Cyber Hygiene Checklist: Break Free from Complacency

Cyber hygiene is about the everyday discipline that keeps your organization safe. The truth is that cyber hygiene is more about consistency and less about chasing the next shiny thing in security. But are we treating it with the seriousness it deserves?

Think about your employees’ daily habits—downloading files, clicking on links, transferring data. Seems routine, right? But within that routine, there are hidden risks. Cybercriminals know this all too well. They sneak malicious links into what looks like a harmless file or an enticing deal. Just one wrong click, and suddenly, your entire network could be compromised.

A lot of companies still rely on outdated security strategies, assuming they’re covered. But the threats today are far more sophisticated than they were even a few years ago. Are we really doing enough? Or are we fooling ourselves with a false sense of security?

Cyber hygiene isn’t glamorous—it’s about the basics. But those basics are what keep your defenses sharp. So, how solid is your hygiene routine?

We’ve pulled together a cyber hygiene checklist to help you investigate where you stand and what needs to change.

Let’s get started…

Why Is Cyber Hygiene Essential? 

Cyber hygiene is a routine maintenance for your organization’s cybersecurity—it keeps your data, networks, and operating systems secure from malicious attacks. When you stick to good cyber hygiene practices, you ensure that your defenses are strong and ready for whatever threats come your way.

In April 2024, Home Depot confirmed a data breach stemming from a third-party software vendor’s mistake during routine systems testing. The incident may have only exposed the names, work emails, and corporate IDs of about 10,000 employees, but it served as a stark reminder: even the smallest vulnerability can lead to a significant breach.

The stakes are high, and consistent cyber hygiene is the key to staying ahead of those risks.

Also, take a look at this video to understand the importance of cybersecurity:

Cyber Hygiene Checklist & How To Implement It? 

To build a strong cybersecurity foundation, your organization must implement, promote, and monitor a good cybersecurity hygiene checklist with best practices. Our internal compliance expert Varenya Penna opined, “Your security is only as strong as your weakest digital link. Good cyber hygiene ensures every link is fortified.”  

After all, you won’t be doing everything at once—you’ll be focusing on the actions that are practical and sustainable for your team. 

Here are some practical actions you can take to boost your cyber hygiene checklist:

