We frequently hear about cybercrime in the news. Malicious actors and cyber thieves are targeting not only large corporations but also mom-and-pop shops and small businesses. Cybersecurity threats are evolving rapidly, making it imperative for companies of all sizes and industries to prioritize their digital security measures.
As a business owner, you must keep your company's data secure 24/7/365, which is often easier said than done. However, there are simple and effective strategies to consider. This Huddle Business Capital blog article discusses five ways to protect your company's data.
Realize the importance of business information security.
Before we discuss data protection strategies, we want to emphasize the importance of business information security. Consider the information stored on most company computer systems and cloud software, perhaps yours. This data includes employee, customer, and vendor names, Social Security numbers (SSNs), credit card information, and bank details, all of which are targeted by cyber thieves using various methods to access it.
By implementing robust data protection strategies, you're not just defending against potential breaches but actively preserving your company's future. Adequate information security can ensure customer trust, safeguard your reputation, and avoid timely and costly legal issues resulting from data breaches and cyber-attacks.
1. Secure your internal network.
Firewalls serve as your first defense against cybercrime, acting as vigilant gatekeepers that monitor and control incoming and outgoing traffic. Implementing robust firewall protection reduces the risk of unauthorized access, bot attacks, and other malicious cyber threats.
Next, virtual private networks (VPNs) add an extra layer of security, especially for remote workers. VPNs create encrypted tunnels for data transmission, ensuring secure remote access to your network resources. This protects sensitive information from prying eyes and maintains the integrity of your data while in transit.
2. Use antivirus and antimalware software.
Using antivirus and antimalware software ensures that your business is protected. These security measures help protect your company's digital assets and sensitive information from various online threats. Remember that cybercriminals are constantly searching for weaknesses in business's outdated software. So, regularly update software and run scans with both programs to ensure comprehensive protection against viruses, malware, and other cybersecurity risks.
By staying current with software and antimalware updates, you effectively close these potential entry points, making it harder for malicious actors to breach your systems.
3. Secure your website URL.
Have you ever encountered a situation where you visited a website and noticed it did not have the secure padlock symbol in the navigation address bar? This indicates that the website you are visiting is not using a secure connection, which opens the door to data theft by cyber thieves. If your website URL is secure, great! If not, now is the time to secure it by implementing an SSL/TLS certificate, using the secure HTTP (HTTPS) protocol, and regularly updating security measures to protect against potential threats and attacks.
Adding an SSL/TLS certificate and using the HTTP (HTTPS) protocol involves obtaining a certificate from a trusted certificate authority, installing it on your company server, and configuring your web server to use HTTPS. Many website hosting companies offer free HTTPS certificates and integration with paid accounts, so check with yours to confirm. If not, you will need to have your IT team complete this task.
4. Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
To enhance business security, it is important to create lengthy passwords using a combination of letters (both uppercase and lowercase versions), numbers, and special characters (e.g., pound sign, exclamation mark, etc.). Additionally, it's important to regularly change your passwords to prevent potential fraud and not store them where anyone can access them.
Next, consider enabling multi-factor authentication (MFA) for your company's accounts. MFA adds a helpful layer of security by requiring multiple forms of verification to access your computer systems and company accounts, such as entering a password and then confirming your identity with a code sent to your company phone number or email.
5. Provide cybersecurity training to your employees.
Depending on their roles and permissions, your business's employees access various data and files daily, use the Internet and social media, send and receive emails, and more. If they are not aware of potential cyber threats and their warning signs, they may inadvertently create opportunities for these threats to occur.
To minimize the likelihood of security breaches, providing comprehensive cybersecurity training to your employees is an excellent idea, and include the training in your company's employee handbook. The training session should cover various topics. These include identifying deceptive emails and social engineering tactics, recognizing potential security risks, creating strong passwords, and methods for securely handling sensitive data. You can ask your IT manager to provide the training. If you don't have an IT manager on staff, look for an outside resource to conduct the training.
Disclaimer.
This Huddle Business Capital blog article is purely educational and contains general information and opinions; it is not intended to provide advice or recommendations of any kind.
