Reputation plays an important role in the success of a company or organization, but a data breach can seriously damage an organization’s reputation. Internet security isn’t just for big companies anymore. Hackers often target smaller organizations, causing significant damage. Small businesses and nonprofit organizations need to protect their assets. 

Assess Your Risks

Every organization that connects to the internet, uses email or has any sort of information on their computer, can be at risk from cybersecurity threats. Your website and domain names may also be at risk from theft and data loss without some level of security. A thorough examination of the data your organization holds and the points of access that a hacker could gain access to or control of your systems is the first step to preventing such attacks. The U.S. Small Business Administration has several resources to help you identify and reduce your risks. 

Check Your Compliance Requirements

As you make a plan to approach your security risks, ensure your security complies with government regulations. Compliance breaches can put you at risk of fines and other financial losses if you’re subject to the requirements of HIPAA, FERPA, FINRA, and others. If your organization holds any kind of federal data, then you should also familiarize yourself with NIST 800-171 compliance measures. Many compliance guidelines include the steps you should take toward compliance and to remain in compliance as your organization grows. These guidelines may also help you improve your risk assessment and security measures. 

Back-Up Data

You should regularly back up important data in case of a cyber-attack or accidental data loss. Automated software that backs up your data to a cloud service can be the easiest way to maintain data backups, but cloud services do present some security risks of their own. Backing up your information to a server or hard drive that normally remains disconnected from the internet can be a safer way to preserve your information. You may even want to consider both options if the loss of your data could cause a lot of harm to the operation of your organization. 

Implement Security Software

There are many types of internet security software available for businesses and organizations. At the most basic level, your organization should have a firewall and antivirus software. The software is already installed on Windows computers, but additional security software is recommended. Message encryption software can protect the integrity of your email information. Depending on the framework of your website, protection may be included or you may need additional software to reduce the chance of a damaging attack. Finally, your organization may want to consider whether employee access to data through their cell phones is worth the risk of a breach, as breaches through cell phone use have been rising. 

Train Employees

Once your cybersecurity measures are in place and your data has been backed up, you should train your employees on how to use the secured systems. Strong passwords and other login information can also be an important step in increasing your organization’s security. An important process you should train your employees on is how to update your protection software and how often updates should be completed. You may also want to consider having a professional cybersecurity firm that can consult with you for risk assessment, implementation, and employee training. 

Cybercrime is a genuine threat for many companies. The FBI estimates that cybersecurity attacks cost the US economy billions of dollars each year. Any organization that relies on the internet can be vulnerable to cyberattacks. Taking precautions can prevent the compromise of your information and protect your organization from data breaches that lead to financial loss.