Big banks or tech giants come to mind when you think of prime targets for cybercriminals. But here's a surprising reality: healthcare practices, even the small ones, are on the hit list. Why? Because medical data is like gold to hackers. They can use this information for identity theft, insurance fraud, or sell it to the highest bidder.
Read MoreWhen you are trying to improve the way you run your company, you need to think about some of the leading ideas that are going to help you make your business more secure, as well as understanding why this matters. Business safety and security plays a hugely prominent role in helping to prepare your brand for long-term success, and this is going to make a big difference when it comes to improving your sales.
Read More
More and more crime is happening online and you may find that your business is at risk. Hackers do not just target large companies. In fact, they may be attracted to smaller companies as they seem to be easier targets. With this in mind, it is worth learning some of the ways that you can better protect your website against harmful attacks that can leave it and your business at risk.
Protect Your Sensitive Data
We live in a world that is very reliant on data. Companies are collecting more and more of it and customers are increasingly aware and nervous of this. This makes it increasingly important that any data is protected properly, a breach will remove any trust your customers have and that is incredibly difficult to rebuild. So, you should ensure that any sensitive data that you are collecting is encrypted. Not only this, but you should try to analyze where threats are likely to come from as this will help you to close the door on them.
Make Cybersecurity Training a Priority
Hackers often look for points of entry that are the weakest. While you may be clued up on all things cybersecurity, the same may not be true of your staff members. Therefore, it is important that you make cybersecurity training a priority. Not all staff members are technically adept, but they can be taught the basics such as how to identify phishing emails, etc. Also, they should be trained on how to create strong passwords, as well as the importance of changing them on a regular basis. Thousands of passwords are cracked on a daily basis and this can open the door to a whole host of other problems for a business.
Keep Your Antivirus Software and Firewalls Updated
You need to have fully up-to-date antivirus software and firewalls, otherwise, the vulnerable parts of your business can be ruthlessly exposed. Therefore, it is important that you invest in strong systems in the first place. Once you are happy with them, it is also essential that they are kept updated. While it may seem irritating, you should schedule the updates as required. These are designed to keep hackers out based on their current means of accessing your important data and files. As well as this, you should choose a VPS web hosting service that offers maximum protection.
Detect and Prevent Bot Access
We have all seen bot protection software such as CAPTCHA. You should consider putting something like this in place on your own website. This will help to keep them away from your site where they could potentially cause harm to it.
Run Penetration Tests
If you simulate cyberattacks on your own business, it will help you to see where the potential threats are coming from. This way, you can close the door on them more easily. It is important that you run these on a regular basis to keep up with the changes in the world of hacking that are constantly occurring.
Protecting your website against harmful attacks will keep your business safe and more likely to keep running with minimal issues for a long time to come.
Do you have what it takes to run a successful business? Are you aware of the operations that go into running a safe and secure business in today’s age of cyberattacks and fraud? Continue reading to see what protocols need to be in place for you to run a safe and secure business.
Running a business for any founder or entrepreneur can be an awesome career experience. And many people refer to their business as their ‘baby’ because it means so much to them! From spinning new product/service ideas, drawing up strategy plans, developing marketing blueprints, and applying for funding, running a successful business that you can be proud of, it is an amazing journey, despite all of the headaches and issues that come along with it. Creating your own innovative spaces and making your ideas a reality is an incredible feeling like no other.
However, any business owner will tell you that success is a double-edged sword. You are calling all the shots, meaning that if you make a big mistake, it will be your responsibility to troubleshoot why it happened and to fix it. This isn’t always easy.
You manage your own team, meaning that if there’s conflict or issues between employees or between an employee and their supervisor in the office, you are the first port of call to sort it out. You also have the business’ spending at your fingertips and are accountable for all financials and financial statements; if went over budget or making costly hiring mistakes, the business could take a but hit. If there is a security breach or cybersecurity issue in your business, your entire operation can be compromised. Simply put, being an entrepreneur and running a successful venture means there is a lot at stake.
Here are some tips for running a secure business!
Outsourcing Your Cybersecurity, Network, and Information Security Needs to an External Company
Have you ever been a customer of a company that had a security breach? Throughout the last several years, Target, Adobe, and Equifax all suffered security breaches. These are global corporations with some of the best security infrastructure protocols in place. If cyber attackers can cause issues with these companies, then small businesses are at a much higher risk.
In fact, research shows that every 39 seconds, there is a breach of web security online. And you are likely not a cybersecurity expert. Your area of professional expertise lies in running the daily operations of your business - but in this day and age, running your company means having watertight cybersecurity to prevent attacks. If you run any kind of online operation—whether it’s a software company, digital publishing venture, an e-commerce store, or a membership website, you need to contact a cybersecurity company such as Office 365 to help you achieve your intended security needs.
