Proactive cybersecurity: 7 key steps to protect your organization

In the world of cybersecurity, there are two fundamental approaches: reactive and proactive. Reactive security focuses on responding to incidents after they have occurred — it's about extinguishing fires that have already started. Proactive security, in contrast, is aimed at preventing these fires. It involves identifying potential threats, vulnerabilities, and risks in the IT environment and addressing them before attackers can exploit them.

The transition from a reactive to a proactive model is not just a change in tactics, but a fundamental shift in mindset. Instead of waiting for an alarm, organizations actively search for weaknesses and strengthen their defenses. This approach not only reduces the number of incidents but also significantly lessens the potential damage from them.

Step 1: Conduct a complete asset inventory

You can't protect what you don't know you have. The first step toward proactive security is to create a complete and up-to-date inventory of all IT assets in your organization. This includes:

• All devices (servers, workstations, laptops, mobile phones).
• All operating systems.
• All applications and software.
• Cloud services and resources.

An accurate inventory provides a clear picture of your attack surface and serves as the foundation for all subsequent steps in vulnerability and risk management.

Step 2: Identify and prioritize risks

After completing the inventory, you need to assess the risks associated with each asset. Not all vulnerabilities are equally dangerous. Use a risk-based approach to prioritize your actions. Ask yourself these questions:

• What is the likelihood of a specific vulnerability being exploited?
• How critical is the affected asset to business processes?
• What is the potential damage a successful attack could cause?

Priority should be given to addressing vulnerabilities that pose the greatest threat to critical systems.

Step 3: Scan for vulnerabilities

Regular scanning is the process of actively searching for known vulnerabilities on your network and endpoints. This process should be continuous, not a one-time event. Automated scanners can quickly identify weaknesses such as missing patches, incorrect configurations, or outdated software. The results of these scans are a key source of data for your vulnerability management program.

Step 4: Manage updates and patches

Timely patch application is one of the most effective proactive security measures. Most cyberattacks exploit known vulnerabilities for which patches already exist. Develop a clear patch management process that includes:

• Monitoring for new patch releases from vendors.
• Testing patches before deployment.
• Rapid and automated deployment across all relevant devices.
• Verifying successful installation.

Step 5: Implement the principle of least privilege

The Principle of Least Privilege (PoLP) means that users, applications, and systems should only have the access rights that are absolutely necessary to perform their tasks. This significantly reduces the potential damage from a compromised account. If an attacker gains access to an account with minimal privileges, their ability to move laterally within the network and access critical data will be severely limited. Access control and privilege management are crucial elements of a proactive strategy.

Step 6: Harden system configurations

Devices and applications often come with default settings that are not optimal from a security standpoint. The process of "hardening" involves changing these configurations to minimize the attack surface. This may include:

• Disabling unnecessary ports and services.
• Strengthening password policies.
• Enabling security features that are disabled by default.
• Applying security standards, such as CIS Benchmarks.

Step 7: Automate security processes

Performing all the steps listed above manually is nearly impossible in modern, complex IT environments. Automation is the key to efficiency and consistency. Use modern tools to automate tasks such as:

• Asset inventory.
• Vulnerability scanning.
• Patch deployment.
• Monitoring for compliance with security policies.

Automation frees up your IT team from routine tasks, allowing them to focus on strategic initiatives and respond to truly complex threats.

Proactive cybersecurity is a continuous cycle of discovery, assessment, remediation, and monitoring. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

How Ivanti solutions help implement a proactive approach

Ivanti offers the comprehensive Ivanti Neurons platform, which helps organizations automate and implement all the key steps of proactive defense. The platform discovers all IT assets, provides risk analytics, and ensures automated vulnerability remediation.

• Inventory and Discovery: Ivanti Neurons for Discovery provides full visibility of all devices and software in your environment.
• Vulnerability and Patch Management: Ivanti Neurons for Patch Management and Risk-Based Vulnerability Management (RBVM) allow you to scan, prioritize, and deploy patches based on real-world threats, correlating vulnerabilities with malware activity.
• Privilege Management: Ivanti Application Control helps implement the principle of least privilege by preventing unauthorized software from running and blocking attacks.
• Automation: The Ivanti Neurons platform uses hyper-automation to autonomously discover, remediate, and protect endpoints, significantly reducing the workload on IT staff.