Whether you run a huge corporation or the newest start-up, cyber threats can cause massive disruptions to your business. If you don’t have proper security procedures in place, you leave yourself open to the consequences of these attacks. Although threats to business security can be damaging, they are also easily avoidable with the appropriate safeguards. Therefore, to guarantee business continuity, it is crucial to invest in the right methods. Within this article, you will find eleven strategies, that can help you keep your data safe and secure and ensure you are protected against high-tech failure.
Create Safe Systems
Firstly, it is important to reduce exposure to hackers and cyber threats by minimising points of failure. You may want to consider limiting access to your technology infrastructure. For example, you could eliminate unnecessary access to software and hardware and restrict individual users’ privileges to essential equipment and programs only. Similarly, it is recommended to limit access to your buildings by clearly identifying visitors. This is because the more people have access to your resources, the more vulnerable your systems will be. Also, be sure to lock your screen every time you leave your desk and ensure your staff does the same.
Implement ISO 27001
ISO 27001 is the international standard for information security, which can provide your organisation with a system to minimise the risk of a security breach. High Table can help you implement ISO 27001 Templates, which include policies, procedures, checklists, and other useful documentation. Head over to hightable.io, where you can find out how you can ensure the security of your systems and information. You will get a complete toolkit ready to be tailored to your organisation’s specific needs. Moreover, achieving ISO 27001 certification will demonstrate that your business has been independently assessed based on industry best practices to an international standard.
Use Strong Passwords
Although this may seem obvious, many web attacks succeed because of weak password protocols. Therefore, you should create unique usernames and passwords, which will help guard access to all equipment, sensitive data, and wireless networks. Strong passwords typically contain a combination of numbers, letters, and symbols, which are difficult to guess. Also, avoid using commonplace words, standard dictionary terms, and dates, such as birthdays. Additionally, each user should set their unique password following the same rules. If you create a document with all user passcodes, remember to encrypt it and store it in a secure place.
Provide Efficient Training
Many security breaches occur due to human error, carelessness, or lack of proper training. Because of this, it is important to build a workplace culture which emphasises computer security through training and education. These programs must teach employees about the consequences of weak passwords and the careless use of networks and devices. Members of your organisation should be aware of all security measures, including document disposal procedures to handle lost passwords. Keeping your staff up to date will train them to be watchful and will ensure that they can work together as a team in times of crisis.
Avoid Phishing Emails
Scammers often use emails and text messages to trick people into giving them sensitive data. Thankfully, there are some measures you can take to protect your business. For example, it is important to install security software, such as antivirus programs and spam filters. It may also be helpful to apply web filters to prevent employees from accessing malicious websites. Also, you shouldn’t forget to keep software current with the latest security patches and updates. Remember to test your backup and recovery plan regularly to ensure data is fully recoverable in the case of an emergency.
Protect Against Malware
Malicious software can cause considerable data damage without you ever knowing about it. Malware can steal critical information from your systems, slow down your Internet connection, or leverage your computer to spam others. Consequently, it is essential to educate your employees so that they can recognise malware and ransomware attacks. Also, you will need to perform regular IT audits to complete an in-depth analysis of your IT infrastructure. This will help you understand whether your current measures are working effectively. Set up a malware handling procedure and response plan that your team can follow easily.
Perform Screening And Background Checks
While hackers may be to blame for most cybersecurity threats and data damage, there are many unauthorised intrusions that can occur from inside network firewalls. As a result, it is advisable to screen all prospective employees, regardless of their department. Apart from calling references, it is important to research their credibility as well. It may be beneficial to implement a trial period, during which access to confidential data can be either restricted or limited. You may also want to monitor new employees for suspicious network activity. Background checks will allow you to make informed decisions and save your business time and money in the long run.
Keep Your Wireless Network Secure
If you have a wireless network, you will need to keep it secure against hackers. A simple encryption key may make it difficult for someone who is not particularly tech-savvy. However, it will be fairly easy for professional hackers to bypass. It is important to strengthen your router with the strongest encryption setting available. Also, you may want to turn off its broadcasting function so that it makes your network invisible. Additionally, if your employees often work from public places, ensure that they always use a secure connection when connecting to the Internet.
Dispose Of Data Correctly
Once data is no longer needed, you should put appropriate measures in place that outlines how to dispose of it properly. Ensure that reused devices and storage media have their contents properly removed so that sensitive company data cannot be retrieved further down the line. Keep in mind that reinstalling your operating system, deleting certain files, and formatting your hard drive will not ensure that your data is completely gone. In most cases, it is still accessible through a number of free tools. Therefore, you will need to use a tool that overwrites your data multiple times and guarantees it is unrecoverable.
Set Up A Plan For Personal Devices
There are certain risks associated with employees who bring and use their own devices at work. This means that you will need to create a clear and comprehensive plan regarding personal devices. You will need to outline policies in terms of pertinent data deletion, location tracking, and Internet monitoring issues. Therefore, if you have remote employees, it is crucial to ensure that their devices are as secure as the equipment in the office. For example, it may be useful to implement multi-factor identification and separate the device owner’s data and the organisation’s data.
Use A Virtual Private Network (VPN)
Virtual private networks (VPNs) create a more secure connection between remote computers. This can include home networks or computers used by employees on the road. Using a VPN will decrease the chance of hackers finding a wireless access point and damaging your system. Businesses can take advantage of VPN to provide remote employees with access to internal applications or build a single shared network between different office locations. In both cases, the aim is to prevent web traffic from being exposed on the open Internet.