10 Cybersecurity Best Practices for US Businesses & Individuals

With financial damage caused by cybercrimes expected to reach $10.5 trillion by the end of 2025, cyber security has become a matter of survival for US businesses.

What do businesses and individuals need to do to be on the safe side? The answers lie within the following page.  

In this guide, we will take you through 10 essential cybersecurity best practices, explaining what they are, how you can implement them and what can be the consequences if you ignore them.

Conduct Regular Cyber Security Audits

Just like your annual medical check-up, cybersecurity audits are a critical instrument that ensure nothing, no matter how small, goes unnoticed. Regular audits can drastically reduce the risk of breaches in your business. 

From an employee clicking unchecked, unnecessary links to a poorly configured firewall, cybersecurity audits help you identify and patch weak spots in your IT infrastructure, before someone else finds them. 

Here's how to perform a cyber security audit…

• Identify and enlist all digital assets – PCs, servers, cloud accounts, IoT devices and endpoints.

• Go through the logs to identify any instance of suspicious access.

• Hire penetration testers, a.k.a., ethical hackers to simulate real-world attacks on each device to find weak spots.

Failing to identify vulnerabilities can be catastrophic. These days it seems like there’s a new breach that hits the news every day. Don’t let this be you.

Monitoring & Detecting Cyber Threats in Real Time

The most critical aspect of cybersecurity is early identification of attacks and penetration. More often than not, cyber attacks are stealthy, with attackers spending months within a network unnoticed before launching an attack. 

If you can detect a breach early, you can stop it before anything happens.

But how can you detect it?

• Use security information and response solutions to monitor endpoints in real time. 

• Keep an eye on suspicious activities. Someone logging in from a server in Russia? Block it. Someone using a Virtual Private Network (VPN)? Block it.

Remember, cyber security is mostly about detection. Once detected, you have multiple ways to instantly mitigate the attacks.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

Weak passwords are one of the most vulnerable aspects of cyber security.

Around 80% of breaches stem from stolen or weak credentials. Hackers use brute-force attacks, credential stuffing and phishing to steal login information.

MFA or Multi Factor Authentication is one of the most effective best practices for cyber security threats posed by password vulnerabilities. It adds a second layer of defense in case passwords are compromised.

Here are a few things that can be used as MFA.

• Something You Know - A second password or PIN.

• Something You Have - A security key, smartphone app, e.g., Google Authenticator..

• Something You Are - Biometrics such as fingerprint, facial recognition and voice recognition.

A few advanced MFA tactics for maximum security include.

• Using FIDO2 keys such as YubiKey or Titan Security Key, as they are impossible to phish, unlike SMS codes.

• Implementation of adaptive MFA. These include AI-based authentication that adjusts security levels based on user behavior.

• Rotation of MFA methods every 90 days to prevent MFA fatigue.

Even a single leaked password can lead to a full system compromise. In 2021, hackers breached Colonial Pipeline via a single compromised password, causing fuel disruption across the US. Something so small, like a weak password, can cause huge repercussions – you and your workforce need to be aware of this. 

Patch Management – Our Only Defense Zero-Day Attacks

Unpatched software are weak points that provide easy access for cyber criminals into a network. 60% of data breaches result from outdated systems.

Patch management comes after cybersecurity audits. Maintaining the latest software updates allows you to patch vulnerabilities found in audits and close all backdoors into the system, making your defense stronger against potential threats. 

Here's how to implement a patch management strategy…

• Patch Prioritization – Rank vulnerabilities by CVSS score or Common Vulnerability Scoring System.

• Virtual Patching – If an update isn't available, use web application firewalls (WAFs) or endpoint protection tools to mitigate the risk.

• Automated Patching – Use tools like WSUS, Ivanti or SCCM to push automated updates.

Backup Your Data Backups

Ransomware attacks encrypt critical files—without backups, your data is gone unless you pay.

Here are a few cyber security practices to set up a rock-solid backup plan.

1. Follow the 3-2-1 rule. 

• 3 copies of your data.

• 2 different storage types - cloud, & offline disk.

• 1 copy stored offline.

2. Immutable backups – use WORM (Write Once, Read Many) storage to prevent backup tampering.

If you don’t have backups, your only option is to pay the ransom that attackers often demand. This still doesn’t guarantee data recovery as it is down to the attacker's choice to give you everything back. 24% of ransomware victims who pay never get their data back.

Encrypt Sensitive Data

Unencrypted databases can expose millions of customer records—leading to fines, lawsuits and reputational damage. Even if attackers steal your data, effective encryption prevents them from reading it.

Here's how to implement encryption.

• Use AES-256 encryption for files and database storage.

• Enable full-disk encryption using programs such as BitLocker or FileVault, on all company devices.

Secure Your Network

Weak network security leaves businesses wide open to attacks too. Unsecured Wi-Fi, weak firewalls and outdated protocols make hacking easy.

For instance, unprotected RDP servers led to a ransomware explosion, with gangs like Ryuk and Conti targeting businesses and demanding millions in ransom.

Here's how to secure your network.

• Adopt a Zero Trust Approach – Require authentication for every access attempt.

• Use Next-Gen Firewalls (NGFWs) – Deploy Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) and Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPS).

• Disable unused ports & services – Close open ports like RDP (3389), SMB (445) and Telnet (23) to block attackers.

Treat Cyber Security as a Separate Department

IT teams focus on system uptime, but cybersecurity teams focus on preventing breaches. Companies need a dedicated cybersecurity team.

You can build a cybersecurity team by hiring a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) to lead security strategy. The CISO can then establish a Security Operations Center (SOC). You can also work with specialist hiring firms such as Fruition Group to hire top cybersecurity talent in the U.S.

Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Not every employee needs access to every system, and they shouldn’t. With 80% of data breaches linked to excessive access or insider threats, restricting access to only what’s essential can significantly reduce risk.

Here's how to implement RBAC.

• Follow the Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP). Give employees access to only the files, systems and data they need for their job.

• Use Identity & Access Management (IAM) tools like Okta, Microsoft Entra ID or AWS IAM.

• Regularly review and update permissions to ensure former employees and contractors don’t retain access.

Secure Your Supply Chain

Your security is only as strong as the weakest link – and that weak link is often a third-party vendor. In 2023, 2,769 businesses reported cyberattacks related to their supply chain.

Here's how to ensure your supply chain is safeguarded. 

• Vet third-party vendors – Require vendors to follow strict cybersecurity policies before granting access to systems.

• Limit integrations – Only allow essential connections between internal and external systems.

• Monitor vendor activity – Use tools like CyberGRX, BitSight or UpGuard to track third-party security risks.

Final Thoughts

Cyber threats are evolving every day so your defenses need to evolve too. Implementing these 10 cybersecurity best practices will massively reduce your risk and protect your business from costly cyber breaches.