a separate domain. Just different from the rest of the world. On the one hand, we leave our lives without thinking about it, and on the other hand, we hope for the best. We often leave cybersecurity to random circumstances and fail to manage it proactively, which can lead to devastating consequences. It is not surprising: it’s not by blinding us to a problem that it goes away.
Even when we actually recognize the importance of cybersecurity and do something about it, we often approach it passively. You might use second-factor authentication on some social media platforms but forget to activate it on others, potentially even more important platforms. I get it. It is the normal state of things. If not managed, information security goes back to its normal state: chaos.
This is where a systematic approach to cybersecurity can make all the difference. A proactive approach helps to manage cybersecurity risks effectively and ensures that you are protecting your information and privacy to the fullest extent. Or at least, it gets you closer to the level of protection you aspire to. Remember that there is no miracle solution and that security is a domain we can only do our best, but we will never reach zero risk.
So, where do we start?
To begin, it’s crucial to identify the types of information that require protection, as well as the potential threats and vulnerabilities that exist. This requires taking a holistic approach and considering all aspects of your life, including personal, financial, and professional information.
For example, personal information such as your name, address, and social security number can be targeted by cybercriminals looking to steal your identity or commit fraud. Financial information such as bank account numbers and credit card information can be targeted to gain unauthorized access to your funds. Professional information, such as emails and intellectual property, can be targeted by cybercriminals looking to gain a competitive advantage or cause reputational harm.
Once you’ve identified the information that requires protection, it’s essential to develop a plan that addresses potential risks and vulnerabilities. It might include using strong and unique passwords, regularly updating software and security settings, and being cautious when accessing sensitive information online. But your plan is most likely to be unique because, well, your specific risks are unique. If you own a website and I don’t, our cybersecurity goals will be different.
One way to manage cybersecurity proactively is to use a systematic approach that includes the following steps:
- Identify your cybersecurity goals and the information that requires protection.
- Assess potential risks and vulnerabilities, including potential threats and weaknesses in your current security measures.
- Develop a plan to address potential risks and vulnerabilities, including best practices for password management, software updates, and other security measures.
- Regularly monitor your cybersecurity to ensure that your plan is effective and up-to-date.
By creating a cybersecurity strategy and turning it into a plan that aligns with your overall goals and values, you can ensure that you’re taking the necessary steps to protect yourself and your information online. I developed a guide on how to complete each of these steps. I believe following it will be your first action toward managing proactively your online security.
If you are wondering what you can do to gain immediately a higher level of protection, I shared with you in this post what actions you can take now for a better level of personal cybersecurity.
In conclusion, it’s essential to recognize that cybersecurity is not just about protecting your data; it’s about protecting your entire life, including your financial and physical health.
Online security is not a separate life domain anymore. It is real and has real consequences. Like your finances, it must be under control. Not becoming an obsession, but be managed. Taking proactive steps to manage your cybersecurity risks can help you achieve peace of mind and live a better life, instead of having a latent anxiety in the background. This is what this website is about.
