8 Practical Cybersecurity Tips to Close Out Cybersecurity Awareness Month
8 Practical Cybersecurity Tips to Close Out Cybersecurity Awareness Month
It’s hard to believe October is nearly over, but Cybersecurity Awareness Month always leaves us with an important reminder: data protection never goes out of season. As technology continues to evolve and more workloads move to the cloud, keeping databases and applications secure has become both a business necessity and a leadership priority.
At DataStrike, our experts spend every day helping organizations strengthen their data foundations. Drawing from insights by DataStrike’s own Corey Beck, Director of Cloud Technologies, here are nine proven ways to strengthen your cybersecurity posture year-round.
- Isolate Your Database Servers
Your organization’s web and application layers should never share infrastructure with its databases. When the database tier is isolated on its own network segment with strict access rules, it’s much harder for attackers to move laterally if another system is compromised. Gartner emphasizes that microsegmentation and zero-trust design are critical to defending modern IT environments. Keeping the database tier separate not only reduces risk, but it also simplifies monitoring and performance management.
- Limit Access with Least-Privilege
Over-permissioned accounts are one of the most common causes of data leaks. Implement least-privilege roles tied to individual user identities rather than shared admin credentials. Each user and service account should have only the access necessary for its function and nothing more.
ISACA and many technology analyst firms refer to this as “identity as the new perimeter.” In other words, access control is your security perimeter. In today’s cloud-connected world, strong identity and access management is your organization’s first, and often best line of defense. Review privileges regularly, remove shared accounts, and enable multifactor authentication for anyone with elevated rights.
- Encrypt Data at Rest and in Transit
Encryption is no longer something organizations can ignore; it is a much-needed baseline requirement. Whether data is stored in your organization’s database or moving through its network, it must be encrypted. Use strong TLS protocols for all database connections to ensure encryption for stored data and backups. Managing encryption keys securely, through a Key Management Service (KMS) or hardware module, adds another layer of protection. The goal is simple: even if data is intercepted or stolen, it remains unreadable.
- Separate Production and Non-Production Environments
It may seem convenient to test code on live datasets, but doing so is one of the easiest ways to expose sensitive information. Separate your organization’s production and non-production environments entirely, and use different credentials, access paths, and networks.
If developers need realistic data for testing, anonymize or mask it first. Improper handling of non-production data can account for a significant share of data privacy violations each year. Treat lower environments as lower-trust zones and monitor them closely. Protecting non-production systems is part of protecting your customers.
- Backup, Test, and Encrypt
Backups aren’t a checkbox, they’re a necessity to ensuring data is recoverable. Make sure backups meet your organization’s Recovery Point Objective (RPO) and test restore processes regularly. Store encrypted backups in a location separate from your primary production database.
Too many organizations only discover their restore process doesn’t work during a real incident. Routine testing is your best insurance against extended downtime or data loss.
- Understand Your Cloud Provider’s Shared Responsibility Model
When moving workloads to the cloud, remember: the provider secures the infrastructure, but your organization controls the configurations, access, and data. Misunderstanding this shared model is a common root cause of cloud data breaches. Document who is responsible for each aspect of your organization’s cloud environment and verify that controls are implemented accordingly. Clarity reduces risk.
- Secure Cloud Access with Private Endpoints and IAM Roles
In the cloud, convenience can be costly. Never expose your organization’s database directly to the public internet. Instead, connect through private endpoints, VPNs, or VPC peering. Manage permissions with cloud-native IAM roles, granting access only as needed.
This approach not only prevents unauthorized access but also helps enforce least privilege across your hybrid or multi-cloud footprint.
- Take Advantage of Cloud-Native IAM
Modern cloud platforms include robust identity and access management tools, and IT teams should use them. Assign role-based permissions instead of static credentials and apply least-privilege policies across every account.
Rotate access keys regularly and monitor role usage to identify unnecessary or risky permissions. Centralized IAM gives you visibility and control, reducing both complexity and exposure.
In Conclusion
Cybersecurity Awareness Month may be over, but data protection is an everyday commitment. The strongest security strategies aren’t built on complexity, they’re built on consistency. By isolating critical systems, enforcing least privilege, encrypting data, testing backups, and understanding your organization’s shared responsibilities in the cloud, IT teams lay out a solid foundation for long-term resilience. Security isn’t about perfection, it’s about discipline. Do the small things right, every time. At DataStrike, we believe that the mindset is the best defense of all.
About DataStrike
DataStrike is the industry leader in 100% onshore data infrastructure services, enabling companies to harness IT changes as a catalyst for growth. With a network of specialized experts, partnerships with leading technology providers, and a platform-agnostic approach, DataStrike delivers practical, secure solutions that help businesses accelerate digital transformation and strengthen cybersecurity resilience.
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