Why is cyber security hygiene the foundation of protection
One of the first steps in avoiding threats is establishing basic information security hygiene. Properly maintained systems significantly reduce the number of exploitable weaknesses and increase the effort required for a successful attack.
In information security, learning from incidents affecting other organisations is a critical part of staying resilient. Do not wait until your organisation has suffered damage, act before it happens. If you hear about a vulnerability or a cyber attack at another company, immediately assess your own exposure:
- Do we have a similar vulnerability?
- Are we prepared to defend against this type of attack?
- Are our current security measures sufficient, or do we need to strengthen them?
If a vulnerability exists in your environment, follow the remediation recommendations straight away. Many organisations only react when a peer company is visibly attacked, by which point it may already be too late. Delayed action can result in significant time and cost spent recovering customer trust, repairing reputation, and restoring normal operations.
Poor software maintenance is one of the most reliable paths to persistent vulnerabilities. When IT teams perform their responsibilities properly, equipment and applications either contain no exploitable weaknesses or make a successful attack extremely difficult to carry out.
That said, no organisation is fully immune to third-party negligence. It is therefore essential to:
- Define clear contractual obligations around security and incident reporting with all partners and suppliers.
- Regularly reassess third-party risks, especially those of critical service providers.
- Assess whether business partners and contractors adequately protect personal data.
- Verify that the products they develop and supply meet your security requirements.
How to protect your business against cyber attacks
Attacking people is often more effective than attempting to bypass technical controls such as firewalls or antivirus solutions. People often misjudge the legitimacy of an email or message and follow instructions from an attacker without realising it.
Industry reports consistently show a growing number of incidents involving fraudulent money transfers, stolen login credentials, and encrypted data being held for ransom, all triggered by a single click on a malicious file. Raising cyber security awareness among employees is therefore one of the most effective defences available.
Practical steps every organisation should take
- Keep software up to date. Regularly apply security patches and updates across all systems. Outdated software is one of the most common entry points for attackers.
- Conduct periodic security assessments. Perform penetration testing, risk assessments, access rights reviews, and security audits periodically, based on your risk profile (annually or after significant changes). These exercises often surface weaknesses that are overlooked or underestimated. Independent assessments by external parties can provide additional objectivity and often identify issues internal teams may overlook.
- Enforce password hygiene. The average internet user manages around 80 online accounts, making it practically impossible to remember strong, unique passwords for each. Users often default to simple number sequences, names, or easily guessed words. Encourage the use of password managers to generate and store strong, distinct passwords for every account. Good password discipline makes attackers' jobs significantly harder across the board. Wherever possible, enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA).
- Implement proper backup and recovery. To minimise the impact of a cyber attack, maintain regular, tested backups stored on a separate infrastructure. In the event of a complete system compromise, operations can be restored quickly without paying a ransom or losing critical data.
What to do if a cyber attack happens
Even well-prepared organisations can be targeted. Having an effective incident response plan in place and testing it regularly is the difference between a contained incident and a business-disrupting crisis.
- Ensure employees know how and when to report. Every member of staff should know exactly who to contact if they observe something suspicious, especially those working remotely or in hybrid arrangements. Cyber security problems are often caused by human factors, not by system errors. Regular security training on data protection, preventive actions, and how to recognise a potential incident is essential.
- Respond swiftly. If you are an employee and you suspect a cyber attack is underway, inform your manager and the responsible personnel immediately. If you are a company leader, significant incidents should be reported to the National Cyber Security Centre, which can provide guidance on managing the situation. Speed matters – the faster the response, the less damage an attack can cause.
- Maintain and test your incident management plan. An incident response plan or business continuity plan is only useful if staff are familiar with it. Test and update it regularly so that everyone knows their role under pressure and can carry out actions quickly and correctly without confusion in a stressful situation.
Frequently asked questions about protecting your business from cyber attacks
What is the most common cause of cyber attacks on businesses?
Human factors are among the leading causes of successful cyber attacks. Employees clicking on phishing emails, using weak passwords, or failing to apply software updates account for the majority of successful breaches. Technical defences are important, but employee awareness is equally critical.
How often should businesses conduct security assessments?
At a minimum, twice a year. Organisations in higher-risk sectors or those undergoing significant IT changes should conduct security assessments more frequently. External assessors are preferable to internal teams, as they bring objectivity and broader exposure to current threat patterns.
What should be included in a cyber incident response plan?
A response plan should define:
- who is responsible for declaring an incident,
- internal and external communication procedures,
- steps to contain to investigate the breach,
- recovery procedures,
- criteria for notifying regulators or affected parties.
The plan should be tested regularly through simulated exercises.
How can small businesses protect themselves from cyber attacks?
Start with the fundamentals:
- keep all software patched and up to date,
- enforce strong password policies with a password manager,
- enable multi-factor authentication on key accounts,
- maintain regular backups stored offline or in a separate environment,
- train your employees to recognise phishing attempts.
These steps address the majority of common attack vectors without requiring a large budget.
When should a cyber attack be reported to authorities?
In Lithuania and across the EU, significant incidents affecting critical services or involving personal data breaches must be reported to the relevant national authority, in Lithuania, the National Cyber Security Centre (NKSC). Even for minor incidents, early reporting is advisable, as authorities can provide guidance and track broader threat patterns.
Act before an attack – not after
The earlier you take steps to establish an adequate level of information security, the more you reduce both the likelihood of an attack and the damage it can cause. Reactive measures are far more costly in time, money, and reputation than proactive ones.
If you are looking to strengthen your current cyber security practices, the Baltic Amadeus information security team is ready to help. Get in touch to discuss an assessment or explore the right security measures for your organisation.
