Worried About Cybersecurity? U.S. Homeland Security Agency Has Advice For Businesses

Last week, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) released a new report outlining efforts that businesses, local and state governments, and other organizations can take to enhance their cybersecurity. As CISA said, every organization is at risk from cyber threats. Indeed, over the past year, cyber incidents have impacted many companies, nonprofits, and other organizations, large and small, across multiple sectors of the economy.

The report, titled “Implement Cybersecurity Measures Now to Protect Against Potential Critical Threats,” is intended to ensure senior leaders at all organizations are aware of critical cyber risks and take urgent, near-term steps to reduce the likelihood and impact of a potentially damaging compromise. CISA advised that all organizations, regardless of sector or size, should immediately:

• Reduce the likelihood of a damaging cyber intrusion.
• Take steps to quickly detect a potential intrusion.
• Ensure that the organization is prepared to respond if an intrusion occurs.
• Maximize the organization’s resilience to a destructive cyber incident.

CISA has asked that organizations report incidents to CISA and/or to their local FBI field office or to the FBI by calling (855) 292-3937 or emailing CyWatch@fbi.gov. Information about how to report incidents to CISA is here. Read CISA’s report here.