In order to start a successful business, you need a great idea, the right audience, and the drive to make it succeed. However, even if you manage to get your company off the ground and turning over a healthy profit, the work has only just begun.
After all, there are many elements you have to keep running in an ongoing business. Your marketing efforts cannot let up, your customer service has to maintain a high standard, and you have to ensure stock levels are maintained at all times.
Another essential component for any business is security. It only takes one malware attack to bring a fledgling business to its knees. As a result, you need to take the time protect your business online. The following five steps will help in that regard.
1. Pick the right hosting service
Your website host is one of the first points to consider. It’s important that you select a host that has a good reputation for security and is PCI-compliant.
In addition, you should always avoid using shared hosting. Yes, it is generally the cheapest option available, but your business could be at risk and at no fault of your own. For instance, if another website on your shared server is compromised, the hacker might even gain access to your precious business details too.
2. Use a firewall
Along with antivirus software, it is vital that you install a firewall. A firewall does a lot of the hard work for you, in the sense that it can prevent dangerous network traffic from causing problems for your business.
When it comes to using a firewall or any other security software, ensure it is installed on every device used by you and your employees for work. That includes computers, laptops, and smartphones.
3. Keep all software up to date
This doesn’t just mean your security applications, either. All of your software needs to be kept up to date, whether it is accounting software or the WordPress platform for your website.
Why? Well, if you leave any software outdated, it’s likely to feature security exploits—the type that hackers love to exploit. There’s a reason why these updates are typically referred to as “patches,” and that’s because they cover up any holes that appear within the software.
4. Complete regular backups
Regular backups are a wise choice to make when it comes to your security efforts. If you were to suffer from a cyberattack, for instance, you wouldn’t be held to ransom. You could simply load up your latest backup and ensure you still have access to your important business files.
5. Educate your employees
No matter how many security protocols you integrate, these could all go to waste due to human error. All it takes is for an employee to click a suspicious link in an email, and this could open the door for hackers to gain inside access to your business.
As a result, it is imperative that all of your employees are trained in cyber security and they know how to avoid phishing attacks, malware, and all the other threats that reside online.
