From bad luck to best practices: cybersecurity tips for a secure business

Friday the 13th is associated with bad luck, superstition and spooky coincidences. While it’s mostly fun and games, there’s one area where you definitely don’t want any bad luck – your cybersecurity. It’s important to avoid digital mishaps that could lead to a cybersecurity nightmare. A single overlooked vulnerability can lead to disruption, data breaches, or reputational damage. 

Instead of fearing black cats and broken mirrors, focus on what truly matters: securing your systems, people, and networks against real-world threats. Here’s how to take control and keep cyber “bad luck” at bay – not just on Friday the 13th, but every day. 

1. Pentesting: expose vulnerabilities before attackers do

Penetration testing (pentesting) is the practice of safely simulating attacks to find weaknesses — before real attackers do. While many organizations focus on compliance-driven testing, it’s critical to go deeper: test your network, applications, and APIs under realistic threat models. 

Tips to improve network and application security: 

• Conduct regular pentesting: Schedule periodic penetration tests to assess the security of your network and applications. Ethical hackers simulate real attack scenarios to identify weak points before malicious actors do. 

• Patch vulnerabilities quickly: As soon as a vulnerability is discovered, apply the necessary fixes. Delays increase the chance of it being exploited. 

• Use a firewall and segment your network: Keep different parts of your network separated so that a breach in one area doesn’t expose everything. 

• Keep software and systems up to date: Regular updates fix known security flaws and close off common attack paths. 

• Limit user access: Apply the principle of least privilege — give users only the access they truly need. 

• Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA): Add extra layers of protection, especially for remote access and admin accounts. 
• Use secure coding practices: If your company develops websites or apps, ensure secure coding guidelines are followed and test regularly. 

2. Phishing awareness is essential for every organization

Despite advancements in security tools, phishing remains the most successful initial attack vector. Whether it’s a fake invoice, a rogue login page, or a message from IT, employees can be tricked, unless they’re trained to recognize the signs. 

Tips to build phishing resilience: 

• Simulate phishing attacks: Periodically run simulated phishing campaigns to assess employee reactions and improve awareness. 

• Teach what to look for: Train staff to identify odd sender addresses, grammar errors, or mismatched URLs before clicking. 

• Make reporting easy: Provide simple tools or buttons for employees to report suspected phishing attempts. 

3. Only trusted devices should access business systems

One of the easiest ways for cybercriminals to breach your network is through unsecured devices. Whether it’s an employee’s personal phone, a contractor’s laptop or an IoT device, any unsecured endpoint connected to your network can act as a gateway for attackers. Ensuring that only secure, trusted devices can access your business applications is a crucial step in reducing the risk of a breach. 

Tips to secure devices: 

• Implement zero trust access: Validate every device before granting access. Enforce strong policies that include up-to-date antivirus, device encryption, and OS patching. 

• Manage BYOD securely: Apply strict rules for personal devices used for work, and use tools like XFA (https://xfa.tech/) to enforce device compliance. 
• Continuously monitor endpoints: Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to watch for suspicious behavior on all connected devices.

Proactive security beats bad luck — every time 

While Friday the 13th may be associated with bad luck, effective cybersecurity is built on facts, not folklore. The true risks are found in misconfigured devices, untrained staff, and untested systems. 

By securing your devices, training your people, and proactively testing your systems, you create a defense that doesn’t rely on luck — but on strategy and preparation. 

In cybersecurity, luck favors the well-prepared.