Category	Checklist	How to implement/automate?
Password Security	– Employees are trained to avoid using the same password for different accounts- Passwords are changed regularly- Passwords are at least 12 characters long- Passwords involve upper/lower-case letters, symbols, and numbers- Default passwords are changed	– Use a password manager for training- Implement password policies in systems Sprinto Advantage:Use Sprinto to automate the monitoring of password policies and provide training modules on creating strong passwords.
Multi-factor Authentication (MFA)	– MFA is enabled for essential accounts like email and sensitive systems- MFA backup codes are stored securely (e.g., in a password manager)	Configure MFA settings in IT systems
Data Backup	– Business files are backed up regularly, both offline and in the cloud- Employees understand the importance of secure backups	Schedule regular backups using automated tools Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can automate reminders and compliance checks for data backup policies
Social Media and Privacy	– Private company data is not shared publicly on social media platforms- Company social media and online privacy settings are regularly reviewed and updated- Employees are cautious about sharing sensitive data through quizzes and apps	Conduct regular audits and reviews of social media settings
Device Security	– Company devices are locked with strong passwords or PINs- Devices have encryption enabled to protect sensitive information- Remote wipe capabilities are enabled for lost or stolen devices	Implement mobile device management (MDM) solutions Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can monitor compliance with device security policies and provide encryption guidelines and reminders with DR Sprinto.
Public Wi-Fi Usage	– Employees are educated on the risks of using public Wi-Fi without a VPN- Confidential information is not shared over public networks	Provide training sessions and create awareness campaigns
Secure Online Transactions	– Online transactions are only made through secure websites	Implement browser settings and security tools that enforce secure connections
Password Management Tools	– A password manager is provided and recommended for all employees to generate and manage passwords securely	Choose a reliable password management tool and encourage its use across the organization
Social Engineering Prevention	– Employees are trained to recognize phishing and avoid clicking on suspicious links- Suspicious emails and attachments are reported and not opened- Ads or offers promising free money are not clicked	Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can automate training sessions on social engineering and monitor the reporting of suspicious emails.
Application Management	– Employees are instructed to download apps only from reputable sources- Outdated or unused applications are regularly removed from devices	Create a list of approved applications and implement a review process
Antivirus and Malware Protection	– High-quality antivirus software is installed and updated regularly- Antivirus software scans are performed consistently to remove malware	Implement automatic updates and scheduled scans
Email Security	– Emails from unknown sources are flagged and reported to IT- Employees avoid sharing sensitive company information through email without encryption	Set up email filtering and security policies
Data Encryption	– Company data, both in transit and at rest, is encrypted- Encryption protocols are regularly reviewed and updated	Implement encryption solutions for data storage and transmission
Employee Security Training	– Regular cyber security training sessions are conducted to keep employees updated on emerging threats- Training includes simulations of common attacks like phishing	Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can provide training schedules and monitor completion rates for cybersecurity training programs.
Access Control Management	– Outdated admin privileges for former employees are removed promptly- Access control policies are regularly reviewed to ensure the least privilege access	Implement role-based access control and regular audits Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can automate alerts for access control reviews and monitor compliance with least privilege policies.
Unmanaged Assets Tracking	– Unmanaged or rogue devices are identified and added to the company’s asset inventory- Security patches for all assets are deployed promptly	Regular asset inventory checks and patch management solutions
Incident Reporting	– A clear incident reporting process is in place for employees to report suspicious activities- Employees are trained on the proper response to potential security breaches	Develop an incident response plan and conduct drills
Mobile Device Management (MDM)	– Company mobile devices have MDM software installed to track usage, enforce security policies, and trigger alerts for suspicious activity	Choose and implement an MDM solution
Firewall and Network Security	– Firewalls are configured correctly and updated regularly- Regular vulnerability assessments are conducted to check for weaknesses in the network	Schedule regular reviews and audits of firewall configurations
Third-party Vendor Security	– Vendor security practices are vetted before partnerships are established- Contracts include clauses requiring vendors to maintain a baseline of security measures	Implement vendor risk assessment protocols and regular reviews Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can provide vendor security assessment templates and automate vendor contract compliance checks. See how you can manage vendor risks with Sprinto How to manage vendor risks with Sprinto?
Patch Management	– Security patches are applied regularly across all critical systems and devices- Employees understand the importance of timely software updates to minimize vulnerabilities	Implement automated patch management solutions
User Account Monitoring	– User accounts are regularly monitored for suspicious activity- Automatic alerts are triggered when unusual login patterns are detected	Use security information and event management (SIEM) tools for monitoring
Software License Management	– Unused software licenses are identified and deactivated.- Employees are educated on using licensed and secure software only.	Conduct regular software audits and maintain a license inventory
Business Continuity Planning (BCP)	– Employees are trained on the company’s BCP and disaster recovery procedures- The BCP is regularly updated to address emerging cyber threats	Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can automate training schedules for BCP and monitor compliance with review processes for continuity planning.
Physical Security	– Physical access to servers and sensitive equipment is restricted to authorized personnel only- Surveillance and access control measures are in place at all critical locations	Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can monitor compliance with physical security policies and provide templates for security reviews.
Cloud Security	– Employees follow cloud security guidelines, ensuring data stored in cloud environments is secure and encrypted- Regular audits of cloud service providers are conducted to ensure compliance with company security policies	Sprinto Advantage:Sprinto can automate compliance checks for cloud security and monitor adherence to best practices in data storage.

How to Develop Your Own Cyber Hygiene Checklist?

To keep your cyber hygiene in check, here’s how you can build a cyber hygiene checklist you can use to make sure you’re following best practices:

1. Assess Where You Stand

Before you can improve your cyber hygiene, understand your current security posture. This begins with a full security audit to uncover gaps and areas for improvement. Here’s how you can dive into this step:

Review all your systems, networks, and devices to check for outdated software, misconfigurations, or weak points. For example, maybe your servers haven’t been patched in a while, leaving you vulnerable to known exploits. Or perhaps some endpoints (like employee laptops) aren’t running up-to-date antivirus software.

This audit should cover not just technology but also policies and procedures. Are you following best practices for weak password management? Are employees trained on phishing attacks? Ask yourself these questions.

