Whether you’re a veteran business owner with deep pockets or an aspiring entrepreneur, one thing is for sure: never underestimate the importance of cybersecurity. According to Direct Breach Investigations Report, over 43% of small businesses fell prey to malware attacks and hacking – in 2021 alone. To get you started on protecting your business, Tuwords shares the best cybersecurity practices out there. Let’s get into it.
Why Is Cybersecurity So Important?
The importance of cybersecurity is on the rise. Our society is more reliant on technology than ever before, so data leaks and operations breaches can have a significant impact. Not to mention, so much sensitive data such as credit card information, business contacts, and bank account details remain stored on the cloud. And it isn’t just small companies that are prey to cyber attacks – Marriot, Twitter, and other big conglomerates have been hit with multiple risks. And since the cost of fixing the average cyberattack is $1.1 million, you need to be taking all the necessary precautions to protect your business.
Cybersecurity Best Practices
Having a solid cybersecurity system requires a good deal of technical know-how and patience. However, there are a few simple (and cost-effective) best practices you can implement today for good results:
- Password: Ensure your team knows about password best practices, as over 18% of employees share their passwords with others.
- VPN: Set up virtual private networks for remote employees to ensure they are always routed on a secure connection.
- Regular scans: Conduct regular scans of your computers, networks, and systems to test for any vulnerabilities.
- Update software: Old software can reduce the functionality and increase the risk of attacks, so be sure to update your systems every week.
In addition to these quick practices, you can take a few more measures to significantly ramp up your protection. Let’s take a look at them below.
Set Up Initial Lines of Defense
Every business needs a good internet security suite and firewall. These protection systems work in real-time to identify any fraudulent or suspicious activity. A security suite will send you notifications of any risks, allowing you to take action before the situation gets out of hand. Firewalls help block data access, so only those with authorization can access certain information. Combining these two defenses offers excellent protection against basic and intermediate-level cyber risks.
Employee Cyber Security Training
Look, you could have the most secure networks out there, but if your employees don’t know how to use them, you’re in trouble. Investing in basic cybersecurity training is an absolute must in preventing simple issues. For example, something as straightforward as clicking on a malicious link can cause major systems breakdowns and increase the risk of cyber threats. In addition, cybercriminals are well versed in tricking employees into sharing sensitive information through digital scams. Easily avoid these situations by organizing in-house seminars to help your employees use your systems more securely.
Have a Recovery Plan in Place
Find your data compromised? Did your systems break down and get spammed with malware? Accidents do happen, and these situations come up in the business landscape every so often. What is essential here is that you have a recovery plan in place to help you quickly resume operations. An effective plan will outline information such as:
- The most critical applications to recover first
- Time objectives
- Which data is most critical to recover
- Individuals involved in the recovery process
By identifying these essential elements, your business (and network) will bounce back from cyber security threats all the more quickly.
The cybersecurity industry is worth over $183.4 billion, Global Market Insights reports. And for a good reason – data breaches, leaks, and hacks can result in millions of dollars of losses, not to mention a lack of company credibility. However, with some planning, basic precautions, and a lot of vigilance, you’ll be well on your way to a secure business.
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Article courtesy of Chelsea Lamb
Image from Unsplash