Cyber Security – is your business protected?

We live in a digital world with hackers and scammers doing their best to breach security and compromise data – and then ransom it back to you. In recent years there have been a number of data breaches, some significant, but it’s not just the data that gets comprised, but your customers and suppliers trust too. Even worse, depending on how serious the breach is, you can damage your company’s reputation and some consumer’s will choose to do business elsewhere.

What information is worth hacking?

You might think that you don’t have any information that’s worth hacking, BUT it’s the customer information in your CRM system, the supplier details in your invoicing system and the financial data in your accounting software. It’s your bank account details, your confidential client information and your company’s secret intellectual property or hard-won R&D findings. All of this is worth hacking and holding for ransom (or selling it to a competitor).

So it would make sense to take cyber security seriously – but most people don’t think about it beyond backing up their data. Here are some things to consider in your business, to improve your cybersecurity.

1. Make cyber security a company wide issue 

Your cyber security is only as good as your weakest member of staff’s security knowledge, so make sure to have clear protocols and processes in place for storing company data. You’ll also need to train your staff on these protocols and processes, regularly as it’s human nature to become more lax over time. The better prepared your staff are, the less likely it is that you’ll have a security incident or accidental data breach.

2. Save important data securely 

Where are your employees saving their files/data? Is this on a shared drive or is it saved on their laptop/computer hard drives? If it’s the latter, you’re only one hack away from a major security breach. If you haven’t already, set up clear guidelines on where files should be stored. Ideally, all confidential information should be stored on a shared drive that is backed up and requires authentication if you’re trying to access it remotely. You can also limit who has access to any confidential folders and content to further minimise the risk of it being exposed.

3. Use proper authentication and encryption

Set up two-factor authenicationor even multi-factor authentication for access to all your cloud and SaaS tools. Make sure to have proper data encryption of any confidential information that’s shared.

4. Keep all devices and hardware secure

If you have employees working remotely, then develop a policy that means their devices are password protected and that they don’t share the password with their spouse, partner, family, flatmates etc. They should always be using the latest versions of applications and make sure to automatically enable installation of updates. These devices should also NOT be left unattended anywhere – car, coffee shop or hot desks.  

5. Use a secure network connection

You can further enhance your security by using a secure network connection. This means that when your staff are connecting to work applications, databases and shared folders, they always use the company network or an approved virtual private network (VPN). By using a secure network connection, you greatly reduce the chances of your data being intercepted and stolen, with VPNs allowing employees to log in securely when off-site or working at a client’s premises.

Speak to IT security experts and protect your data

Keeping your data safe and secure is now a foundational need for any business. If you want to reduce your security worries, it’s sensible to speak to a cyber security expert. They will be able to review your current systems, networks and security practices and advise you on the key actions that are needed to tighten up your security.