Serious cyber attacks are generally aimed at interfering with an IT infrastructure in order to cause significant damage to it. For attackers with the aim of blackmail, financial enrichment or damage to reputation, companies are a far more worthwhile target than private individuals. This makes IT security (also known as cybersecurity) in companies an area that should not be neglected under any circumstances.
But attackers are becoming more and more insidious and the threat has been increasing for several years - so where do you start with security precautions? We provide you with an overview of this extensive topic, which can serve as an initial orientation.
IT security refers to a holistic approach to protecting computer systems, networks and data from a variety of threats arising from the digital environment. This includes protection against unauthorized access, manipulation or theft of sensitive information as well as against damage that can be caused by cyber attacks.
IT security measures aim to ensure the confidentiality, integrity and availability of data and systems. This includes the implementation of firewalls, antivirus software, encryption technologies, access controls, security policies and employee training programs.
As the threat landscape is constantly changing, IT security requires continuous monitoring, adaptation and updating to keep pace with the latest threats and maintain an appropriate level of protection.
In an IT security concept, there are various protection goals that can be weighted differently depending on the industry and infrastructure. However, the three cornerstones of information security always remain relevant everywhere.
The three primary objectives (also known as the CIA triad) are defined by the BSI (German Federal Office for Information Security):
Hackers, phishing emails and other online dangers are not the only threat. You also need to think about physical risks in your security concept. For example, burglars who want to get into your server room or external influences such as a fire that damages your hard disks.
IT security is therefore concerned with all measures that are necessary to protect all hardware and software systems used. The aim is comprehensive information security, i.e. to secure all information and data in every possible way. Responsibility in companies always lies with the company management.
This is precisely what makes this discipline so complex, as your company's IT infrastructure must be constantly monitored and protected against a wide range of threats.
Important: IT security in companies is the responsibility of the management. They must ensure that the appropriate resources and personnel are available.
Malware is an artificial word for "malicious software", i.e. malicious software that is smuggled into your network. This can infect your infrastructure in the form of viruses or Trojans, for example. In the corporate context, however, ransomware plays a particularly important role.
According to the BSI, ransomware is the biggest and most common threat to IT security in companies. It often spreads through macros that are hidden in file attachments sent by email. To avoid attacks, such macros should never be executed.
The infiltrated malware ensures that devices, servers or parts of them are blocked for you and all other users. With access to your own data behind them, the attackers make demands - usually in the form of a ransom demand.
In phishing, criminals try to obtain confidential data (e.g. access or bank details) using fake emails (or other messages such as text messages). While mass emails tend to be impersonal, spear phishing attacks are targeted at employees of specific companies or industries. They are researched in detail and can look like internal company emails. Whaling goes one step further - the fake emails are aimed at managers and other high-ranking people in the company.
The Federal Office for Information Security has published a report on IT security in Germany in 2022. This makes it clear how much and in what way the threat has increased in recent years.
The most common security risks for companies were identified:
However, this does not mean that the other risks mentioned in this article should be neglected. IT security should always be reliable and as broad-based as possible.
In the event of a cyberattack, not only internal company data but also customer data is affected. IT security in companies is therefore not mandatory, but sometimes follows industry-specific legal regulations.
These are stipulated, for example, by the EU General Data Protection Regulation and the IT Security Acts 1.0 and 2.0 (as of June 2024). Critical infrastructure companies must comply with particularly strict IT security requirements. These include nuclear power plants, hospitals and telecommunications companies. They even have to report possible attacks to an official body, namely the Federal Office for Information Security (BSI).
However, the fact that there is a separate federal office for this topic shows that a lack of IT security is no joke, even in a free market economy. Cybercrime ultimately affects everyone - from small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to large corporations.
A word at this point: This article is intended to help you understand the importance and scope of the topic and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions, we recommend that you contact an IT security manager or consult the official website of the BSI.
As the digital transformation progresses, so too do potential points of risk that you need to consider in your IT security strategy. Changes in working behavior, which have developed particularly since the coronavirus pandemic, also play a role here.
More and more people are working remotely. Whether working from home or on the move from a café - security measures need to be just as effective here as they are on-site at your company. However, this is often not the case. Dialing into public, sometimes unsecured networks is a major problem here.
As a result, the blurred boundaries between private and business use of devices are a problem for IT security in companies. Installing internal company messengers on a private smartphone, for example, is already a violation of the GDPR according to the current legal situation. The reason for this is the data that may not be stored outside company-internal devices and applications in the first place.
