Many businesses do not fully understand or prepare against cyber and online threats.
Whilst they think it could be the loss of some online documents or a longer loading time, the reality could be devastating damage to a business.
The UK Government reported that the average cost of a cyber-attack could be around £4,180, showing that many companies could be financially-stricken if they get hit digitally.
Many companies think they are too small or to be targeted are do not have the online exposure to warrant putting money into protecting the business online. In reality, it is impossible to have a business online without some kind of digital exposure. Whether it is using a website for growth or wifi for online payments, several layers could be exposed to hackers.
A business should look at its digital security and realize the implications of not being adequately prepared for an attack. It could lead to huge damage both financially and reputationally.
Some reasons for a business not responding to digital security leaks could be anything from a delegation of tasks, not enough funds, a lack of technical knowledge, a belief that cybersecurity doesn’t actually work, or even thinking that everything is protected in the “cloud”.
Businesses don’t need to be technically adept in cybersecurity, nor does it cost a lot of money in today’s market. Businesses should view a cybersecurity budget as spending money on insurance, it protects against loss in case of an emergency. The cloud is not protecting against cyber criminals and the tactics they employ – you should always be vigilant against them.
When a business is lax around its online security and privacy online, it can be at risk of severe financial and reputational danger. Whether it is a data breach or a phishing scam, it can all lead to ruin for a business.
Here are ten ways you can add more digital security to your business:
Add More Security to Your Network
Your business’s systems and networks should be protected with security software, which should in turn be made sure it is the latest version. On top of this, add a firewall that stops any viruses or malicious attacks from hitting your business’s network or hardware.
Utilizing strong anti-phishing tools can stop a phishing attack which has cost businesses huge amounts in the past, as it is the most common tactic for gaining access to private data.
Ensuring your business has a residential IP can guard you against hackers and any potential spyware they may plant on your network. It is anonymous, and safe and acts as a layer of protection against your business and malware. Residential IPs can have a multitude of benefits for your business.
VPNs are also a particularly useful tool for a business to ensure each employee has safe and secure access to the business network and sever without the risk of being exposed online.
Look at Insurance
An insurance policy against cyber attacks can help mitigate substantial losses against your business. All businesses must look at having cyber insurance, especially digitally-based companies.
Get Trained in Cyber Security
Your employees are the greatest asset when it comes to protecting your business digitally. If you can give them a basic or broad education in the way of cybersecurity, you can nip potential issues and leaks in the bud before they cause any real damage to your business.
Enforce Security Policies
A business should make sure there are strong digital security policies in place for employees to adhere to. This will give them guidelines on how to work and act with data, which is especially crucial in today’s world of remote working. This will add a layer of protection as data, logins, and devices will be used and handled much more carefully.
Monitor Hardware and Software
Your business should make sure all pieces of company software and hardware have a tracking or monitoring method in place, to make sure sensitive and important data is all accounted for. This also leads to when an employee leaving a business, they should return company hardware and return any passwords and data.
Use a Lot of Passwords
Company accounts and data should all be protected by passwords. Using a strong method of creating passwords creates a strong layer of protection on the data it covers, making it much harder for any cybercriminals to break into the sensitive data.
The best passwords will contain a strong mixture of cases, symbols, numbers, and characters. They are random and do not have a link to date, name, pet, address, or anything that could be guessed or deduced by a cybercriminal who does some research. The shorter the password, the easier it is for the cybercriminal.
Strong Verification and Multi-Factor Authentication
Similar to passwords, the use of verification and multi-factor authentication can heighten the protection of your company’s digital data across the board. This would make an employee have to use an ID to gain access to certain data, as well as use a device to gain access to online accounts or documents.
Put in an SSL Certificate
A lot of businesses today just use HTTP and think this is secure enough against hackers, but in reality, it gives them many opportunities to look for a leak and get access inside.
A common tactic for improving this security leak is to use an HTTPS protocol. It is a digital process that allows you to secure data between the network and the internet, helping you lock the door against any potential hackers that might be snooping.
As a bonus, it helps give you better search engine results and also gets more customer trust in the brand.
Create a Backup of Data
Creating a backup of your data is one of the best ways to protect against any cyber threats online.
The most recommended ways usually include regular daily backups that amount to a full server. Portable devices are recommended to have disconnected to protect against physical threats, and allow you to take full advantage of cloud storage.
Conclusion
Digital threats can affect all business sizes, from small independent traders to multinational and global corporations. Every business should work to make sure their security is updated and enhanced to protect their business and customers online.
