You might think that cybercriminals or hackers will constantly target bigger corporations or government organizations. Still, they might be more likely to neglect bigger institutions because they are much harder to hack. Instead, they might look at growing businesses and those who might be smaller in scale but will more likely have looser digital security. Smaller businesses are low-hanging fruit for cybercriminals, and we need to do all that we can to bolster our digital security at all costs.
No matter how small your business is, it’s prudent to assume that you can also be a target. In the same way that you want to keep your home safe and secure, you also want to ensure that all of your business’s online dealings and transactions are shielded from those who might want to cause harm. Here are some tips and pointers for amping up your business’s digital security.
Cloud-based firewall
A cloud-based firewall for businesses was designed to shield your entire network, data, and users from various kinds of online threats. It’s a collection of solutions that provide simple and end-to-end security. Here are some key features of a comprehensive firewall solution:
- VPN
- Antivirus
- Intrusion prevention system (IPS)
- Email security
- Firewall
- Web filtering and web security gateway
- Unified threat management (UTM)
- data-rule=”MORFOLOGIK_RULE_EN_US”>Enterprise firewall
- Application control and visibility
- Network security Next-generation firewall (NGFW)
Investing in these all-in-one solutions can provide your network and information with a wall that will be difficult, if not impossible, to penetrate. These solutions are cost-effective, efficient, and easy to access. Consult with experts on how to boost your network, especially if your business entails harboring plenty of sensitive information about clients and other VIPs.
Network security
A network security strategy is simply ensuring that no unauthorized device gets to access your networks. This means that everything—from data and devices—is controlled by your business’s network administrator. One simple example of this is your workplace’s Wi-Fi password. Your business’s journey to digital security will start with ensuring that access to your Wi-Fi network is restricted by an extremely strong password. After that, you will also need to be ready to guard against other types of cyberattacks, both external and internal.
Backing up your data
Another digital security strategy you need to employ is backing up your data regularly. This is because you never know when a ransomware attack can occur, not to mention other unexpected circumstances like a natural disaster or other situations that might preclude you from being able to access your business’s data. Make sure all your data is automatically backed up so that you never have to worry about losing them should anything happen to your hardware.
Limited access
While it’s the path of least resistance to hope that all the people we work with are worthy of our trust, it’s not something we can be sure of. You never know when you might end up having a disgruntled ex-employee with an ax to grind. This is why guarding against internal threats is just as valuable and important as protecting our business against external ones. To protect your business from people who might want to harm it from the inside, consider maintaining tighter controls over user access and limit those who can have access to every level of information in your small business. Work on a need-to-know basis, and make sure that those on the inner core can be fully trusted.
A culture of security
Make digital security a part of your onboarding process. It will be a foolproof way of making security a key part of your culture. Train your employees in understanding that cybersecurity should be one of your biggest priorities, especially if a breach can cause your company to lose plenty of money. Cybersecurity should be at the top of the priority list of every department, and not just your IT team. If everyone in the company is working towards the same goal, you are much more likely to maintain your cybersecurity.
Training your employees
Most skilled hackers don’t need to use brute force to get into your networks and systems; sometimes, a simple act of negligence from one company member can leave the door open for cybercriminals to get in easily. Train your employees on the basics of cybersecurity and what safeguards they need to keep up to protect your company.
When it comes to digital security, it’s always better safe than sorry. Don’t hesitate to consult with professionals and do all that you can to protect your business’s networks and data.
