Did you know that over 40% of companies that come under cyber-attack are in fact small companies? This is to be expected because hackers know that these businesses cannot afford high-level security thus they are left with cheap and outdated systems. Still, there is hope for small business owners. Here are some things one can do to improve their company’s cyber security.
In this text, we are going to discuss only some things you can do on your own. However, if you want to learn some of the best and up-to-date tips for improving the security of small businesses, contact Blue Hat Cyber. Their advice will not only ensure the safety of your company’s data, but they will also help you in your further development.
The very first thing that goes without saying is strong password protection. No, you should never use passwords like 1234 or ABCD, because cracking them is child’s play. Instead, encourage all your employees to use complex passwords that consist of alphabets, numerals, and characters.
Also, workers shouldn’t share their passwords with colleagues and they should update and change them regularly. While on the subject of passwords, another thing you could do is to limit the number of password attempts. Since, hackers will try many, many different passwords until they find the right one, it is a good idea to restrict the number of these attempts. Program your system to shut down once the limit has been reached.
Furthermore, if you are dealing with sensitive information such as clients’ personal data or any kind of it that should not be available to the public, you could add more layers of protection. This means that only some employees will have access to a certain type or a group of information, and in order to access it, they will need an additional password. This way, if your system gets hacked, hackers will not be able to gain access to all data, because some of it will be guarded by another layer of security.
Moreover, if your company is on a tight budget and you cannot afford to buy electronic devices such as laptops, tablets, and smartphones for your employees to use, the chances are that they will use personal devices to access company’s software and data. If this is the case, you should implement policies that will allow you to install software that monitors the activity on those devices. These programs would not only monitor, but they would also act as another security system.
Also, it is important to educate your employees on cyber-attacks and cyber security. Teach them about the basics by bringing in professionals and organizing seminars. Instruct them how to post online without giving out any of company’s confidential data. In addition, tell them about every security protocol and also about the consequences if they break them.
Additionally, make sure to back up all your data regularly. You cannot use back up as a mean to withstand a cyber-attack, but if you come under one, you will be able to get your business back on the right track. All data should be stored on a hard-accessible, remote cloud or a hard drive.
Lastly, you should hack yourself. Even though it sounds weird, this is the best way to find all weaknesses in your security system before someone else does, and correct them.
To conclude, these are only some security solutions you should administer in order to resist cyber-attacks.
Nicola Holder 