The NTSC 2020 cybersecurity statistics report shows that over 770 million emails were exposed in a hacking forum. This is just one among a million other statistics that prove how active cybercriminals are. Every day millions of malware are released, and a lot of valuable and sensitive data is lost to hackers. For this reason, there is a need to be committed to ensuring cybersecurity in their businesses.
All businesses, big and small, are investing in cybersecurity as they understand what is at stake. Businesses merely survive after an attack as more than half of the companies that have been breached shut down within six months after a successful attack.
Whether you have been attacked before or your business has not had an encounter with cybercrime, there is a need to stay prepared for such eventualities and making an effort to prevent them. Here are some measures you can put in place to ensure that your data is protected.
1. Compromise assessment
All organizations that are devoted to the security of their data practice compromise assessment to beef up their security. Through compromise assessment, the organization will get insights into past attacks, which can help you point out the risk areas and weaknesses in your network that hackers take advantage of.
Compromise assessment also involves threat intelligence whereby the organization is able to point out reasons that could make them potential targets. Compromise assessment helps with learning through past experiences and use the data collected in the assessment.
2. Mobile device security
Mobile devices are one of the most used entry points by hackers into an organization’s system. This is due to the increase in the use of mobile devices, even at the workplace. Employees are using their mobile devices to access sensitive information, which can be detrimental if hackers get their hands on it. In order to avoid security challenges with mobile devices, set mobile devices policies such as usage policies.
The policies should be designed for the proper usage of mobile devices to prevent a data breach. Also, ensure that all your mobile devices have updated antivirus and prevent malware. Best password practices are also recommended to provide mobile device security.
3. Backup
Ransomware attacks can cripple operations in a business leading to losses. When a ransomware attack takes place, the user is denied access to his data unless they pay a certain amount to the hackers, after which they are given a decryption key to access it.
This can lead to monetary losses in a business and also downtime, which is costly. Having a backup will go a long way in ensuring that your business runs even in the event of an attack. A 3-2-1 data backup strategy is recommended. You should have three copies of the data. The data should be in two different media and stored onsite, and the remaining copy should be stored offsite.
This strategy eliminates the single point of failure whereby once you lose one copy of data, you will have other options available.
4. Do regular software updates
Software updates come with security patches, which makes them critical. Outdated software has security holes that hackers use as entry points. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities in computers and programs’ operating systems to launch attacks.
You should stop ignoring software update notifications as they have benefits for your network security. To ensure that updates are made as soon as they are available, you can automate the process. If the option is not available, you should do regular checks for updates.
5. Build firewalls
This will be the first line of defense for external threats such as hackers and malware. Firewalls have tons of benefits for your network security. Firewalls can monitor your network traffic, hence being on the lookout for unusual data or threats, and filters it to enhance your network’s security.
Millions of malware are created every year and thousands every day. Your system is in constant threat of attack by viruses. However, with a firewall in place, these attacks will be prevented, and damage to your system avoided.
Firewalls also stop spyware, prevent hackers from getting through your system, and also increases privacy. Firewalls will help in reinforcing your cybersecurity efforts, hence protecting your system.
6. Encryption
Data encryption plays a huge role in cybersecurity. Data encryption involves the conversion of data into an unreadable form in order to protect the data. The reasons for encryption include enhancing privacy in communication and authentication, whereby the only person that is able to read the data is one who has the key.
Data encryption prevents security threats such as database invasions, DOS attacks, and malware injections. Encryption prevents data from capturing through man in the middle attacks, which occurs during communication across different networks.
Encryption increases data privacy by preventing unauthorized access and also by preventing virus attacks.
7. Creating security awareness
Employees are among the entry points that hackers use to get through a system. Therefore, your team needs to understand what is at stake and current cybersecurity statistics. Unless they are aware of how many businesses have closed after an attack or how negligence can make the job of a hacker easy, they are unlikely to be steadfast about data security.
Creating security awareness through activities such as training will ensure that everyone in the organization understands how important it is to protect data. With awareness, they will be more receptive and serious about healthy data handling processes.
They will avoid using public WiFi when working remotely, practice better password management practices, and be on the lookout for attacks.
Conclusion
Cybersecurity should be included in all company strategies. Hackers and cyberattacks have been a pain point for most businesses for a long time, causing them losses, ruining of reputation, and in worst-case scenarios, even the closure of companies. The tips above cover all the essential cybersecurity practices that a business should implement to ensure its continuity. No business, both big and small, and people should be vigilant.