SECURE YOUR BUSINESS

If you’re a small business or a mid-sized Business owner, you may think that your business is safe because it is just a computer that was compromises. Well, we’re here to tell you, think again. Research shows that about half of small businesses experience a cyber-attack, and this is mainly because they tend to have minimal security. So you need to be alert and take the necessary steps to secure your business. To help, we’ve come up with a list of six things you can do right now to secure your business.

Step #1: Keep your Workstations Up-To-Date

One of the best things you can do to secure your business is keep a close eye on all the services and software your business uses and make sure everything is up-to-date. By putting off updates, whether it’s for your PC, tablet or server, you could end up losing hours, and hundreds if not thousands of dollars.

Keeping your software and systems up-to-date keeps you safe from known security holes.

Step #2: Store your Business Data Safely

Another step you can take to secure your business right now is deciding where to store your data. And one of the best places you can store your data is in the cloud – is it both safe and secure. For example, having a cloud server restricts your employees from saving their files on their personal computers.

Also, you can use cloud storage as a backup plan, as it can provide a second copy of your important files. These files are stored at a remote location and can be accessed through an internet connection. So, in the event that a disaster occurs, your data will remain protected.

Step #3: Use DLP and Control Data Use

Another step you should take to secure your business is make sure every employee only has access to the data they need, which will minimize the chance of anyone accidentally changing or deleting things they shouldn’t.

According to CSO Online, you should “divide your data into categories, and make sure sensitive data is protected and can be accessed only by authorized employees who have a legitimate reason to access it.” Many CRM systems, such as Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics 365 CRM, even allow you to grant different users different levels of access, which is a great way to help you control data use.

Step #4: Set Up Firewall, IDS and IPS

Making sure that software based firewalls are activated for all computers in your business is another way to your business is secure. A good firewall will help you block unauthorized access to computers. Without it, a hacker may be able to penetrate your network and access your critical business information, such as financial data and employee records.

Firewalls also protect against other malicious activity on the Internet, including hackers using “malware malicious” programs often disguised as legitimate software to get at your private data.

Step #5: Have A Two-Step Verification Process

According to USA Today, “almost two-thirds of all cyberattacks are now directed at small businesses,” and the number is still increasing. This is why two-step verification is an important measure you need to take to secure your business.

The idea behind two-step verification, or two-factor authentication, is that in addition to a password, users are required you to provide a second piece of information to confirm their identity (sometimes a special numerical code sent via text or email). This increases the level of difficulty for hackers to access a user’s personal information.

Step #6: Educate Your Staff On Cyber Security

Another way you can secure your business is by educating your staff and helping them to understand what data needs to be protected. Research shows that 64% of data breaches are caused by human error, so training them on this topic is so important.

For instance, you should let them know what they can and cannot use company computers for, as well as which applications should not be downloaded to a company computer. It’s also important to inform them on what types of emails should not be opened or sent.