2. Analyze Past Incidents

Look back at any security incidents, no matter how small, to see where things went wrong. For instance, maybe your organization experienced a phishing attack that compromised sensitive employee data. 

Now, you need to understand how the attacker gained access—whether it was a lack of multi-factor authentication (MFA) or an untrained employee clicking on a malicious link. 

This will give you a good idea of how to tighten your defenses moving forward while customizing the cyber hygiene checklist.

3. Identify Your Most Critical Assets, Data, and Systems

When you’re crafting a cyber hygiene checklist, one of the first things you need to do is identify what matters most. Not every system or piece of data is equally important, and focusing on the most critical elements will help you use your resources wisely. Here’s how to approach this:

Start by asking yourself, “What would cause the most damage if compromised?” For example, this could be customer databases, intellectual property, or financial records.

Let’s say you’re a tech startup. Your source code and proprietary algorithms are likely your crown jewels, so protecting them should be a top priority. On the other hand, your marketing documents, while important, wouldn’t be as catastrophic to lose in comparison.

The next step is to map out where this important data is stored—whether it’s on-premise servers, cloud storage, or third-party platforms. 

4. Prioritize High-Risk Areas Like Endpoint Security, User Access, and Network Protection

Once you know what’s critical, it’s time to focus on high-risk areas that are more likely to be attacked or exploited. Here are a few key focus areas:

• Endpoints like laptops, smartphones, and workstations are gateways for attackers. You must protect these devices with antivirus software, encryption, and remote wipe capabilities. For example, a remote employee’s laptop might be compromised via malware if they work on an unsecured network.
• Use GRC automation tools to continuously monitor compliance and security controls, flagging any anomalies as soon as they occur. This instant detection allows you to respond to risks before they escalate, reducing downtime and preventing potential breaches.

How Sprinto Enables Continuous Monitoring at a granular level

• Manage who has access to what to reduce risk. Too many people with broad access can lead to accidental or malicious misuse of sensitive data. If a junior employee has admin-level access to financial records, that’s an unnecessary risk. Now, this is where you need to tighten access controls to reduce the chances of both internal and external breaches. See how Sprinto helps with access control.

• Protect your network to keep attackers out. Tools like firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and network segmentation can all help strengthen your network defenses.

5. Focus on What Your Team Can Sustain

Security initiatives should be realistic and sustainable. Implementing complex measures that require constant upkeep may stretch your team thin, leaving gaps.

Let’s say you want to enforce MFA across the entire company. This is achievable and effective. However, attempting to implement too many advanced security protocols simultaneously, like a zero-trust architecture, may overwhelm your small IT team.

6. Take Incremental Steps

Instead of trying to overhaul your entire cybersecurity infrastructure in one go, take it step by step. Focus on low-hanging fruit first, like tightening access controls or ensuring software is current.

7. Leverage Automation Tools

Now there’s no way you can do the heavy lifting without the help of advanced automation tools. 

In truth, automation helps eliminate mundane, repeatable tasks, freeing up your time to focus on interpreting data and making informed decisions. 

What if I told you a tool can automate up to 90% of your security and compliance tasks? Enter Sprinto, your go-to for GRC automation. Seriously, the sooner you integrate it, the better!

To go deeper, let’s look at some of the imperative features to implement your cyber hygiene tasks.

• Integration-First Approach: Sprinto’s over 200 integrations and customizable API connect cloud apps, infrastructure, code repositories, devices, and your team. This creates a central hub where you can track every aspect of your cyber hygiene—giving you full visibility into your assets, cybersecurity risks, and the controls you have in place. It enables you to identify weak spots quickly and take action to maintain a clean, risk-free security posture.
• Continuous Compliance: Sprinto automatically maps and monitors your cybersecurity controls against frameworks like SOC 2 and ISO 27001, keeping your compliance efforts seamless and your risk exposure in check. It continuously collects evidence, flags anomalies, and triggers remediation workflows, ensuring that your cyber hygiene practices are up-to-date and your vulnerabilities are minimized.
• Frictionless Audits: With Sprinto, you no longer need to sift through endless logs or scramble for system snapshots during audits. Sprinto organizes your evidence and monitoring logs in real-time, allowing you to walk into any security audit with complete confidence. Whether it’s maintaining password security, managing access controls, or ensuring data encryption, Sprinto ensures your cyber hygiene is audit-ready at all times.
• Global Support: Sprinto’s support goes beyond just tools—its security experts, with years of experience, guide you through every step of your compliance and cyber hygiene journey. With their help, you’ll ensure that every aspect of your organization’s cyber hygiene is managed efficiently, minimizing risk and enhancing overall security.

