When you are in business, you are always at risk of a cyber-attack. These criminals who hack and steal data aren’t particular and will penetrate any vulnerable system. They often find that small businesses are easier targets because they may not have the same level of security as the government or larger corporations.
It is especially important for businesses to defend themselves against any potential ransomware attack or other cyber security breaches. Take a look at the top ten ways to improve business cybersecurity.
- Secure the Business Network
One of the most important ways to improve your business cybersecurity is by securing your network. You can use a firewall and encryption to make sure that hackers aren’t able to penetrate your network. You should make sure that you have antivirus software running and properly updated regularly. Getting an audit done by a cybersecurity company like Cytelligence can be the smart thing to do to ensure your network is secured.
If you have employees working remotely, make sure that they do not connect to free WiFi to access your network. These access points can be unsecured, and it opens the door for hackers to access your system. Provide them with a portable hotspot that they can use that is password protected. This will keep your network safe.
- Password Protect Everything and Change Passwords Regularly
Passwords can protect computer networks, and it is important to make sure that you are using complex passwords that are not hackable. Passwords should include upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and special characters, and they should be random and lengthy. In addition, you can set your system to require password changes regularly. This way, you are continuously safeguarding your data.
- Use Multifactor Authentication
An added step to bolster your network protection is to include multi-factor authentication. Make sure that when people want entry to your network or your systems, they have to do more than enter a login and password.
You can have them receive a code by text or email to a verified number or address that has to be entered for access to be granted. You can also use an authenticator that randomly generates keycodes. This helps to keep your network safe from unauthorized users.
- Monitor Employee Personal Devices
Some companies allow employees to use personal devices, such as laptops, tablets, or smartphones, to access the company network. If you do, you can monitor their devices to make sure that their devices are up to date and protected.
You won’t use this access to invade personal privacy, but you can grant access to your network administrator so that they can install automatic security updates, monitor software, and require regular password changes. This is essential for protecting your business if your employees are accessing your network from their own personal devices.
- Limit Employee Data Access
Employees might find it unacceptable for you to monitor their devices, so you can limit their access. They can have access to what they need, and you can protect other data. You can add layered security to anything that they are allowed to access, including additional passwords, security questions, and more. Make sure that everyone understands that there are serious consequences for anyone who doesn’t follow the cybersecurity policies. This helps to keep your data safe.
- Update Systems and Software Regularly
It is important that your systems and software are always up to date. You need to make sure that you download any available updates immediately, as they often include security improvements. This is a large part of preventing a dangerous ransomware attack.
In these cases, cybercriminals will hack into your system and hold your digital files hostage until you pay a fee in some kind of virtual currency. You need to do everything you can to prevent this kind of attack from happening, as it can be costly and you may not ever find the cybercriminals who did it.
- Employee Training
Many employees compromise your network security without any idea that they have done so. The issue is that much of the work that is done today is done online, and your employees aren’t necessarily up to date on all of the latest issues. It is your responsibility to make sure that they are informed so that you can protect your data and your network.
For example, social media is a powerful tool for lead generation and customer engagement, but there are many people and businesses who can see what is posted. You employees need to understand how to use social media successfully without giving away any information about your business or your network. Make sure that you train your employees so that they understand when and how to access company social media accounts without issue.
- Segment and Separate Information
It is important that you keep an inventory of all of your essential business information, and you should categorize it based on how sensitive and confidential it is. You should make sure that your networks are zoned by grouping infrastructure services that have similar requirements for information protection.
They can all be given the same security policies. This helps you control data and restrict access. You need to monitor it regularly to make sure that you are able to reinforce protection wherever it is needed.
- Protect Information at the Enterprise Level
It is also important to protect your information at the enterprise level. Your data is critical to your operations, but it is also valuable to cybercriminals. Make sure that you manage data throughout its lifecycle by knowing how it is labeled, handled, retained, and destroyed when you no longer need it.
There are different ways to manage it, and you need to choose a system that works for you. Keep in mind that it is your legal responsibility to protect data and keep confidential information safe.
- Isolate Web-Facing Applications
Finally, you can use virtualization to make sure that web-facing applications can run in isolation. This way, if any malware gets through, it won’t be able to spread and infect your host or your files outside of the virtualized environment.
