Safeguard your company’s data from potential cyber attacks.
Identify weak spots
The first step to protecting your business from cyber attacks is awareness. Aj Agrawal, contributor with Entrepreneur, recommends educating yourself on the different types of malware that hackers use. Next, identify points of weakness in your business when it comes to protecting your data and safely using technology without contracting a cyber virus.
Protect the Wi-Fi network
Cox Business member Lisa Majdi identifies multiple steps to take to secure your company’s Wi-Fi network. First off, make sure your router is in a secure location like a locked cabinet, so it’s hard for strangers to access it. She also recommends making the router’s password a strong one and changing the password each business quarter, since the most common way a hacker can break into the network is to use a default password that the business has failed to update to a customized one. Lastly, set up a separate network for guests to further minimize the likelihood that they’ll crack into company data or introduce malware into your business’s private network.
Invest in security
Stay Safe Online contributor Shawn Abraham states that it’s important to install multiple layers of security. Anti-virus software just isn’t enough due to the wide variety in cyber attacks and different strains of malware. Abraham recommends going with an antivirus, anti-malware, and anti-ransom ware suite, which will provide your corporation with a more comprehensive defense against breaches.
Data encryption
A hacker’s main goal when using malware is often to access personal information about your employees and customers. By encrypting your business data, you’ll help ensure that this private information stays confidential. Most software companies offer encryption applications suitable for businesses, Abraham points out. Agrawal recommends using full-disk encryption tools for optimal security. This method will encrypt every file on your drive without slowing it down.
Back up your files
Regularly schedule backups of all company files, which will help you avoid rebuilding files from scratch in the event of malware infiltration. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com and contributor with Business.com, advises using both on-site and cloud methods for backing up your company’s data. This will provide you with two storage locations for retrieving your information.
Educate employees about cyber safety
According to Business Woman Media, inform your staff about malware and how they can protect the company from data breaches. Such education can be in the form of company-wide training or a monthly meeting to help remind employees of cyber attack methods like phishing and drive-by downloads. Train them to avoid opening emails with suspicious subject lines or from unknown senders. Advise them to use their business phones as a mobile hotspot or set up a virtual private network (VPN), instead of using a public Wi-Fi network when they’re working remotely.
Establish an emergency response plan
Even if you use a cyber security software suite, educate your staff and take every precaution you can against malware attacks, there is still a risk that your business’s data could become compromised. Abraham recommends working with your IT staff to set up guidelines on how to detect attacks before they happen. It’s also crucial to write down a standard procedure that should be performed when a malware incident occurs.
By instating these practical safety measures within your business, you’ll increase the security of your private data while helping protect your company’s files and network.
Source: iMakeNews, Inc.
