In the medical world, prevention is always better than cure, and the same is true in cybersecurity. Therefore, what are you doing to protect the firm from potential internet attacks if you own a company or are in charge of a company website?
You might believe that your company is too small to worry about or that the data you have isn’t essential, but this is false. The value of something as basic as a login and password will only increase as more and more of our lives shift online.
Birthdays, home addresses, and phone numbers are just a few additional data you can gather about your consumers. It might be used to create numerous lucrative identity theft schemes.
According to Spin.ai: “even though there’s no guarantee you’ll stop an attacker dedicated to breaching you using spear phishing, there are several things you can do to ensure that you’re not a target for cybercriminals.”
The following ten cybersecurity best practices and actions will help you prepare for a cyber-attack and SaaS security solutions.
1. Perform a Cyber Security Audit
Making an honest evaluation of your current situation is the first step you need to take to improve cybersecurity for your small business, according to Business.gov.au. Conducting a security audit is the first step in creating a strategy to increase your resilience in the event of a data breach.
2. Use a Firewall
Although it might seem common sense, it’s surprising how few firms have installed firewall software as the first step in securing their network. Because many options are available, carefully consider them before choosing the best one.
Additionally, the effectiveness of your security software depends on how often you update it; if you don’t keep up with installing updates as soon as new risks and threats are identified, you might not use it at all.
3. Review Your Security Protocols for Departing Employees
Unexpectedly, many hacks and attacks are carried out by angry employees who still have access to a company’s system via outdated login credentials that weren’t removed. In today’s digital environment, this type of information can quickly move among devices, so be sure to use a password manager to help you keep track of everything.
4. Educate Your Staff on Best Practices
If you want your staff to actively contribute to preventing hacks rather than unintentionally assisting in making one possible, you must integrate cybersecurity into your company’s culture. Social engineering attacks like phishing, water holing, and others profit from the fact that people are far easier to manipulate than a secure network.
Your staff needs to know potential threats and how to spot them. If you take the time now, you won’t have to worry about how to handle a costly data breach later.
5. Include Cyber Security in Your Onboarding Procedure
Like training, it’s crucial to convey to new employees early on that your small business values security. Make sure you spend the time necessary to train new workers, particularly when they are faced with important choices like choosing their login credentials.
6. Use Password Best Practices
Ensure that your small business is adhering to recommended practices for passwords. That is where a password manager can come in handy and make it easier to share that information amongst teams.
Many people’s go-to login credentials are already available on the dark web, and they wait for a script to plug them into the appropriate website.
7. Upgrade Your Hardware and Firmware
Every gadget linked to your network, from your phone to your printer, has the potential to serve as an access point for a hacker. You should keep your computer updated and be aware of any patches that may be released for other gadgets on your network. Set a monthly reminder to check for updates, or work with someone who can do it for you.
8. Managed IT Services
Managing network security can seem like a full-time job, especially if you’re a small business owner already attempting to balance all the other plates. With 24/7 network monitoring, IT support device updates, and more managed IT services can lend a helping hand at a price you can afford. This service can also grow with you, giving you the scalability you need.
9. Make Time to Practice
Your company is much more likely to recover from a data breach if you have a plan for dealing with it, just like anything else. Spend some time practicing your answers, not just for the benefit of your IT team but also for marketing and customer service, who will be responsible for handling any fallout from an attack. You can make better decisions if you’ve given the situation enough thought.
10. Be Skeptical
Although it’s in our nature to be trusting, the sender of an email, phone contact, text message, social network request, or other forms of communication can be a phony trying to scam you.
Before opening an attachment, clicking on a link, or giving sensitive information, always check sanity. Is the communication genuine? Would this person or business ask you to do this? Call the sender and ask them to confirm that they sent the message. That helps you avoid phishing and attacks intended to exploit your trust.
Protect Your Business – Conclusion
Sadly, the number of successful cyberattacks rises each week, and there are few signs that the pandemic will end soon. However, business data and assets will be much more difficult to hack if organizations take the time to establish, practice, and update existing cybersecurity systems with more recent technologies.