ERP systems are the lifeblood of most modern businesses, thanks to their ability to bridge multiple processes and operations. The systems also contain confidential data about your company, its clients, and vendors. Industry experts opine that ERP systems are susceptible to cyber-attacks. Hackers are aware of the fact that these systems contain valuable data. Likewise, they know that few companies put in place robust measures to secure their ERP systems. So, here’s how to shield your ERP system from cyber attacks.
ERP software providers such as SAP and Oracle provide regular software patches, updates, and bug fixes to their clients. Often, when new software updates are released, the providers also announce vulnerabilities in previous versions of the software. Hackers are always on the lookout for such vulnerabilities before they are made public.
Typically, organizations take time before implanting new updates, which puts their ERP systems at the risk of cyber-attacks. It’s best to install the necessary updates to your ERP software to seal any potential weak points that hackers can leverage to intrude on your system. Similarly, ensure that your anti-malware, antivirus, and firewalls are updated to thwart attempts by malware such as Dridex to steal login credentials from your ERP software.
If you’re looking to secure your ERP system from cyber-attacks, consider hiring an ERP security expert. When you have an in-house ERP professional manning your software 24/7, it will be easier to keep attacks at bay. The expert can establish infallible admin controls besides setting up a robust encryption system for remote workers. It will also be easier to detect and stop hacking attempts before they become cyber costly cybersecurity incidents.
To secure your data environment, you need to have the appropriate cyber defenses in place. Nevertheless, your system will still be vulnerable to attacks if you don’t train your employees on the significance of cybersecurity and what they should do to secure your ERP software. Human weaknesses are the primary cause of most attacks. Hackers are increasingly using social engineering tactics to take advantage of human weaknesses and intrude on organizations’ systems.
Educating your employees on safe cyber practices helps to keep looming cyber-attacks at bay. For starters, employees should be trained on the significance of using foolproof passwords containing multiple characters. Besides, they should be trained on how to detect spam emails and suspicious links and the dangers of opening them.
Even as you implement measures for securing your ERP software, it’s best to keep in mind that you can still fall victim to cyber-attacks. As you watch out for potential attack vectors, you should also think about how to respond if a cyber-attack happens. The urgency with which you respond to an attack determines how much it will affect you and how fast you’ll recover from it.
It’s best to incorporate your response system into your cyber threat monitoring system since this will enable you to keep all threats at bay and manage the crisis if an attack hits you. With a response plan in place, you’ll know who to report to when the attack occurs, how to communicate with relevant stakeholders, and how to handle the ensuing crisis. This way, your normal operations will be restored within the shortest time possible.
More businesses are opting for cloud storage, and it’s easy to see why. Since multiple users from different locations use ERP systems, it’s easy for hackers to swoop in. However, migrating to the cloud minimizes potential points of entry that hackers can leverage to attack you. Private cloud storage is particularly recommended to organizations with ERP systems.
Although the initial outlay for private cloud storage may be significant, it’s worthwhile in the long run. Private clouds are not only secure but also easy to monitor. You can detect and shut off attacks within your cloud environment quickly. This way, you get to prevent costly attacks.
The defining characteristic of ERP software is its ability to integrate multiple platforms into a unified system. However, this comes with a fair share of vulnerabilities since the multiple platforms you integrate may not have the same security level. To prevent vulnerabilities, APIs and interfaces between ERP applications should be routinely mapped. Consequently, the integrations will remain secure as you modify and update the ERP software to your organization’s liking.
In today’s tech-savvy world, you can’t think of an ERP system without cybersecurity. No ERP system can claim to be fully cyber-secure. Although vulnerabilities will always loom on the horizon, there’s so much you can do to keep them as such. Since the ERP system forms the backbone of your organization’s day to day operations, securing it goes a long way in preventing costly and far-reaching repercussions.
