As a business owner, you have a lot of information that you’re responsible for. In addition to your business data, you have data from your employees and your customers. The data you collect is important, but it’s also just as important to keep it safe. Data breaches are a serious issue. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not just large businesses that are at risk. Businesses of all sizes can fall victim to a cyberattack. An attack exposes sensitive information and can destroy your business. Fortunately, there are safeguards that you can put into place that can help to keep your important business information safe.
Create an Inventory of Information
Businesses have several ways to store and transfer data, including desktop computers, laptops, tablets, USB drives and more. The more methods you have, the more opportunities there are for an attack to happen.You need to keep track of the information that you have. You also need to know where it’s being stored and who is allowed to access it. Creating an inventory will help you keep track of your sensitive information. The inventory should include not just electronic data, but physical documents as well.
Only Collect the Information You Need
The more information you have, the greater your risk of an attack. Collecting information is important for your business, but you should only collect what you need. Even if you don’t need it or use it, you still have to protect it.Only collect what you need. This helps you to limit what hackers might be able to steal in the event of a cyberattack. If you do collect extra information that you only need temporarily, make sure that you get rid of it properly when you’re done with it.
Set Up Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authenticationis still one of the most effective ways to verify that the person trying to log onto your system is who they say they are. Even if a customer’s username and password are stolen, the hacker doesn’t have access to their actual device, email, or biometric data. They won’t be able to log on, keeping them from taking what doesn’t belong to them.
Ensure Your Cybersecurity is Set Up and Up to Date
Cybersecurity is a must for businesses. Use multiple layers of protection to deter threats. Spam filters can help to keep out phishing scams. You should also
set up a network firewallto keep hackers out and data secure. Once you have your cybersecurity set up, make sure that it is completely up-to-date. Updates should be done as soon as they become available to ensure optimal protection.
Enable Automatic Updates
Speaking of updates, your systems should always be running the latest versions of the software they have. Some hackers will scan networks to check for outdated versions. Those outdated versions can increase your risk of attack.Patches and improvements are being issued on a fairly regular basis. Instead of waiting to be notified of an update, enable your updates to run automatically. This will help to ensure that your systems are always running the latest software versions.
Educate Employees
You’re not the only one responsible for the data you collect. Anyone else who works in your business and uses that information is responsible for it as well. Employee education is essential for preventing potential attacks.Employ best practices when it comes to emails, such as not opening attachments are clicking on suspicious links. Make sure your employees are always aware of the latest schemes. Run a
phishing simulationto expose vulnerabilities and show your employees what it looks like. The more education that your employees have, the better equipped you are to protect the information that your business stores.Taking steps to prevent cyberattacks is crucial for protecting important business information. While you can’t eliminate the risk, you can reduce it. Keeping data safe is vital for protecting your customers, your employees, and your business as a whole.Related:
The Crucial Role That Data Has In Your Business
