Last Updated on November 16, 2021 by Guest
Internet technology continues to be a windfall for many entrepreneurs today. Not only does it open massive opportunities for extending your business reach, but there is also a lot more it can do for your company. It’s recommended to search for the proper security online solutions to make your business safer.
You can leverage it to extend your customer base, build your brand’s credibility, and enhance your core offerings. It lets you drive increased productivity, mobility, and ROI for businesses. But as helpful as modern innovations such as smartphones, PCs, and cloud computing, are too small businesses, they also present growing security concerns.
They open up your business to myriad cyber risks, so you need to be aware of the concerns in the first place. The challenging part is that most threats are unknown and may strike out of the blue, so you can never be too prepared for them.
This makes it essential for every entrepreneur to invest in a reliable online protection plan to ensure the business does not suffer from potential privacy breaches at any point. In this article, we will share some valuable tips that will improve your online business security.
Regularly change usernames and passwords
This step seems like a no-brainer, but you should know that weak password protocols cause many cyber-attack cases. Common passwords that can be easily cracked pose a risk to your precious data. An everyday user’s mistake is to have their names and birth dates as the password, so getting through is easy for hackers.
That is why you should ensure that all sensitive data and access to all networks are protected with unique usernames and strong passwords. Try and look into password protection tips like turning on the two-step authentication and training your staff on best password practices. Moreover, you need to ensure that they change passwords regularly for an extra layer of protection, and it will go a long way in protecting your online business.
It is important to visit only HTTPS secured websites as cybercriminals can make phishing sites that look like real ones and steal users’ credentials. Even a user can check certificate details and types of SSL like a multi-domain wildcard or regular SSL certificate or any other SSL with a single click on a padlock.
Have backups
Data is the most precious asset for any business. Sadly, while we do not wish for it to be tampered with, compromises are likely to happen repeatedly. Sometimes, it could be due to device theft, accidental deletions, hacking, etc. At others, dishonest employees may hack or steal business data with malicious intentions. There is also a risk of loss due to disasters and unexpected events.
Going the extra mile with preserving your corporate data is a good approach for any business. Make sure that your critical data is backed up to help protect you from future threats. You can use a cloud backup for all your vital documents and files. It keeps them secure, and your employees even have the option to access them remotely from the cloud, anywhere, and at any time. Moreover, it preserves the integrity of your data over time.
Protect your devices
As a business, you must ensure that your devices are protected at all times. Keep in mind that hackers can easily gain access to your online systems via these devices. This step is even more critical if your company operates under a BYOD policy or a work from home policy.
With personal devices in the corporate network, you need to be extra vigilant. To be on the safe side, ensure that all devices are protected by antivirus software and provide a good VPN as your employees work remotely.
In addition to these, ensure to invest in a good cleaning app to clean out unwanted or malicious files that could harm your devices at any point. For example, if your company uses Mac devices, you can use the cleanmymac software regularly to delete system junk, unwanted apps, and malware. You want your devices clean and free from viruses to boost efficiency and productivity, plus you will avoid breaches.
Invest in a proper firewall
Having a proper firewall is an essential part of your business security system. Wondering how a firewall works? Let us put it in plain language. Every time you engage in online activities, data is exchanged between your devices, servers, and routers in cyberspace.
Good firewalls monitor this data (which is sent in packets) to check whether they are safe or not. So, depending on the rules, packets of data are either accepted or rejected.
With a firewall in place, you can ensure that your network is protected every time business users browse the internet. You can look at the Norton 360 Deluxe, Avast premium security, Cisco NGFW, etc.
You can also implement software firewalls to help you stay safe. This is a worthwhile investment for corporate networks because it keeps them secure from all kinds of online threats.
Restrict access
Another great way to reduce exposure to hackers and thieves is by limiting access to your technology infrastructure. It would be best to adopt the least privilege principle, which means awarding privileges only to required equipment, persons, and programs.
Eliminate local administrator privileges and ensure all human and non-human users only have the necessary privileges to perform their job.
You can also minimize the scope of potential damage by ensuring that each workgroup, department, or user has a unique set of logins and domain names. Apart from securing sensitive information with restricted access, keep a close eye on all the employees.
Manage them to get permission before installing any software on work computers. Right now, monitoring becomes all the more important because a major part of the workforce may be operating from home, and the risks get bigger.
Final thoughts
If you want to enjoy doing business in cyberspace, investing in cybersecurity is not an option. While there are many ways to stay protected, the tips discussed above should help you avoid common threats.
Having a dedicated cybersecurity team can make all the difference. You can hire in-house resources or outsource professionals, depending on your budget. But make sure that someone is always there to keep a vigil because the smallest of incidents can have the biggest implications for an online business.