DETROIT – One of the main concerns for small business owners is ensuring that their business remains secure from potential threats. There is an abundance of security risks that could cause extensive damage to your business, so you must be aware of how to prevent them from taking hold.
With companies now heavily relying on computers and shared online areas, there is now a bigger threat than ever before regarding having your business data breached or stolen. Approximately 40% of businesses around the globe were affected by a security breach last year, so it’s important to know how to protect your small business from cybercrime:
1. Be aware of phishing scams
Employees are a key target for hackers in the hope of catching their attention through phishing emails. These emails are designed to fool the victim into disclosing confidential information and data by manually typing a response or clicking on an unreliable link that transfers viruses onto the system. Email systems are aware of these scams and carry out thorough scans of your inbox daily; however, it is not possible to classify them all as ‘phishing,’ and the odd one may slip through. With this in mind, you should give your employees the correct training to be aware of the key signs of malware threats.
2. Install security software
Your devices are exposed to thousands of cyber threats every single day; therefore, it would be highly advised to install the relevant software designed to recognize and delete viruses and malware and prevent them from becoming embedded in your system. Avepoint.com is one form of software that manages security within Microsoft Office to prevent important files being lost or stolen. It also enforces permissions, memberships, and configuration to have full control over who can access private documents.
3. Use strong passwords
Many small business owners make the mistake of using simple passwords to access their devices with ease when logging onto their system, but this leaves your data and files at significant risk of cyber threat; therefore, implementing strong passwords across your business would be advised.
Passwords should be composed of at least eight letters, with a mixture of letters, numbers, and special characters. In turn, this random assortment of characters should make your password much harder to guess. Changing passwords regularly also ensures that previous employees can no longer access shared areas which store private business and client data.
4. Secure your wireless network
Hackers are constantly on the lookout for non-secure wireless networks to access. While you may already have a standard network key password, many people aren’t aware that it is still extremely easy for outsiders to log in. With this in mind, it’s wise to check the router’s settings and switch on the highest form of encryption to protect your business from cybercrime while in the office and on the move.
5. Carry out background checks
Carrying out the relevant background checks on your employees during the hiring process could prevent you from facing serious hacking scandals taking place right under your nose. Research has proven that 70% of security threats are carried out by in-house employees, which is a much higher rate than external cybercrime.
Bio: James Daniels is a freelance writer, business enthusiast, a bit of a tech buff, and an overall geek. He is also an avid reader, who can while away hours reading and knowing about the latest gadgets and tech, whilst offering views and opinions on these topics.
