Cyber Hygiene: Overview & Best Practices

Cyber hygiene, or cybersecurity hygiene, refers to routine steps you can take to protect your networks and data from cyber threats. Think of it as the digital equivalent of personal hygiene. Follow best practices consistently to reduce cyberattack risk and protect your modern attack surface.

In today’s threat landscape, cybercriminals are always looking for weak points to exploit. Failing to follow basic security measures can leave your data and underlying systems vulnerable.

While cyber hygiene isn’t new, it’s gained prominence as organizations rely more and more on digital tools. In fact, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) has long emphasized the importance of cyber hygiene, offering best practices for strong security postures.

Looking to know more about the foundations of a cyber hygiene program? Check out this Cybersecurity Snapshot.

The business case for cyber hygiene

By maturing your cyber hygiene practices, you can:

• Reduce risk: Minimize vulnerabilities and make cyberattacks less likely with regular patch management, system maintenance and security updates.

• Boost efficiency: Prevent downtime that security incidents can create by using a secure and updated system.

• Protect sensitive data: Use effective access controls and encryption to prevent unauthorized exposure of critical business and customer information.

• Ensure compliance: Follow cybersecurity regulations and industry standards to avoid legal and industry fines and penalties.

• Mature your overall security posture: Use an exposure management solution that automatically scans your environment against security benchmarks like the Center for Internet Security (CIS) framework.

Want to know more about cyber hygiene and how you can better protect your attack surface? Check out key findings from Tenable’s cyber hygiene survey.

It’s worth noting that, while the core principles remain the same, individuals and organizations apply cybersecurity hygiene differently. 

Individuals focus on securing personal devices and accounts. Businesses need more comprehensive strategies to protect diverse asset types across an expanding and increasingly complex attack surface. However, you’ll see below that many cyber hygiene best practices overlap regardless of scale.

1. Update software and systems

   • Cybercriminals can easily exploit vulnerabilities in outdated software. Enabling automatic updates and following a consistent patching schedule can reduce risk.

2. Strengthen password security

   • Use long, complex passwords with a mix of characters.

   • Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA requires users to verify their identity using two or more credentials) for additional security.

   • Use a password manager to manage multiple, strong passwords.

3. Conduct routine data backups

   • Store backups in encrypted cloud services or offline external drives.

   • Automate backup schedules for consistency.

   • Test recovery processes periodically to verify integrity.

4. Secure your network

   Firewalls are your first line of defense against unauthorized access, while antivirus tools help detect and remove malware. Update both regularly to stay effective. For network security, consider:

   • Using WPA3 encryption for wireless networks.

   • Changing default router login credentials.

   • Segmenting networks to isolate sensitive data.

5. Monitor and audit security practices

   • Cybersecurity is a bit like a moving target. To stay ahead of evolving threats, use continuous monitoring tools, conduct periodic security audits and evaluate compliance with security policies.

   • Exposure management tools can automate much of your cyber hygiene program, like verifying your users have enabled MFA. You can also use AI natural language search to identify gaps like outdated software, missing security agents or weak passwords.

Developing strong cybersecurity hygiene habits is essential to proactively protecting your environment from cyberattacks, but it’s challenging. 

As you look to level up your organization’s cyber hygiene, be prepared to overcome obstacles like:

1. Recognize phishing attempts

   Educate employees on how to spot suspicious emails and links, and what to do when they encounter them. Implement email security tools to help filter out potential threats.

2. Encourage safe browsing habits

   Always verify URLs before entering sensitive information. Use a secure browser and enable privacy protections.

3. Protect desktop and mobile devices

   Apply software updates promptly. Enable remote lock and wipe capabilities for lost or stolen devices. Limit unnecessary app permissions.

4. Cybersecurity awareness

   Again, cyber hygiene is an ongoing process. Employees will need regular education to stay informed on the latest security protocols. 

5. Balance security with usability

   Security shouldn’t be an obstacle to productivity. The good news is that many of the measures provided here can protect vital data and assets without disrupting critical business functions.

If you want to avoid the most common security pitfalls, check out Tenable’s Understanding Cyber Risks and share it with your team.

Regulatory frameworks emphasize the importance of cybersecurity hygiene. Follow best practices to meet industry standards. That means less potential exposure to fines and other penalties. 

Here are some common security frameworks that include cyber hygiene:

• General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR): Requires businesses to safeguard personal data by applying appropriate security measures.
• National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity Framework: Provides guidelines to improve cybersecurity posture.
• Systems and Organization Controls 2 (SOC 2) compliance: Focuses on securing customer data through strong internal controls.
• Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA): Mandates cybersecurity measures to protect electronic personal health information (ePHI) and other sensitive patient data.

If you want to maximize your risk reduction, click here for Tenable’s guide to advanced cyber hygiene tactics.

Despite the growing awareness of cybersecurity risks, several myths persist that can lead to poor security practices and even regulatory fines and penalties.

• Myth: Cybercriminals don’t target small businesses.

Reality: Cybercriminals often view small businesses as easy targets due to limited security resources.

• Myth: Antivirus software alone provides complete protection.

Reality: While antivirus software is crucial, comprehensive security requires multiple layers like firewalls, MFA and regular security updates.

• Myth: Cyber hygiene is only an IT responsibility.

Reality: Every employee plays a role in cybersecurity. Awareness and education are just as vital as technical defenses.

• Myth: A strong password is enough to secure accounts.

Reality: MFA adds an extra layer of security that can prevent unauthorized access even if threat actors compromise passwords.

To better understand your organization's current security posture, Tenable’s Fundamental Cyber Hygiene Report Card is a powerful data-driven tool.

It evaluates critical security processes like vulnerability management and asset inventory; benchmarks against best practices from NIST, CISA and other frameworks; and offers proactive, actionable insights to shore up security gaps and stay ahead of potential threats. Think of these insights as a cyber hygiene checklist.

Check out Tenable’s Fundamental Cyber Hygiene Report Card here.

Tenable provides industry-leading security solutions to support your cyber hygiene efforts:

• Tenable One: An AI-powered exposure management platform that provides full visibility into cyber exposures across IT, cloud and operational technology (OT) environments. By continuously identifying and prioritizing vulnerabilities, Tenable One can help you take proactive measures against security threats.
• Tenable Vulnerability Management: A scalable, cloud-based vulnerability management solution to detect, assess and manage security risks in real time. Tenable Vulnerability Management provides automated scanning, risk prioritization and comprehensive reporting to improve overall security posture.
• Tenable Security Center: An enterprise-level, on-prem vulnerability management platform with deep security insights and real-time analytics. It can help you maintain compliance, manage risk effectively and secure critical assets by providing detailed vulnerability intelligence and automated remediation recommendations.