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Cybersecurity Threats: 8 Tips for Protecting Your Business in the Digital Age

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Monday, October 16, 2023

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Pew Research reveals that 86 percent of users are actively seeking additional privacy protection measures. However, many remain unaware of the available options. The report indicates that individuals also express a willingness to take further steps to safeguard their online data. When asked about their current efforts to protect personal information, 61 percent acknowledge a desire to do more. Given that many recognize the importance of cybersecurity, and in business, it is even more important, we see a request for cybersecurity tips for business. Here are the main tips to secure a small business that you should follow.

Key Tips to Protect Business in the Digital Age

#1 Train Your Employees

To maintain cybersecurity, your company employees must undergo proper training to protect important data. One employee's negligence can lead to the loss of valuable information. According to Max Baecker, President of American Hartford Gold, "Humans are the weakest link in cybersecurity." Ensuring that each employee comprehends their responsibilities in safeguarding company data is paramount. Consider investing in cybersecurity workforce certification training. Regular training programs should be established to keep everyone updated with any changes. There's a plethora of online training programs being offered by platforms like Lumify Work and Coursera, so it shouldn't be challenging to find one that fits your needs.

#2 Use a VPN

VPN is a technology that allows you to redirect traffic through additional servers. For example, your VPN for Mac may encrypt data, but the website you're visiting doesn't support this feature. VPN apps eliminate this dependency by sending all encrypted traffic to the VPN server first. There it is already decrypted and goes to the desired website. No one can break into your client-server tunnel because the data is encrypted. If you download VeePN, you will get military-grade encryption, which is also used by banks. Plus, VeePN has additional security features to protect against leaks and hacker attacks. Summary: With a VPN, you protect yourself from phishing, DDoS attacks, man-in-the-middle attacks, data collection by hackers and ISPs, and viruses. True, this is relevant for VeePN; in most services, the list is somewhat smaller.

#3 Secure Authorization

You should never overlook the importance of passwords. Ensure that every device used by your company, including phones, laptops, and desktops, is password protected. Consider implementing multi-factor authentication that requires more than just a simple password. According to Shaunak Amin, CEO and Co-Founder of SwagMagic, protecting your data goes beyond passwords. Start with password protection, but don't hesitate to introduce other authentication methods. To prevent data leaks, encourage your employees to change their passwords every three months. This should be done on all computers and mobile devices. Protecting your data requires cooperation from all employees.

#4 Be Careful With Clicks

Fraudsters commonly employ phishing as a means to obtain an individual's private information. They send deceptive emails, masquerading as reputable companies or familiar individuals, to pilfer personal data. Malware, ransomware, and other viruses are often used for this purpose. Exercise caution whenever you receive an email, even from a known source. Refrain from clicking on links or downloading attachments if something appears suspicious. If you figure out how to use VPN in Edge, you will get an additional measure of protection against phishing. The service will issue an alert about a potential threat.

#5 Avoid unsecured Wi-Fi networks

Using public Wi-Fi poses a significant privacy challenge despite its convenience. Approximately 60 percent of individuals regularly utilize public Wi-Fi, whether connecting to a hotel network or a coffee shop. Hacking on public Wi-Fi is remarkably effortless. You can easily acquire the skills by watching influential YouTube videos with millions of views. Attack methods like the "man in the middle" or "evil twin" are employed to intercept information as it travels from your device to the server. Exercise caution when connecting to public Wi-Fi if you don't have a VPN. A VPN offers protection against amateur hackers, allowing you to utilize free Wi-Fi without compromising security.

#6 Automate Software Updates

Software developers don't wait for a flawless product before releasing it to consumers - instead, they aim to get it as close to perfect as possible. Continuously working to address privacy concerns, and security vulnerabilities, and fix glitches, they provide patches and updates after the launch. Regularly updating your software is crucial for safeguarding your information and accounts. By enabling automatic updates wherever possible, this important task becomes effortless. According to a cyber security organization, many software programs connect and update automatically to counter known risks. Consider turning on automatic updates as a precautionary measure.

#7 Follow the Principle of Least Privilege

Limiting the number of individuals with account access is crucial. With too many administrators, the risk of human error increases, and your devices become susceptible to hackers who monitor the web for such opportunities. According to Indiana University researchers, it is advised not to log into a computer with administrator rights unless necessary for specific tasks. Running your computer as an administrator (or as a Power User in Windows) exposes it to security risks and exploits. Always follow secure procedures when performing tasks as an administrator.

#8 Backup Your Data

Make sure you regularly back up your data if you haven't already. Back up all computers and mobile devices associated with your company. Include spreadsheets, databases, HR files, Word documents, and more in your backups. Datha Santomieri, Co-Founder and Vice-President of Steadily, advises that data backups are essential. Even with all the right defenses, you never know what could happen. Protect yourself from the 'what ifs.' If possible, configure your systems to perform automatic backups. This way, you won't have to rely on employees to remember to do it themselves. Also, store all copies of your data offsite or in the cloud.

Conclusion

The issue of cybersecurity is multi-layered. To protect yourself from hacker attacks, your team must be sufficiently competent in these matters. Plus, you should have security tools and an incident response plan. Plus, all your data must be backed up. For small companies, this is the most balanced solution that does not require large financial investments and significantly increases the organization’s resistance to cyberattacks.
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