Expanding a business is an exciting venture, but doing so introduces significant challenges, one being cybersecurity risks. As you grow, your attack surface area increases, so your organisation becomes a more attractive target for cybercriminals. Given the complexity of this, professional cybersecurity services can provide a range of support with 24/7 monitoring and incident response. Here are some ways to protect your assets and data.
- Due Diligence
A cybersecurity risk assessment is needed to evaluate the security posture of any new location or technologies being integrated. Consider the security of a new office’s network infrastructure and physical access controls. If merging with another company, assess existing practices and infrastructure for vulnerabilities. This evaluation should examine password policies, access controls, data handling procedures, and existing security software. Document all findings and create a remediation plan that addresses identified weaknesses before integration proceeds.
- New Infrastructure and Data
You’ll be getting new servers, cloud environments, and a larger network. Introduce a zero-trust security model, which assumes no user or device can be trusted by default. This needs strict verification for every access attempt. All sensitive data, like financial records and customer information, must be encrypted and stored in compliance with GDPR or other relevant regulations. Recent UK government data shows that 43% of UK businesses experienced cybersecurity breaches in 2024, with medium and large businesses facing higher risk rates of 70% and 74%, respectively. This emphasises the importance of solid infrastructure protection from the outset.
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Subscribe- Employee Access
When you bring on new employees or contractors, make sure they receive comprehensive security awareness training. This should cover phishing recognition and proper handling of sensitive data. Implement a strict access control policy based on the principle of least privilege, guaranteeing employees only access to systems necessary for their specific roles. Regular training updates are essential, as cybersecurity experts report that 42% of organisations experienced increased phishing incidents in 2024, often targeting new or undertrained staff members.
- Post-Expansion Monitoring
Expansion requires continuous monitoring, which means that you must establish better monitoring and incident response plans. Regular security audits and reviews are needed to adapt to new threats and keep defences effective. Set up automated threat detection systems, maintain updated security protocols, and make sure that your incident response team can quickly address breaches. Create detailed documentation of all systems and regularly test your response procedures to guarantee that they remain effective as your business grows.
Business expansion presents tremendous opportunities, but cybersecurity must remain a top priority throughout the growth process. When implementing good security measures from the planning stage through post-expansion monitoring, organisations can protect their valuable assets whilst achieving their growth objectives safely and securely.
