Small businesses are often not well secured, but they have the same security risks that big businesses have. Even small businesses can fall victim to hacking, malware, ransomware and data breaches. Cybercriminals are aware that small businesses often have cheap or put-dated protection, meaning you could become a target. It’s essential to protect your business with proper cybersecurity.
- Use strong passwords. One of the simplest ways to implement some cybersecurity is to think about the passwords you use. Simple passwords are easy to hack. Avoid anything including the names of your children or spouse, birth dates or anniversaries or the names of pets, that would be easy to guess. Instead, use a strong password that is made up of letters, numbers, and characters. Your passwords should also be changed regularly to avoid the risk of password hacking.
- Minimize the number of password attempts. We all occasionally type our own password in incorrectly, so you do need a couple of attempts to be able to access your computer or applications. However, don’t allow lots of attempts. A hacker can use software to try all possible combinations, so with enough time and attempts, will eventually get in. If they are locked out after a few attempts, your data will be much safer.
- Choose password manager software wisely. Password manager tools create strong passwords and remember them for you. This can be great, as you can generate complex, hard to crack passwords, but not struggle to remember them. However, you need to be sure the software you use for this is trustworthy and secure, or a hacker will be able to access all your passwords in one go if they get in. Always deal with trustworthy cybersecurity companies, like Networking Solutions.
- Use on-screen keyboards for sensitive information. Hackers have developed a sophisticated trick to be able to record your keystrokes with keylogging software. This is a particular risk on shared networks. To avoid this, use an on-screen keyboard, which can’t be tracked, to enter sensitive information like passwords. Many financial institutions offer virtual keyboards to allow you to do this.
- Be careful with backups. Data backups are essential for effective security, but mismanaging and mishandling these backups can make them vulnerable to be stolen. If you use cloud storage, your data is stored at a remote location. If this isn’t handled properly, someone could easily gain access to your data. Encrypt your backups and make sure they are password protected with secure passwords.
- Educate employees about cybersecurity. Security breaches are more common than you might think. One of the biggest causes is human error, so you must educate your team on proper cybersecurity practices. Train every member of staff, from interns to top-level management. Hold regular seminars to keep everyone up to date on any changes or new practices. Make sure they can recognize the signs of an IT attack, and test their knowledge. Put in place very clear policies about hacking, data breaches and the use of devices in your organization.
- Learn the benefits of the cloud. In the cloud you can work with different types of programs and information that do not need to be on your computer. The concept of the cloud refers to the network of servers, computers, interoceanic cables and other things that make up the internet, which is where data is transmitted. It is a technological model in which we find many services. One of them is to store information online and then access it from anywhere, using any device that allows us to connect to the internet. There are platforms such as Google Drive, OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox, among many others, from which you can do this.When we talk about information that is stored in the cloud, we refer to information stored on servers. When entering the internet, opening a platform like OneDrive and downloading a document, we access the information stored on a certain server located anywhere in the world. It also protects your documents long term. You may want to look at Cloud Migration Consulting to see how it can really assist your business.
To avoid compromising the security of your information, you must be careful with the passwords you use to access these services. Use a different password for each social network and cloud service and ensure you do this with every single aspect of login details. You should always treat security with respect and ensure you are doing the best thing for your business, just in case a cyber attack should occur.
