Securing Your Business: The Top Tactics All Companies Need

Once upon a time, a strong lock was all you needed to keep your business safe. Today still too many people focus on their physical security and neglect their digital security when, in fact, they have more to lose from a breach in their digital security. On a personal scale, hackers could gain access to your financial assets and even your identity, on a corporate scale, your entire system could be held hostage unless you pay a ransom. This could leave you in ruin regardless, which is why if your digital security hasn’t already been at the forefront of your business practices, it’s time to make the change.

Understanding Cyber Threats 

There are a variety of cyber threats you and your employees need to be aware of. The types of cyber threats that you face will vary, of course, but understanding and knowing what the most common cyber threats are can help you prepare for them. These attacks include malware, phishing attacks, hacking from unpatched software, social media threats, and advanced persistent threats (APT).

Malware

The most common type of malware you will face is called ransomware, which essentially hijacks your system and, if you do not pay the hacker a ransom, will then delete your data. It can be devastating for companies, as it does more than affect your website it affects your internal systems. Thankfully, this is most commonly contracted by downloading software or running software, meaning that you or your employees must first download it, meaning that if you don’t then there is no worry.

To ensure you and your employees are protected against this kind of attack you need to have ongoing training. The best way to deal with malware, after all, is to detect it before you download it. Restricting searching capabilities on the internet by employees can also help protect you from Malware. Finally, an up-to-date anti-malware program will act as your last defense.

Phishing Attacks 

Password phishing attacks can be devastating to a company, and the worst part is that they are so common. An approximate 60-70% of email that is sent to any given person is a phishing attack aiming for your password. Thankfully email servers are quite good at filtering through these, but of course, emails do get through. Common examples include emails from your “bank” telling you there’s been a breach of your account. In the case that the bank mentioned is not who you are with, noticing these phishing attacks is easy. Generally speaking, the best way to avoid these attacks is always to call your bank directly – and not using the number provided in the email. If you want to be certain, visit the bank yourself.

It is important to note however that these phishing attacks are often socially intuitive. Fake websites that look exactly like the one you trust are often the landing pages for these malware viruses. The only difference between them might be some imperceptible difference in the URL. Binance users, for instance, have recently experienced a hack of their assets because they accessed a website that looked exactly like Binance’s home page. They logged in, giving the hackers everything from their password to the two-step authentication code, and were then redirected to the real page. Thankfully Binance has reversed all the charges made during that attack, but bitcoin stocks still dropped significantly as a result.

Protecting your business from these attacks will involve training your employees on what to look out for and to also ensure each account and login you have is unique. That way any breach can be contained immediately. To find the best password manager for you, read up on this Security Baron review. You will want a company focused on business protocols and multiple employee access.

Other ways you can protect against this is to have two-factor authentication on as many accounts and logins as you can.

Unpatched Software

Unpatched software leads to holes in your defense. A common unpatched program many users and companies use is Adobe Reader. Leaving these vulnerable programs be is leaving your company exposed to vulnerabilities. To protect your business, you will have to either hire a company or set your IT staff on ensuring your software is as patched and secure as possible.

Social Media Threats 

Social media looks friendly and safe, which is why you might find accepting that download request or friend request harmless. Hackers can actually use social media to glean information like passwords and other key information that they can use to hack into your more secure accounts. Once again having unique passwords will help minimize the damage, as well as having friends notify you the moment your account has been hacked.

Advanced Persistent Threats 

APT are very dangerous and difficult to get a handle on. These threats occur when someone in your employment accidentally downloads a Trojan or falls victim to a phishing attack. If even one employee downloads the Trojan virus to a company computer, your entire system can be compromised in a matter of hours. Do note that these APTs are often after your intellectual property so that it could be a serious breach.

Preventing this will require employee training and anti-virus software, yes, but there are other tactics you can use to minimize the damage. Keeping your systems updated and using products and companies that specialize in preventing APTs is a great step. They can help you put safeguards into your system so that you can quickly find and locate which computer has the virus and take it offline.

Another way to ensure that your data is protected is to have an offline backup that can be kept secure. That way, even if your system has been hacked your data is safe.

Prioritize Digital Safety and Training

The best way to protect your company is through good company protocols and employee training. If all your employees know how to recognize phishing scams and dangerous sites and downloads it won’t matter how many attempts are made your company will stay safe. Having unique passwords and strong anti-virus software and protocols can help further protect you in case an attack ever gets through your employees.

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