Hackers are getting bolder and more creative. From stealing your personal information to stealing your money, it doesn't matter how big or small your business is, it's important that you protect yourself. Here are nine tips you can use to help protect your business from hackers:
1. Get smart about employee security
You can't protect your business from hackers if you aren't willing to protect yourself from the employees who work there. The biggest security threat facing companies today are employees, who often fall victim to phishing attacks and other types of social engineering tactics. If your employees aren't educated about these threats and how best to prevent them from happening in the first place, then you're already behind on this game before it even starts.
2. Invest in a Decent Antivirus Software Program
Antivirus software is a must-have for any business. It protects your computer and network from malware, viruses and other threats that can steal data or compromise your security. Antivirus software is also essential for protecting against ransomware attacks in which hackers encrypt files on a computer using strong encryption keys.
3. Install a firewall
Firewalls are a barrier between your network and the internet. They can be software or hardware, and they're used to block malicious traffic as well as traffic from certain IP addresses.
Firewalls can also help block unauthorized access to sensitive business data, such as credit card numbers, social security numbers and other personally identifiable information. This can be especially important if you have employees who use personal devices on the job site (e.g., smartphones).
3. Have a cyberattack recovery plan
If you have a cyberattack recovery plan, it can help you in the following ways: Your business will be able to recover from an attack quickly and efficiently. You'll know what steps to take next, from how long it will take to recover customers' data and how much money you'll lose as a result of the attack.
You'll be prepared for how media outlets will react when they receive news about your company being hacked or experiencing other issues related to cybersecurity. This will help ensure that there are no surprises when reporting on your company's situation and its response plans so that everyone gets accurate information about what happened and why)
4. Secure your website and apps
To protect your business, you must secure your website and apps.
Use HTTPS for all websites, including those hosted on third-party platforms like Shopify or WordPress. This protects against man-in-the-middle attacks, which can be especially devastating if they happen to an ecommerce store that sells expensive products.
Use a secure certificate when you set up your own server so it's more difficult for hackers to intercept data sent by users' browsers when logged in via HTTPS connections from their computers or mobile devices.
5. Use strong passwords and multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication is another helpful tool when dealing with sensitive data like banking information or health records. This involves verifying identity through two different methods: something they know (like their phone number), plus something they have (a physical device).
6. Be aware of phishing attacks
Phishing attacks are a common way for hackers to gain access to your systems. They are often disguised as legitimate emails from a trusted source, such as your bank or email provider. The goal of these deception campaigns is to trick you into providing sensitive information that can be used by the hacker. If you fall for this kind of phishing attack, it's possible that they will gain access to your accounts and steal passwords or even install malware on your computer—a very serious threat if left unchecked!
7. Protect customer information
Protecting customer information is a top priority. Customer information is the lifeblood of your business and it’s often the most valuable asset of your business. However, it’s also one of the most vulnerable assets because hackers can use this data to steal money from you or cause significant damage to your reputation. So protecting customer data should be at the top of your list when looking for ways to protect yourself from hackers.
8. Encrypt Sensitive Data
Encryption is the process of encoding data in such a way that only authorized parties can read it. It's used to protect data from being viewed by unauthorized people, whether they're hackers or nosy employees. Encryption keeps sensitive information private and secure when it travels over networks or is stored on storage devices like hard drives, USB keys, SD cards and more.
9. Use up-to-date software on all your devices
Up-to-date software is more secure, reliable and efficient than older versions. It’s also user friendly and has fewer bugs. The best way to ensure that you have the most up-to-date version of your software is to check it yourself or use an automated solution.
If you don't have time to do this yourself, pay someone else who does! This can be as simple as asking around in your community for recommendations on good IT professionals or just go with someone who has done it before.
Conclusion
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading this article and that it gave you some ideas on how to keep your business safe. As we’ve seen in the examples above, there are a lot of different threats out there and they can come from many different sources. If you can implement these best practices, then you will be well on your way toward building a secure environment that keeps hackers at bay!
