In the fast-evolving world of technology, even industry leaders occasionally face technical issues. When CrowdStrike, one of the top names in cybersecurity, experienced a notable glitch that caught the attention of IT professionals and organizations worldwide, it served as a stark reminder of the complexities involved with safeguarding digital infrastructures and the importance of preparedness, regardless of industry or organization. Here are top three takeaways from this incident:
No system is perfect
CrowdStrike is renowned for its cutting-edge cybersecurity solutions, but the recent glitch brought a critical point to the forefront: no system is entirely foolproof. Whether it’s a small oversight or a major technical flaw, even the most advanced platforms can have vulnerabilities.
This teaches us a humbling lesson that constant vigilance is essential. Organizations, regardless of their size, should regularly audit their infrastructures and prepare for hiccups. Businesses should invest in monitoring tools that can enhance visibility into their network, detect anomalies and issue alerts in real time. Being able to detect and respond to an issue quickly is essential to increasing uptime and preventing a small problem from escalating into a major catastrophe.
Backup and disaster recovery plans are non-negotiables
While CrowdStrike’s glitch wasn’t the result of a major breach, a disruption of services still occurred. This highlights the importance of having backup and recovery solutions and redundancy protocols in place. When a system fails, having solutions that allow for quick recovery and easier resolve ensure that business operations continue smoothly with minimal disruption and financial loss.
IT leaders should regularly test and update disaster recovery, invest in redundancy and implement the 3-2-1 backup rule. Ensuring that mission-critical systems have multiple layers of defense is crucial to avoid downtime and potential data loss. It’s imperative that the provider an organization selects for these solutions has the expertise to handle valuable data. Additionally, not all solutions are created equal, and an organization’s specific needs must also be considered when selecting a provider.
Cybersecurity is a journey
As cyber threats evolve, so must the tools, technologies, and strategies designed to combat them. Routine updates and patches are crucial to keeping systems secure. This most recent glitch drills home that cybersecurity is not a one-time fix, but an ongoing process. It is vital to make sure the right solutions are put in place and equally important to reassess and reevaluate them periodically. Additionally, it’s crucial that organizations aren’t relying on a sole security solution to act as the be-all and end-all. Multi-layered cybersecurity strategies are highly encouraged and, frankly, should be the standard.
Organizations need to adopt a proactive approach, staying ahead of potential risks rather than waiting for vulnerabilities to be exposed. Downtime is often more costly than an investment into an organization’s cybersecurity strategy. As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
A learning opportunity for all and next steps
The CrowdStrike glitch provided an opportunity for reflection within the technology community, as well as for those who rely on CrowdStrike solutions. While technical glitches are inevitable, the way an organization responds to them is what ultimately defines its resilience and reliability. For companies looking to protect their digital assets, the lessons from this glitch are clear: invest in robust monitoring platforms, implement backup and recovery solutions, make cybersecurity strategy an ongoing process, and find the right technology partner for guidance and support
In a world where cyber threats are growing more sophisticated, learning from both successes and failures is key to staying ahead of the curve. At the end of the day, preparedness is key.
FirstLight boasts over 25 years of experience in the communications industry and is an elite provider of cyber security solutions, including monitoring, cloud backup, disaster recovery, and SASE. We consider ourselves a true partner to the organizations we serve, offering a consultative approach to decision making and solution design. We pride ourselves on the comprehensive nature of our portfolio – providing the connectivity solutions your business requires, as well as the security solutions needed to secure them.
FirstLight is a proud sponsor of the Cloud Connect Summit. Join us on November 7, 2024, at New England Aquarium in Boston, MA, from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. There you can listen to industry leaders discuss a variety of topics such as cybersecurity, improving broadband, AI, and more, arming you and your organization with all the necessary information to keep your business safe and prepared.