These types of companies will ensure your business operates safely and within the guidelines of your specific location. Without efficient and effective cybersecurity operations, you cannot operate a successful business. Consumers will simply not trust your business if without online security.
To start the process yourself, here are some simple ways to protect your business while looking for an outsourcing company:
· Develop a handbook of the best security processes and procedures
· Have a working firewall in place for your internet/wi-fi connection
· Ensure you have a mobile device action plan in place
· Back up all important data in the event your servers go down
· Ask your employees change their passwords every few months
Understanding the Legality of Your Business and the Documents Involved
Depending on where you live, there are different legalities to how your business should be run. From e-commerce, to taking payments and collecting taxes, to the distribution of products, there are guidelines and laws that must be adhered to. If you do not fully understand these laws, you could be faced with a lawsuit, a huge fine, and even in extreme cases a criminal charge.
It is advisable to contact lawyers in your local area in order to ensure you are operating your business within the law of your town, state, and country. If you have never dealt with legal documents such as contracts, articles of incorporation, sole proprietor forms, or partnership agreements, understanding the language in each can be difficult and confusing. To ensure you understand the terms of each legal document, it’s best to find a lawyer that specializes in that area. A simple Google search can yield the right results.
Setting the Record Straight and Keeping Your Files Organized
As a business owner, it is imperative that you have your legal, insurance, financial, and administrative records in order in the event the government requests certain documentation. Your tax forms and payments, your employee payroll records, and your insurance policies--absolutely everything must be organized. Hiring a trustworthy, reputable accountant or tax professional to help you with these tasks will save a lot of time and headaches down the road. You never know when a missed bill or misunderstood tax form can cause issues or result in late fees or penalties. Given this, keep your records orderly, and stay on the right side of the law to ensure you’re prepared for any situation. You care about your business - don’t let it go to waste on financial corner-cutting or incorrect tax reporting. Be smart and be in the know to ensure your business is compliant.
The online world opens up so many technology opportunities for businesses; however, there are also risks to be considered. Cybersecurity attacks are by no means uncommon regardless of the size of your business. In order to protect yourself, there are several measures your business should take.
1. Mobile Device Management
Mobile device management (MDM) is a system that enhances the security of your network, no matter from which device it is accessed. It’s become commonplace for employees to use their own devices or work away from the office. While such practices have enhanced productivity, they also require the improvement of security measures.
Using MDM, it’s possible to track and view all of the activities associated with your business network. When you utilize MDM, you can easily update software and security measures across every device-remotely. You can help staff who are having security trouble or access problems. MDM is also useful to remove the data from a device (remotely) if it’s lost or stolen.
For the best use of MDM, companies should also use multiple authentication methods to allow network access. After inputting their password, employees should be asked for a code authentication (received via their phone or email). Other authentication methods include testing biometric traits such as voice or fingerprint recognition, similar to bank or iPhone identification.
2. Security Audit
To improve the security of your business online, a strong security audit is vital. Such a procedure can examine all of your processes and outline where improvements need to be made. A security audit procedure can essentially ‘hack’ your system and provide intelligence on the weak points.
With this knowledge, an IT professional can put improved systems in place. It can be a good idea to invest in an Alpine Security data breach prevention audit. This advanced audit can focus on the management of risk in your security system, detect issues, and respond to threats.
3. Invest in Training
To improve the overall security of your business, you cannot rely on technology alone. The best thing to do is to retrain the staff who are using the technology. Doing so can reduce the chances of human error. Provide your team with cybersecurity workshops and training sessions to help them to learn about best practices online. Such training should also incorporate the best use of social media. Once you’ve had a security audit, you’ll be able to use the information to improve your security policies, then relay this information to your staff.
4. Cybersecurity Insurance
In a worst-case scenario, it can be an excellent plan to have some backup plan. Investing in a cybersecurity insurance policy can provide your business with extra peace of mind. A policy like this will protect your business in the event of a cybersecurity breach, both legally and financially. If any data is stolen, you’ll be covered, plus for any loss of revenue you’ve incurred as a result of the breach. With the right security measures and backup in place, your company can focus on driving financial and operational success.
Whether you’re about to launch a startup, or you’re a long-established company, if you operate any part of your business online, it’s crucial that you’re aware of what cyber-attacks are and the measures to take to ensure your company is protected and secure. External attacks can cause devastating consequences for your business, so to avoid your personal data being stolen, it’s important that you stay up to date on how to keep your business safe. If you aren’t sure where to begin, here are a few ways things you can do to keep your online business protected from cyber-attacks.
