Most business owners, especially small-scale operators, think that they are beyond a cyber-attackers notice because they run small businesses. Well, in fact, that makes you a perfect prey because after hackers are done with you, you'll not even realize how business was done and how deep the hack was. Maybe consequent losses are what will shed some light, but that will already be too late. Even if a business's resources and revenues can't support hiring a data security service provider, it is imperative that you take precautions during the initial stages of launching the entity. For instance, Netzen provide Penetration Testing, which enables you to see the threats that your business might be exposed to in a clear, comprehensive report. That way, you can be able to employ countermeasures or even increase your layers of firewall protection.
In other words, don’t underestimate what hackers can do because they’ll hit on most small businesses because they are often unprepared for them. You also need to note that most hackers and online scammers have no in-depth tech knowledge but will still defraud you thousands of dollars without even risking their life or identity.
So, how do you protect your business from a cyber-attack? Well, check out on the following tips:
The most vulnerable people hackers can target in a business are the employees, especially those with access to sensitive data. You should educate your employees on cybersecurity and encourage them not to share their passwords with everyone, especially if they are working remotely. You must also remind them not to click on dubious links sent to them by new emails or open attachments from questionable senders.
A data breach doesn't have to be a tech-savvy hack from a black site operation. It can also emanate from a stolen property such as desktops or laptops, or even company tablets. Therefore, you must have an elaborate protocol to protect all electronic gadgets that can expose your data when stolen, including mobile phones.
- Distinguish general and sensitive data
It would be best if you clearly distinguished what sensitive data is and what is not. For instance, your company's credit card information is sensitive data, while your company's physical location address is general data that can be shared with anyone.
Lastly, you might also decide to hire security that can, for instance, do penetration tests or provide you with secure data storage and backup, such as cloud backup. Hiring security also needs to go beyond software security and think about your business premises. For instance, hiring a security firm that provides 24-hour security surveillance on your company’s premises will prevent any unauthorized entry. Some hackers will need physical access to your premises, and hiring security solves that. You can also limit access to authorized areas such as using security badges to access individual offices and boardrooms. That way, in any case, an attack happens from within, you can always narrow down to specific individuals and find who is responsible for the same.
Online presence is necessary for the growth of any business in the modern world but also comes with its challenges, especially if you don't take any cybersecurity countermeasures to ensure data safety.
Biswajit Rakshit is a professional Blogger. He regularly writes on his blog Widetopics to keep all the readers updated with the latest facts on a wide range of topics.