Another increasing risk comes from the growing Internet of Things (IoT). Smart devices of all kinds - whether smart homes or intelligent purchases in the office - increase the potential attack surface in cyberspace.
There are measures that are indispensable and can often be implemented in-house without IT specialists. They are fundamental because they form the absolute basis of IT security in companies - but also everywhere else. The BSI also strongly recommends implementing them:
With regular updates, you ensure that your software is up to date with the latest security standards.
Regular data backups should also not be neglected. This data should be backed up either on an external hard disk or in cloud services, although a combination of both methods is also possible. The integrity and functionality of the data backup should also be checked regularly. Antivirus programs and firewalls should be installed on every system to ensure basic security through automatic updates. All chosen passwords should be as strong as possible and should not be used more than once. A password manager can help you with this. Do not rely solely on a secure password. Use two-factor authentication, where a TAN, for example, is requested in the second step in addition to a code word.
In principle, all devices in your company should be protected against malware and viruses by anti-virus programs and firewalls.
You should never rest on your laurels when it comes to good passwords and virus protection. This may be sufficient in a private environment, but your data is too important (and the guidelines are often too strict) for this to be enough.
Instead, you need a detailed security concept and IT specialists to implement it. After all, IT security is not something that is done once - it needs to be constantly adapted, because malware is also constantly evolving. In principle, your approach should always include permanent planning, implementation and monitoring.
This is facilitated by what is known as an Information Security Management System (ISMS). This defines rules and procedures to ensure IT security in companies. Large corporations in particular cannot avoid having one in order to quickly identify and rectify risks and problems. Important: Such a system is the responsibility of the management and follows a top-down approach. Decisions can therefore be made by technically competent employees (such as IT staff and GDPR officers).
When it comes to IT security in companies, it is important that all employees are trained. IT specialists and management cannot implement this alone. All people with access to company data must follow certain rules to ensure that the security concept works.
This includes, for example, the careful use of passwords, downloading updates and avoiding public Wi-Fi spots. But it is also important that your employees are able to recognize, avoid and report security risks at an early stage.
Don't forget to prevent risks that directly affect your hardware. Whether by malicious intent from outside or by accident - computers, servers and hard disks in the physical sense can also become a target. Consider this fact in your IT security concept.
Locking your servers, data center and laptops after use can be a possible measure. To prevent data loss, backups should always be created and stored on external hard disks or in RAID systems (Redundant Array of Independent Discs).
You should also pay close attention to the specified security factors when choosing your hardware. For example, server racks are available with a fireproof design. However, it is generally worthwhile choosing high-quality components such as switches, transceivers or network servers. If you are interested in sustainable, used products, do not buy them privately, but from a reputable source.
There is no standardized method for measuring the security level of your IT concept. Instead, you have the option of choosing the best approach for you. These are possible, for example:
White hat hackers, ethical hackers or penetration testers (pen testers) have set themselves the task of finding vulnerabilities. To do this, they put themselves in the shoes of their criminal colleagues and simulate an attack on your IT infrastructure. In the event of a gap, this can be closed at an early stage.
It is also helpful to measure the speed and ability with which your company reacts to attacks. Estimating response times and the time it takes to restore data helps to assess the security situation.
You can use security audits to regularly review your IT security measures and assess potential vulnerabilities.
Defined security metrics help with a targeted assessment. For example, you can record the number of incidents, the average remediation time or the success rate of security audits.
Cyber security starts with a well-planned and reliable IT infrastructure. It helps to create a dense architecture for the flow of information, but also to quickly isolate problems.
However, IT security in companies means more than that. Under no circumstances should you cut corners when setting up an appropriate concept, software and hardware or the personnel costs for IT staff. Everything ensures that data relating to your projects, employees and customers is protected against attacks. By complying with the BSI standards, including BSI Standard 200-1, 200-2, 200-3, 200-4 and 100-4, for IT security, you also have the opportunity to obtain ISO 27001 certification. This is awarded exclusively by auditors certified by the German Federal Office for Information Security and is recognized worldwide. Proof of compliance with the standards not only gives you security, but also potential customers.
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Companies can measure and evaluate their IT security by carrying out the following steps:
In order to obtain ISO 27001 certification, companies must set up an information security management system (ISMS) in accordance with the requirements of ISO 27001 and implement this within the company. In addition, internal audits must be carried out, followed by a certification audit of the company by an accredited body.
Companies must comply with various legal regulations relating to IT security, including:
The most common security risks for companies are malware, phishing attacks, software vulnerabilities, human error and insecure system configurations.
The most important steps for implementing an IT security concept in a company are:
