We live in an age where we are connected and available all the time. With the rise of smartphones, tablets, and laptops, many of us are using the internet to keep in touch with friends, family and work.
However, no matter how connected we think we are, we are not completely safe.
Cybercriminals have had an open season thanks to a large global migration to remote working environments. No company, big or little, is safe. Because small and medium businesses (SMBs) appear to be a target, improving your company’s security posture is critical right now.
But how can I improve my company’s cybersecurity?
Cybersecurity tips that every business should follow
There are methods for protecting business data from cyberattacks. Here are 9 tips to help your company become more resilient to cyberattacks:
- Conduct a risk assessment for security
Understand the most critical threats to your business, such as system failures, natural disasters, and malicious human beings actions, and assess the potential impact on your company.
- Educate your employees
Conduct employee education training should be provided to your entire workforce to educate users on common phishing and scam techniques. Furthermore, because cybersecurity threats are constantly evolving, ensure that your training curriculum is current and relevant frequently.
- Use multiple layers of security
Implement a password policy that requires strong passwords and monitor your employee accounts for breach intelligence using technologies to ensure that your network and endpoints are not vulnerable to attacks. Consider multifactor authentication, continuous network monitoring, and hard drive encryption.
- Maintain software updates
Unpatched or out-of-date software will allow a threat to compromise your security.
Cybercriminals use a variety of tactics to gain access to computers and data by exploiting software vulnerabilities. With a remote monitoring and management tool, managed service providers (MSPs) can automate this for businesses like yours. Remember to keep your mobile phones updated as well.
- Develop simple cybersecurity policies
Create and distribute a clear set of cybersecurity rules and instructions for employees. This will vary by business, but may include social media policies, bring your own device (BYOD), authentication requirements, and more.
- Make a backup of your data
Backups are required on a daily (or more frequent) basis to recover from data corruption or loss caused by security breaches. Consider using a data protection tool with the assistance of your MSP that performs incremental backups of data on a daily basis to prevent data loss.
- Turn on uptime
Select a strong data protection solution that allows for “instant recovery” of data and applications. In fact, 92 percent of MSPs report that clients who use business continuity disaster recovery (BCDR) products are less likely to experience significant downtime from ransomware and are able to get back up and running quickly.
Downtime in an application can have a significant impact on a company’s ability to generate revenue.
- Understand where your data is stored
The more places data exists, the more likely unauthorized individuals will have access to it. Along with business-class data, use data discovery tools to find and appropriately secure data. Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) applications that enable corporate data control.
- Limit computer access
Because each access point poses a unique risk, employees should only have access to the data they need to do their jobs. Furthermore, administrative privileges should only be granted to trusted employees.
Why partnering with an MSP?
Technology evolves at breakneck speed. Although technological advances have increased productivity and collaboration, keeping up with the changing landscape can be difficult and time-consuming.
Furthermore, as a company grows, its IT requirements will inevitably change. Allowing a managed services provider (MSP) to take on some of the responsibility can help reduce costs, boost efficiency and competitiveness, and provide scalability, allowing businesses to gain a secure and controlled IT infrastructure.
A qualified and dependable managed services provider provides numerous advantages to businesses of all sizes. Working with an MSP will provide you with quality advice on what technologies you need to protect your organization from cybercrime in the future.
Conclusion
Now, it is possible for us to use the internet to keep in touch with someone on the other side of the world or to communicate with someone through an app on their phone. For many of us, the internet is how we connect with the world around us.
Unfortunately, the risks are always there and the risks increase with the amount of technology we use.
Picture this, you have just placed an online order. In order to do so, you re-enter your credit or bank card details. Unfortunately, there are people out there who are predators. They sit behind keyboards and steal our information. Even if they do fail, the information is stored somewhere, and it could easily be used to steal your identity.
One way to improve your company’s cybersecurity is to follow simple preventive measures such as creating backups, a contingency plan in case of a cyberattack, training your employees and having cybersecurity policies. Small tips that can make a big difference.
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