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Cybersecurity for businesses is imperative in this day and age. Cybercrime is increasing every year at a rapid pace, and with new technology such as Ai, cyber-attacks are only getting more difficult to detect. Keeping your business assets protected physically as well as digitally is the only way to prevent devastating loss. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to increase your business cybersecurity that you can start implementing today. Let’s take a look at the top 10 cybersecurity tips for keeping your business secure.
Secure Your Wi-Fi Network
To keep your network secure, make sure you have a private password-protected network for employees. If you must have guest Wi-Fi enabled, ensure it is separate from your internal network and that it is also password protected. Additionally, enable data encryption on your Wi-Fi network and keep up to date on software patches for your access point.
Implement Employee Training
Human error is the cause of 88% of data breaches. Providing your employees with training to help them understand policies and how to recognize cybersecurity red flags. Teaching practices such as creating strong passwords, recognizing phishing attempts, and introducing protocols for sharing company data can make all the difference for your cybersecurity.
Backup Data Regularly
Backing up data to a secure location is critical in the event of a disaster. Whether system failure, ransomware, or malicious software, having data backed up can save you from losing company, customer, and employee data. Backing up regularly is imperative, so it’s a good idea to set a calendar reminder to back up your data. Ideally, you should back up your data daily, but at least once a week minimum.
Always Use Strong Passwords
81% of data breaches are related to weak or stolen passwords. Strong passwords contain upper- and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols. Sharing passwords is another way that they can be compromised. If you must share a password, verbally and in person is the best way. If you need to use email, make sure you never email your password without encryption.
Require Multi-Factor Authentication
Requiring your employees to use multi-factor authentication adds another layer of security on top of strong passwords. Also known as 2-factor authentication, this security measure will text a code to the employee that they need to enter before logging in. Additionally, an authenticator app will also work to manage two-factor authentication.
Install Software Updates
Creating a company policy that software updates must be installed within 24 hours of notification can help make sure employees stay secure. Software updates include fixing vulnerabilities, removing bugs, and keeping your device running on the latest version. Also, reminding employees to reboot at least once a week can help keep their devices healthy.
Use Anti-Virus Software on Every System
Every company device needs to have anti-virus software. Protecting your company from malicious links, phishing, and spyware can make a world of difference. Effective anti-virus will never be free, so avoid any anti-virus software that claims to be free or is offered at an extremely low price.
Install a Firewall
A firewall offers protection from hackers by blocking malicious software and suspicious network traffic. This will keep cyber-attacks from penetrating your system via malware or the internet. A firewall does not fully protect against viruses, so it’s important to utilize both an anti-virus and a firewall for full protection.
Implement Email Phishing Protection
Phishing protection will block phishing emails from ever making it into your employee’s inboxes. It will also flag emails that are sent from outside of the company and warn employees before clicking on any links.
With over 3.4 billion spam emails sent daily, phishing protection can keep company credentials safe and sensitive data secure.
Keep All Company Devices Locked
All company devices should be password protected and locked if the employee is going to be away from the device or workstation. Even if the employee is only going to be away for a few minutes, it only takes a second for sensitive data to fall into the wrong hands.
To lock windows, hold down the windows key and tap the L key. For Mac, hold the control command and tap Q.
That’s all for this week. See you next time for Tech Tip Tuesday!
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