When it comes to protecting your online business, it’s crucial that you’re aware of what malware is and how it can cause devastation to your operation. Malware is a malicious piece of software that’s designed to damage a network or PC without your consent or knowledge. To shield your company from malware, there are several measures that you should take. Firstly, make sure that you have a firewall in place which can act as the first line of defense to minimize exposure.
A good internet router will already have a firewall installed, so it’s important that you have it switched on. While it may not provide complete protection, having a firewall should be your first port of call. Secondly, it’s important that you install the best security software which will help add an extra layer of protection to your PC or network. MACs generally have great firewalls and virus protection.
Regarding online fraud and crime, the size of a company is irrelevant. Many hackers are targeting smaller businesses, especially if they have no in-house IT support. Therefore, it’s crucial that you create a policy that your employees can adhere to. There are various things that your policy should include, such as educating your workforce about email safety, sharing turn-ons and turn-offs, as well as enforcing consequences should the policy not be followed correctly.
Whether you like it or not, passwords are used by most small business networks, so it’s important that you create strong passwords to reduce the risk of a cyber-attack or theft. The more characters and keystrokes that you use, the stronger your password will be. It’s best to start out strong and use as many characters as possible, as well as embedded numbers.
Also, make sure that you regularly change your passwords, and educate your team on the importance of keeping them safe. If your employees write down passwords or store them on their smartphones, this could be putting your business security at risk. If you want the strongest of passwords, refrain from using any words at all. Instead, use a combination of numbers, special characters, and letters.
In today’s world, social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram dominate the internet. Even if you’re not the most tech-savvy person and would rather steer clear of social media, the chances are some of your employees will be members, therefore, empowering your team with the best guidelines and practices can help minimize cyber-attacks.
To ensure your company is protected, make sure that you establish who can speak on behalf of the business. If you use social media platforms to run your company, you need to stress to your employees not to share any confidential information, otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk. There are other measures that you can take too, such as only adding contacts who you trust, and avoiding clicking on unexpected links from people who you do not know.
You may find it surprising to learn that up to 80 percent of all data loss is due to human error. Regardless of how much experience you or your team have in business, no one is perfect, so to reduce the risk of employees sending out sensitive or confidential information, it’s crucial that you hold regular meetings with your employees to teach them all there is to know about cybersecurity.
Like with any business, each member of the team needs to work together and co-operate effectively to succeed. Letting your team know what types of data and information is confidential, as well as the potential problems that can occur from sharing such details, can make a big difference and ensure your employees are warier with what they share.
While we all use Wi-Fi networks, you need to know that they are not always safe to use. To reduce the risk of any potential security threats, it’s important that you encrypt your Wi-Fi network. Also, make sure that you change your Wi-Fi password regularly, especially if you have a guest network for your clients and customers, as you can never be too sure on whether their devices have been compromised.
Every day, millions upon millions of emails are sent out by businesses, however, what you may find surprising to learn is that only 50 percent of the content is legitimate, with the rest falling into the spam category. This means that a high number of emails you receive could be infected. Cybercriminals are always one step ahead, so if you receive an email from a contact you don’t recognize, it’s always best to ignore it, especially if it includes a malicious attachment. Virus protection programs usually detect whether an email contains malicious content. The last thing you want to do is open an infected email, as you are essentially giving ransomware permission to hack into your computer system. Always be wary when receiving emails, and make sure to check the address before taking further action.
For your online business to thrive and stay successful, you need to make sure that you pick a secure hosting service for your website. Instead of picking the first provider you see, it’s best to conduct some research into whether they are reputable and reliable. Hackers are always on the lookout for loopholes that they can exploit, so if you’re using your website to process payments and checkout processes, you need to ensure that they are safe and secure from cyber threats.
As the head of the business, you need to make sure that your software is kept up to date. If you are relying on old pieces of software, you may not realize the danger you could be putting yourself in when it comes to hackers and cyber threats. It’s important that you regularly update your software programs which can make it more difficult for hackers to access your computer website and network.
Now that you have a better understanding of what security measures to put in place to help protect your business, you may find it useful to undergo training to ensure you retain the information and to keep your company safe and secure. An online tool like findcourses.com can help you find a range of cybersecurity training programs that can teach you the knowledge you need to keep your business protected from hackers and data leaks.
Understanding the risks of malware, writing a policy, using strong passwords, as well as undergoing training to teach you more on cyber threats are just a few things you can do to protect your online business from a cyber-attack. Also, as the head of the business, make sure that you relay all these tips to your employees so you can ensure your company’s personal data is kept protected and secure.
FemFounder is a one-stop shop for creative entrepreneurs and small business owners who need PR, Instagram, Pinterest, and email list building help.
