Taking cybersecurity seriously in your business is a must. Implementing the right measures creates a secure environment for your employees to work in and makes your business more reliable for your clients.
There’s another aspect to mention and it is the cybercrime landscape. You might think that cybercriminals only target large companies due to more resources. But that’s not the case.
Whether you’re a small or medium-sized organization, you have a large amount of sensitive data that hackers can make use of. Having your data in the wrong hands could be quite costly not only financially but also to the reputation of your organization. The good news is that every business leader can help protect the organization by implementing certain cybersecurity measures. This article will share the 8 most effective strategies for making your cybersecurity disaster-proof.
The 8 Strategies
Be mindful when creating passwords
Mobile devices, computers, and laptops connected to your network can be ideal entry points for hackers. Safeguarding these devices with decisive authentication measures is a great way to prevent cyberattacks.
You can benefit from having strong Wi-Fi and device passwords. They limit access and help ensure only your team members can enter your system. Here are a few guidelines for creating strong yet convenient passwords:
- Don’t go overboard when mixing letters, symbols, numbers, and upper-case characters. Instead, come up with combinations of three random words separated by dots. This creates unusual combinations that are hard to guess by specialized software used by hackers.
- Choose something you can easily memorize.
- Never leave your password hints publicly available.
- Reset your passwords whenever you forget them. In addition, change them once a year to keep things fresh.
Finally, one of the best ways to secure your passwords is to store them in a password manager. Password managers enable you to store all your passwords in one secure place. They auto-fill for you so that you don’t have to remember them.
Adding Multi-Factor Authentication as a second layer of protection should be your minimum standard now. When you enter your password to log in anywhere, you’ll be prompted on your mobile device through the MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication) app if your password is compromised.
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Incorporate additional security measures
Like firewalls. Investing in firewall protection is a great idea if you want to safeguard your business against hackers. They can monitor and prevent harmful activities on the internet and determine the traffic that can enter your devices.
Adding a software-based firewall to your device can also protect you regardless of where you are connected, whether it be the office, home, or public Wi-Fi.
Don’t ignore updates
After receiving notifications that your devices need an update, you might consider ignoring it. However, this can be a huge mistake since outdated systems are more susceptible to hacking.
Wingman Solutions can spare you the trouble of updating devices yourself by regularly upgrading and updating your devices and software. Remember, upgrades boost your devices’ defences against cyberattacks.
Develop sound protocols with customers and suppliers
Securing your communication and data sharing with suppliers and new clients is also paramount. If possible, only use direct contact channels via trustworthy personnel. Moreover, insist on an alternative method such as a phone call to verify changes in payments, terms, and other key details.
To further lower the risk of data theft through suppliers and clients, MSPs recommend implementing the principle of least privilege. It grants only the minimum access required to perform a specific activity. To get further access, the user must ask for permission from the IT administrator. This way, the users have access to only the necessary information.
Back up your data
Ransomware attacks are a common form of hacking. It involves cybercriminals holding your business hostage by restricting your access to your data until they receive a ransom.
To lower the risk of suffering ransomware attacks, Wingman Solutions stores your company information on multiple platforms and networks. Backing up your data can prevent your organization from being damaged due to inaccessibility.
Train your team
A huge number of cyberattacks take place because of employees that have not received training on what to look for. They often click on suspicious emails and fall for phishing scams or share their passwords without thinking twice. But hey, it’s not their fault. They won’t recognize potential threats like email reply chain attacks if they don’t know how to spot them.
Hence, minimizing human error is a must.
An MSP is the partner you need to train your employees on cybersecurity. At Wingman Solutions, we set up safe phishing campaigns and simulations to prepare your team for potential security breaches.
Foster a culture of security in your workplace
Cyber security should be the number one priority in all your departments and not just your IT provider. With everyone working together to shield their workplace from attacks, you’re much more likely to preserve your data.
Regularly check for vulnerabilities
You don’t want to be idle after implementing all these defence mechanisms. Instead, conduct regular audits to identify weaknesses in your business’s cybersecurity. Doing so can help ensure that you patch up your vulnerabilities and upgrade your security system.
Keep hackers at bay
Enhancing your cybersecurity is a multifaceted procedure. It encompasses all parts of your system and numerous activities, such as incorporating software and backing up your data.
This makes the process highly complex.
If you need help in ensuring your cybersecurity is as effective as possible, request a quote today!. Let’s talk about how our network security solutions can help you improve your cybersecurity and keep threats at bay.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
