As cyber criminals get increasingly advanced in their methods, many businesses are left to figure out how best to protect their data in this ever-evolving age of technology. Luckily, you can take plenty of steps to prevent your valuable data from becoming compromised. As long as you and your employees are willing to take the necessary steps, you should be able to protect yourself against cyber attacks.
“Don’t make the job of a cybercriminal easy. There are walls, literally and metaphorically, that you can put up to keep them out,” advises Ryan Rottman, Co-Founder and CEO of OSDB.
If you are looking for ways to better protect your businesses from data breaches, we will cover nine of the best ways businesses can prevent cyber attacks. From passwords to firewalls, here are some of the things you need to be doing as a business:
1. Train Your Employees in Security Practices
Even if you take all the necessary steps to protect yourself, you are not the only one at your company with access to important data. Each of your employees has the ability to topple your cybersecurity strategy if they are not properly trained in security practices.
“Humans are the weakest link in cybersecurity. One employee can cost you months of valuable information should they not be following the proper procedure,” says Max Baecker, President of American Hartford Gold who helps people safeguard their retirement savings with a Gold IRA.
It is critical to ensure each of your employees understands what they need to do to protect the company’s important data and information. Set up regular training programs and make sure that everyone stays up to date with any changes.
In Office
Start by establishing basic security practices for your employees. This should include requiring strong passwords or two-factor authentication for all devices. You should also consider setting penalties for employees who violate your company’s policies.
“As cybersecurity leaders, we have to create our message of influence because security is a culture and you need the business to take place and be part of that security culture,” mentions Britney Hommertzheim, Global Business Information Security Officer at Cardinal Health.
While working in the office does give you more control over cybersecurity, many companies have hybrid employees or employees who need to travel for work. These types of situations require extra precautions.
At Home
Employees working somewhere other than your main office need to follow an additional set of rules to ensure the security of your data. The use of public Wi-Fi can cause major security problems for your business. If you do have employees working out of the office, encourage them to use a VPN.
“With work-from-home employees, cybersecurity attacks are a question of when rather than if. Take extra precautions with these employees to prevent any issues from occurring,” recommends Cody Candee, Founder and CEO of Bounce.
The same goes for home networks as well. Even if your employees are working on their own private network, they could still be susceptible to cyberattacks. VPNs should be used any time you have employees working outside of your office network.
2. Secure Wi-Fi Networks
Speaking of securing Wi-Fi networks, your workplace network must also be secured. Make sure that your network is not only secure and encrypted but also that you keep it hidden.
“Take all the steps possible when securing your networks. This will be your first line of defense. If your first line isn’t strong, don’t expect the rest of your defense to hold up,” says Seth Besse, CEO of Undivided.
Hiding your network is easy. If you have not already done so, set up your wireless access point to not broadcast your network name. This is also known as your Set Service Identifier or SSID. Then, password-protect access to the router for best results.
3. Use Passwords and Authentication
Passwords are a basic step that you should never overlook. Every device your company uses, whether a phone, laptop, or desktop, must be password protected. Consider implementing a multi-factor authentication that requires more information than just a simple password.
“When it comes to protecting your data, passwords are the bare minimum. Start with password protection, but don’t be shy to implement other authentication methods,” says Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of SwagMagic.
Encourage your employees to change their passwords once every three months to prevent any data leaks. This needs to be done on all computers and mobile devices. Protecting your data requires cooperation from all employees.
4. Keep Technology Up to Date
Protecting your computers, networks, and data from cyber-attacks involves regular technology updates. All machines and devices should be kept clean and updated with the latest security software. Web browsers and operating systems must also be updated and cleaned out often.
“Assuming your job is done when it comes to cybersecurity will leave you vulnerable. This is a job that is constant and never-ending. You have to evolve with your attackers,” recommends Miles Beckett, Co-Founder and CEO of Flossy.
Keeping your technology up to date is the best defense you have against viruses, malware, and other online threats. Don’t forget to set your antivirus software to run a scan every time you update. Then, install any updates as soon as they become available to keep your data secure.
5. Use Firewall Security
Firewall security is non-negotiable when it comes to protecting your devices. A firewall is a set of programs that work together to prevent cybercriminals from accessing data hosted on a private network. You can find free firewall software online, so there is no reason your company shouldn’t be using it.
“Your firewall is the glue holding together your digital landscape. Without one, your whole operation could fall to the ground,” says Asker A Ahmed, Director of iProcess Global Research.
If you have employees who work out of the office, make sure that their home systems are protected by a firewall as well. All it takes is one employee not using a firewall for a full-out data breach to occur.
6. Protect Mobile Devices
Mobile device security is one of the harder tasks businesses have to work through. Mobile devices have become just as prevalent, if not more prevalent, than computers for some businesses. These devices often hold the same confidential information as computers and have access to the corporate network.
“Mobile devices pose one of the highest security risks to companies. You can never take too much precaution when it comes to these devices,” maintains Andrew Mavis, CEO of 98Strong.
The most obvious thing you can do to protect mobile devices is to require users to password-protect their phones. You should also take extra steps to encrypt their data and install additional security apps. This will help prevent criminals from stealing data while the phone is using public networks.
7. Backup Your Data
If you are not doing this already, make sure you are backing up your data regularly. Do so on all computers and mobile devices associated with your company. Anything from spreadsheets, databases, HR files, Word documents, and more should be included in your backups.
“Data backups are non-negotiable. Even with all the right defenses, you never know what could happen. Protect yourself from the ‘what ifs,’” advises Datha Santomieri, Co-Founder and Vice-President of Steadily who offers a complete guide for landlord insurance.
If you can set your systems up to do automatic backups, do so. This way, you don’t have to rely on employees to remember to do it themselves. Additionally, all copies of your data should be stored offsite or in the cloud.
8. Control Computer Access
Control physical access to your computers as much as possible. Also, create individual user accounts for each employee to further restrict access. Each account should be secured with a strong password.
“If computer access opens doors, security surrounding that access prevents unwanted forces from entering and attacking what’s behind those doors,” says Travis Mydock, DUI and Criminal Defense Attorney at Mydock Law.
If your company uses laptops, make sure they are locked up and secured when not in use. Laptops are an easy target for theft and are the cause of many cybersecurity issues.
9. Limit Access to Data
Never provide any one employee with total access to all of your systems. Doing so is a huge cybersecurity risk and can set you up for attacks. Only give each employee access to the systems they need to perform their jobs.
“We discovered in our research that insider threats are not viewed as seriously as external threats, like a cyberattack. But when companies had an insider threat, in general, they were much more costly than external incidents. This was largely because the insider that is smart has the skills to hide the crime, for months, for years, sometimes forever,” points out Dr. Larry Ponemon, Chairman, Ponemon Institute, at SecureWorld Boston.
Ensure that employees do not have access to installing new software without permission from higher-ups. Only give admin privileges to a select few members of your IT staff. Those few trusted members should be well-trained in your procedures when it comes to new software installation.
Securing Your Data
If you are concerned about your company’s cybersecurity, these tips and tricks should help prevent attacks by cybercriminals. In the age of technology, cybersecurity is something that all businesses need to prioritize. So, make sure you are taking the necessary steps to protect yourself.
