In the digital age we live in, most of the work produced by businesses is online which leaves them susceptible to cyber-attacks. In September 2022, there were more than 35 million compromised records as a result of cyber-attacks and data breaches which puts people’s personal information at risk of falling into the wrong hands.
To combat this, businesses will need to improve their cyber security to keep their information, their employee’s information and their customer’s data safe. Failure to do this may lead to a lack of trust in the company.
What is cyber security?
Cyber security is the level of protection your online systems have. If this is weak then you could be compromised and lose valuable and sensitive data to cyber criminals. This is why it’s important to take every step against this. This starts with looking over your entire system to find potential weak points that attackers could exploit. Once a team of experts finishes an IT security audit and identifies these risks, you can take steps to improve your cyber security and protect your business. Taking the right measures greatly reduces the risk of being attacked and is a vital part of running a business in today’s digital world.
How can companies bolster their cyber security?
There are numerous ways for business owners to increase their security depending on their budget. This includes:
Antivirus software
Your first line of defence is good antivirus software to protect your devices from malware attacks. It will detect potential attacks and remove any threats to your computer or laptop. There are many types of malware that can affect your laptop and antivirus software can often protect you from them all.
Training staff
The main weakness of your cyber security as a business is the people within the business. They may be the ones to allow malware to get into your business because they don’t know how to spot it. That’s why you should make sure to train all staff on how to spot phishing attempts and cyber-criminal activity.
Using password software
Using a password generator and storage software will help you and your employees to generate high-strength passwords that are very difficult to guess. This is much better than allowing employees to create their own passwords which may be easier to guess and breach. Most people reuse passwords, so if your employee’s personal devices are hacked then the cyber criminal may then target their work devices.
Don’t forget about physical security
Similarly, your business’ data can’t just be compromised online through hacking but it can also be obtained physically through a breach of property. You can protect your office using a drill to secure locks to doors so they cannot be opened whilst the office is not in use. It is also recommended for employees to have lanyards to pass through security gates so that only employees can enter the office.
Don’t leave your company’s data to chance and allow hackers to steal it all. Implement the strategies above so you don’t have a cyber-attack down the line.