So, why struggle with the heavy lifting of cybersecurity tasks when you can automate so much of it? With Sprinto, you’ll have the tools and support to enhance your security posture and streamline compliance.

See how our customers trust the platform without a shred of doubt – 

What is the implementation timeline for cyber hygiene practices?

The implementation timeline for the cyber hygiene checklist is 1 to 3 months. Here is a detailed breakdown of the timeline.

Phase	Timeframe	Description
Initial Assessment	1-2 weeks	Conduct a security audit to identify vulnerabilities.
Employee Training	1-4 weeks	Roll out security awareness training.
Implement Basic Measures	2-6 weeks	Set up antivirus, firewalls, password policies, and MFA.
Ongoing Practices	Ongoing	Regular updates and continuous monitoring.
Establish Policies and Procedures	1-3 months	Develop security policies and incident response plans.

How Will Sprinto Address Your Company’s Cyber Hygiene Needs?

Cyber hygiene is just the starting point. While it’s essential, a solid security program goes way beyond just the basics. With 83% of enterprises facing multiple data breaches in 2022, it’s clear that the threat of cyberattacks is something every company needs to take seriously. Without effective cyber hygiene practices, you risk exposing sensitive information about your customers, employees, proprietary solutions, intellectual property, and financial data.

That’s where Sprinto comes in as your ally in this fight against online threats. We help you implement the right security controls and measures so you can keep your business secure and your cyber hygiene on autopilot.

Here’s how you raise the bar with Sprinto’s responsive automation first program:

• Responsive Automation: Maps and monitors assets and related controls accurately.
• Least Privilege Access: Ensures only authorized personnel access sensitive assets.
• Automatic Evidence Collection: Time-stamped, high-quality evidence with no false positives or negatives.
• Pre-Built Policy Templates: Ready-to-use templates for policies and procedures.
• Tailored Security Training: Launch campaigns targeted at specific teams or roles.
• Context-Rich Alerts: Time-bound alerts to resolve control failures and prevent compliance drift.
• Access to Ancillary Services: Includes penetration testing partners, ASVs, and auditors.
• Expert-Led Implementation: Ensures compliance efforts are fit for purpose and scoped correctly.
• Dedicated Auditor Management Portal: Simplifies internal and external evidence reviews.

For instance, NimbleBox.ai decided to use Sprinto to kick off its SOC 2 security program after hearing great things from fellow founders who had successfully completed their own compliance journeys using the automation platform.

Chandrani Halder, Head of Product & Security at NimbleBox.ai, shared, “We loved how Sprinto seamlessly integrated with our systems, giving us a clear overview of our security posture. It also highlighted security vulnerabilities we hadn’t even considered.” It’s proof to how Sprinto can really make a difference in strengthening your security efforts.

So, are you ready to take the next step in enhancing your cyber hygiene? Contact us for a detailed conversation about everything we can offer—and so much more!

FAQs

What is the cost of implementing cyber hygiene practices?

The cost of implementing cyber hygiene habits can vary significantly based on factors like the size of your organization and the specific measures you choose. You might spend between $1,000 and $10,000 for an initial assessment if hiring a consultant for a comprehensive security audit.

What are some common pitfalls organizations face when trying to improve their cyber hygiene?

Organizations often face several pitfalls when trying to improve their cyber hygiene routine. Common security issues include lacking leadership support, inadequate employee training, and neglecting third-party risks.

What is the meaning of online hygiene?

Online hygiene, or cyber hygiene, is all about the simple steps you can take to keep your online activities safe and your devices running smoothly. It’s about developing habits that focus on security—things like regularly updating passwords, installing software updates, and being cautious of suspicious emails.