October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month …
Cyberattacks against businesses are rising every year, and because of that, the U.S economy suffered a whopping $2.7 billion loss in 2020 alone. Small businesses are easy targets for hackers because of the lack of IT security infrastructure. To ensure you don’t fall victim to these crimes, read the tips given below:
Regular Data Backups:
Cyber security is not limited to staying safe from hacking attacks. It also relates to taking measures to ensure the protection of data in case an attack is successful.
This means not losing your valuable information if a hacking attempt deletes or destroys it. To do that, you need to make regular backups of your data in secure cloud servers or offline drives.
Secure Your Network & Devices:
Your first and most critical line of defense against hackers is an antivirus that offers both online and offline protection. Purchase one for your business and install it in all the computer systems available.
Make sure the security software has anti-spyware, anti-spam, and malware filters along with virus protection. Also, set up your network firewall to ensure the incoming and outgoing internet traffic is filtered to be safe. Make sure to update your firewall regularly.
Hold Staff Trainings:
It is imperative that your staff knows at least the basics of cybersecurity to stay protected from online threats, especially phishing attacks.
The training should include how to identify emails with viruses or phishing traps and the tricks scammers use to get sensitive information from people.
Use MFA:
Multi-factor authentication is a verification process that requires the person accessing an account to provide two or more proofs of identity.
For instance, your company’s website may require employees to provide their password, then an OTP pin received on their phones, and then answer a secret question before getting access.
Implement the MFA verification for the computers, company website, database, and other places that only your employees should access.
Make Online Transactions Secure:
If you have an online store or receive payments from customers in ways other than cash, invest in a software or service to secure the transactions.
Talk to your payment processor and ask for recommendations to make the transfer of funds more secure and encrypt the transaction page to ensure no one else can access transaction information.
Explore Cyber Security Insurance:
If you have sensitive customer information like credit card details, SSN, and other personal data, then you need to be incredibly careful about how you handle it.
Besides investing in top-notch security systems, consider getting cyber insurance that will protect your business in multiple ways, including damage cost coverage in case of cyber-attack and liability protection if lawsuits are filed against you for losing customer data.
TELECO Offers World-Class Cyber Security for Businesses:
Small and medium businesses typically lack the cybersecurity infrastructure that large corporations have, and hackers use this vulnerability to attack and cause damage to businesses.
Nevertheless, TELECO offers dependable managed IT and online security solutions that will make your business as secure as big companies at a fraction of cost. Call us to have a detailed discussion.
