We live in the age of technology, which means so does your business! From websites, Google business, social media, emails, and more, your info is out there for the world (and potential hackers) to see! But is it securely out there? If you are unsure what cybersecurity is or if your business is secure…it’s time to empower your business with cybersecurity!
What does this mean for you and your business? Lucky for you, we have put together 10 easy ways you can improve your company’s online security. Keep reading and take notes on how you can apply these tips to your business!
First off, let’s dig deeper into what Cybersecurity is. Cybersecurity has to do with protecting systems that are connected to the online world. This includes protecting security breaches in your hardware, software, and database. Examples of systems that need defending that you may use include computers, laptops, servers, cell phones, tablets, social media, and more! That’s a lot of things that need protecting!
Cybersecurity tells malicious attacks to go away so that your info can stay safe. With that being said, it’s important to make sure you are doing everything you can to keep the cybersecurity protocols up to date for your business.
Awareness is key to preventing cyber attacks. Train yourself and your employees about what cybersecurity is and how they can help your business stay safe. By implementing security training on a regular basis, you can help plug up any security holes within your company. One way you can ensure your employees understand the importance of cybersecurity is by adding it to your onboarding process. This is the perfect time to set the tone for new employees, so they understand your company’s security protocols.
Quick Tip: Set the tone as the business owner and show everyone in your company that you take cybersecurity seriously.
There are many ways to protect yourself against a cybersecurity attack. The attackers are after your important information, which is what you need to ensure you are doing everything in your power to protect. You can put protective measures in place such as having the latest security software, regularly updating your web browser, and having an updated operating system that is built to detect and protect against attacks.
Quick Tip: Set reminders on your computer to regularly make sure all of your systems are up to date.
One of the BEST things you can do to help protect from cyber attacks is to have a firewall in place. A firewall is a network security device that monitors incoming and outgoing network traffic that accepts or blocks data sets based on the set of security rules you have implemented.
Quick Tip: Make sure you do your research on which firewall will work best for your needs.
Plan as if an attack is going to happen at any moment. Have measures in place so that everyone in your company knows what to do if an attack does happen.
Quick Tip: Consider conducting cybersecurity simulations so that you can find the holes in your system and make improvements accordingly.
With living in such a digital age, there is a high chance that your company utilizes Wi-Fi in one form or another…yet is your Wi-Fi secure? Wi-Fi is a great tool, but there are a few safety measures to implement. Make sure your Wi-Fi is secure, encrypted, and hidden.
Quick Tip: If you have remote workers, consider providing them with portable hotspots that help with regulating access.
Make sure that all company devices are encrypted to protect company information. Encrypting data adds that extra layer of protection from cyber-attacks.
Quick Tip: Use two-factor authentication when possible.
Here’s your friendly reminder to back up everything, and yes we mean EVERYTHING! If you can’t afford to lose it, then it needs to be backed up. If a cyber-attack does occur, you will recover much faster if you have access to backup data instead of scrambling to recover or start from scratch.
Quick Tip: Invest in an external drive for your backups or use a Cloud Backup like OneDrive.
Who doesn’t love free systems? We get it, but all of those ‘free’ software options come with a huge cost if they allow for a cyber attack. When downloading free software, sometimes it will include adware or spyware you don’t want.
Quick Tip: Don’t cut corners when it comes to cybersecurity…it is definitely worth the investment!
Outsourcing is great, but have you checked that those you are working with are as secure as you are? If they don’t have clear security practices, then either require they implement yours when working on items for your company, or find another service provider that has security measures already in place.
Quick Tip: Don’t be afraid to verify their cybersecurity protocols, after all, it’s your business that you are trying to protect.
Make sure you are using unique passwords. As fun as it is to use your pet’s name, you have to get more secure than that. Check in with your employees regularly to ensure they are using unique passwords. Some systems even allow for your employees to be automatically prompted to change their passwords Quarterly.
Quick Tip: Change your passwords every three months. I know it can be annoying, but trust us, it will increase your cybersecurity!
Bonus Tip: Use a password manager tool like LastPass to help you generate secure passwords and save them. (No more need for a sheet with all of your passwords!)
According to Forbes, “On average 30,000 new websites are hacked every day.”
A hacked website can have many different consequences for your business. Including loss of trust with Google leading to a negative impact on SEO, loss of trust from customers due to an unprofessional appearance, or even loss of vital and private customer information and payments. The list could go on and on.
Following many of the steps above as well as partnering with a website agency offering website care plans can help you monitor, update, and reduce the chances of your website getting hacked.
As the online world grows rapidly, it is important to make sure your business information is secure. Now that you have these 10 easy cybersecurity tips for your business, it’s time to implement them!
Are you still not confident in the online security of your business? Set up a free call to see how we can help you.
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