When it comes to M&A due diligence, having strong cybersecurity is increasingly important, even beyond breach detection. For the acquiring organization, the primary fear is an unrecognized data breach, but detecting breaches is often difficult. Enterprises in the midst of – and immediately following – a merger are vulnerable, but there are strategies to minimize security risks.

Having a data breach response plan is critical, but even the best plans will fail to account for every possibility. Don’t try to anticipate everything; rather, begin by establishing the core elements and roles that will provide a foundation for a strong and coordinated response.

There’s more to information security than having strong passwords, but without complex passwords (that aren’t used on other websites), any attempts at preventing data breaches will be insufficient. Simple passwords are easy pickings for hackers. When it seems another significant data breach occupies the front page every other week, why make hackers’ jobs easier for them?