You may find your business is shifting towards storing data on network drives, or even in the cloud. If this is the case, you could be susceptible to cyber attacks which can spell bad news for your business.
These attacks can include malware, phishing or even password attacks. Any of these attacks are sure-fire ways to compromise data, something you should take strong measures to prevent.
Install a firewall
Install a firewall on your system to provide a barrier between your network and the outside world. If set up correctly, this will help keep your data safe and filter out any intrusions.
As long as this firewall is active, it acts as an extra layer of security between you and the outside world. You might also want to consider running anti-virus software to make sure your systems are safe and secure.
Change passwords regularly
The majority of security compromises simply come from the fact that people use weak passwords.
While it can be a pain to remember a random string of 12 letters, numbers and symbols, passwords such as “letmein” and “123456” simply don’t cut it.
Password managers such as LastPass are a great way to store all of your passwords in a safe location. This software can also generate strong passwords so you don’t have to. Even so, it’s always good to regularly take the time to update these to something new.
You will have to have a very strong master password if you’re planning to use a password manager however. This should be one that isn’t easy to guess, and it shouldn’t ever be written down.
Limit staff access
It’s a good idea to have some clear boundaries for what your staff can and cannot access. You may not want a brand new employee having a look around your private customer files, no matter how much you may trust them.
These clear policies will stop any unwanted or accidental viewing and also send a clear security message to your staff.
Make sure software is up to date
There’s no point having a great firewall and anti-virus on your system if they aren’t kept up to date. We know it can be annoying at times to be asked to restart your PC for an update while you’re in the middle of work. Why not set 5 minutes aside at the end of the week to do a quick check for updates on each system?
It’s not just the anti-intrusion software you’ll want to check either, you’ll want to make sure your operating system, any file transfer software and even system drivers are regularly checked for updates.
These are just some of the key ways you can protect your business digitally. In most cases, these are simple steps to take but it’s easy to forget them or even disregard them as unnecessary. However, protecting your business digitally is vital nowadays and you can’t be too careful.
Did we miss anything out? Are there any other precautions to take to protect your business? Let us know your thoughts and tips below.
