Around 2015, I became increasingly aware of the significant lack of effective security measures within the industry. Recognising the potential risks and vulnerabilities, I embarked on devising and developing a security-compliant platform tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).

Today, I am proud to be the founder and operator of my own cybersecurity business, which has been shaped by my vision and dedication to providing a secure environment for SMBs.

Cyber safety is the practice of safeguarding individuals, organisations, and systems from potential threats and the rising risks that exist today.

Cyber safety involves the implementation of security protocols, use of encryption, regular software updates, awareness of phishing and social engineering tactics, and promoting responsible digital behaviour among users to ensure a secure online environment. It’s an all-round more comprehensive, thorough approach to cybersecurity.

Cyber safety ensures the protection of sensitive data, business continuity, legal and regulatory compliance, intellectual property protection, prevention of financial loss, personal safety and protection against disruption. Underlying all of this – cyber safety is so important because it’s centred on fostering a safe digital environment for everyone.

Cybercriminals continuously evolve their tactics, techniques, and procedures to launch sophisticated and targeted attacks. Insider threats, both intentional and unintentional, remain a considerable challenge. Equally, the shortage of skilled cybersecurity professionals is a critical challenge for businesses who may often rely on IT departments to do some of cybersecurity’s heavy lifting. To move towards a safer digital environment, businesses need the right tools and people for the job. Last, there’s a misunderstanding that cyber compliance offers adequate protection. In reality, it’s the beginning, not the end, of an organisation’s pursuit of digital protection.

Training programmes and workshops to educate employees and management about cybersecurity best practices are important. This should extend beyond cybersecurity departments, as employees in other areas are always threatened by new attack methodologies; a dynamic that has increased as our web of devices become increasingly linked.

It’s also important to implement clear and comprehensive cybersecurity policies and procedures that outline the organisation’s approach to cyber safety.

Cybersecurity teams should be conducting regular risk assessments to identify potential vulnerabilities in the organisation's IT infrastructure, and they should also be investing in up-to-date cybersecurity tools and technologies, such as firewalls, intrusion detection and prevention systems, antivirus software, encryption tools, and security information and event management (SIEM) solutions.

Implementing comprehensive cybersecurity best practices can be resource-intensive, requiring significant investments in technology, training, and personnel. Compliance might be seen as a more achievable initial step to meet minimal security requirements, but it’s not enough. It’s also difficult to fully comprehend the evolving nature of cyber threats, so it’s hard to prioritise cyber safety without the full picture. Each business has it’s unique strengths and vulnerabilities, this is why gaining contextual information is so important when strategizing and implementing cyber security efforts.

Online security will evolve to be more proactive, adaptive, and integrated into every aspect of technology and business operations to address the ever-changing threat landscape effectively. Businesses and staff will need to be vigilant and stay updated on the latest security practices to ensure a secure digital environment.

Homomorphic encryption is a cryptographic technique that allows data to remain encrypted even while undergoing computations or analysis. This technology holds promise in various domains, especially in scenarios where data privacy and security are critical, such as cloud computing, healthcare, finance, and data sharing between organisations.

Microsoft invests heavily in cybersecurity research and has made significant strides in securing its products and services. They offer a range of security solutions and services to help protect their customers from cyber threats.