The damage from a data breach costs companies an average of $3.86 million—and that number keeps increasing. A stat like that shows just how vital cybersecurity is for your business.
What cybersecurity measures do you have, especially if your business depends completely on software? How do you deploy business software? Are your security measures enough to protect you from security threats? Good practices like agile pentesting allow businesses to identify and address vulnerabilities at a faster, more frequent rate to minimize risk.
Keep reading to learn some tips to improve your cybersecurity to protect your customers and business.
1. Train Your Employees
It’s important that your employees because a breach can come from the inside. You need to make sure you create a cybersecurity plan and tell employees what they cannot share. Create a policy on company sharing and let employees know what to do if they suspect a breach.
2. Create Central Contacts
You should have a simple contact to offer advice. Set up an email address to help monitor business functions and IT. You may even want to enlist the help of consultants to check your cybersecurity and help monitor this area for advice.
3. Passwords
One of the most common culprits of a security breach is having weak passwords. People tend to reuse passwords for multiple accounts. It’s important to train your employees on how to create strong passwords and implement a policy on changing passwords frequently.
4. Get an SSL Certificate
One of the most critical cybersecurity measures is to have an SSL certificate. SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer that acts as a wall on the inside that no one can pass to intercept from the inside. The SSL passes data with an encrypted format that reduces the risks of attacks and data theft.
Small businesses may have a smaller budget for this type of technology but there are multiple types of SSL certificates available to fit your budget.
5. Be Aware of Phishing Attacks
Hackers send emails to get ahold of sensitive business data. These emails come across as a fake customer or vendor asking your support team to click on links. These links lead to a dangerous site that breaches your systems.
Train your employees about these emails and create a policy about clicking on unsolicited links in emails. You can also tell employees if they are unsure about an email that they can send it to your IT team or another data security contact.
6. Backup Your Data
You should back up your data on cloud-based storage. Some hard drives have their limits and can get outdated over time. Cloud data should be encrypted to protect your data.
You can access the cloud data from anywhere, so you do not have the constraints of a device or storage system.
7. Keep Up-to-Date Antivirus Software
Sure, updating software can be annoying since it takes time, but it is a necessity. Your business should have up-to-date anti-malware and anti-virus software at all times. This software addresses any weakness and these updates protect your antivirus efficiency.
You need to have an anti-virus technology program and there are several programs to choose from. You should also make sure these programs update automatically, so an employee doesn’t choose to skip an update.
Protect Your Business from Cybersecurity Threats
You can protect your business from cybersecurity threats by updating security software, backing up your data, and training your employees on the importance of secure passwords and avoiding phishing scams. If you feel unsure how to move forward, you may want to consider contacting a cybersecurity consultant.
Looking for more advice to keep your business safe? Keep exploring our site for more valuable advice.
