Even though you often see larger companies
dealing with hacks and data breaches, it's small businesses that really have to worry about cybersecurity. This is because they
are prime targets for experienced cybercriminals due to their lack of
protection. If your IT team is having trouble protecting your network or you
have experienced threats to your database before, then you know what it's like
to need greater cybersecurity.
So, what can you do, when trying to protecting
data from malware? These are a few of the
things that can help your business defend against cyber-attacks.
Set Up Password Protection
You should make sure that every employee is using
a strong password to access your computers and networks. In addition, the
passwords that protect your business' system should also be complex and observe
security standards in order to protect against decoders and hackers. In
addition, passwords should be updated regularly
Restrict Access
Everyone at your business doesn't need to have
access to certain databases and information. In fact, it's easier to keep track
of who has access and protect against breaches when only a few people have
access to your system. You can add more encryption and more difficult passwords
to protect this access to sensitive data.
No Personal Devices on Network
Are people at your business using your business'
network with personal devices? Do you allow employees to bring computers or
tablets from home and use your Wi-Fi? It's important that you set up a network
separate from your important office network so that you're protected. However,
if you want to truly protect against any kind of breach, you won't allow
personal devices of any kind on your business' network. You should also have
monitoring software on all of your business' computers, allowing you to track
unwanted activity, push security updates, and change passwords regularly.
Train Employees to Recognize Threats
Do your employees know what a virus looks like?
Do they know not to download third party software from an unknown publisher?
You can train your employees to look for threats and be prepared for an attack.
You can also have policies for internet use and guidelines for behavior
involving cybersecurity. For instance, you may want to penalize an employee
that uses the network to go to websites not allowed or that have been blocked
by your firewall.
Use a Firewall and Backup System
Your firewall should prevent employees from
navigating to certain sites, including those that could be infected with
malware. In addition, you should have a backup setup so that your business
can't be taken offline for long. When you have a system that is protected, it
will be easy to prevent most hack attempts and take very little time to restore
your system if it were to go down because of a DDoS attack.
Prepare Your IT Team
What kind of security do you currently run on
your website or for your network? Are you using endpoint protection or a VPN?
It's imperative that you make sure your network is almost hidden to everyone
online, allowing you to isolate any further attack attempts. Many businesses
don't realize that they are being hacked until it has already happened, but if
your team is prepared and constantly vigilant, you can avoid data breaches
altogether.