We live in a digital world where everyone is connected in some way. That means that information and data can be accessed from anywhere in the world. No longer can you keep your employee and customer files locked up in a filing cabinet. Now, much of it is stored in the cloud and through e-commerce applications, on your local hard drive, and other remote software solutions.
Information security has never been more important. Digital identity theft is rampant, and every day companies are falling prey to ransomware and other attacks. This is especially true if you are a mid or enterprise level business. With the vast amount of data in your possession, your business could be a target for thieves and fraudsters. Here’s how to strengthen security for mid to enterprise level businesses.
Develop Strong Company Cybersecurity Policies
Maybe if you were a one person shop you could get away with not having documented cyber security protocols. However, when there are several people involved at potentially several locations, you need to have strong cyber security policies that are clearly documented.
Make sure that all of your staff understand their responsibilities when it comes to protecting data, and what the consequences are for failing to follow them. This means having checklists, team-specific processes, and training available to all. There are many online toolkits and services that can provide you with starting points and best practices for cyber security so that everyone is on the same page.
Improve Your Password Security
You’ve probably heard in the news about companies and celebrities being “hacked” and personal information and content getting out into the public. The word “hacked” might make you think of someone hunched over a keyboard and typing in lines of code to break into a system. However, in most of those cases, those “hackers” used simple techniques such as buying reused passwords off the dark web or using phishing messages to trick employees into sending over credentials.
You can avoid attacks like these by coupling your passwords with MFA and encouraging good employee password hygiene. Even though using and creating strong, unique passwords can be frustrating for staff, there are tools such as password managers to make this easier. MFA (Multi-factor Authentication) adds an extra layer of security by requiring a combination of two or more verifications. An example combination includes requiring a password and then at least one non-password verification like a SMS code message, an access badge, or a fingerprint.
Education is also a huge factor in helping employees improve their password related habits. Encourage employees to change their passwords on a regular basis and make sure they are well aware that reused, easy to remember passwords open your network up to attack.
Enterprise Endpoint Protection
Sometimes, security breaches come from infected documents and files that get downloaded onto a device where they can cause havoc. They can implant ransomware, malware, and any number of other threats. Employing an effective enterprise endpoint protection strategy keeps your network devices safe by making sure that nefarious cyberthreats are not able to get through. Endpoint protection tools such as EPPs (Endpoint Protection Platforms) can help your team detect and stop malicious software threatening network devices in real time. These platforms allow your IT/security team to monitor and manage the security of each individual network device remotely, so there is always an expert to keep an eye on things.
Back Up Everything
Your goal should always be to prevent cyber attacks from happening or being successful in the first place. However, that doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t take steps to reduce the damage if there is an issue. All of your documents, from HR files to CRM files should be backed up on a physical hard drive on a regular basis. That way if there is data loss you won’t be left too far behind. Your backups should be kept in a safe place and behind a locked door. In most cases, it’s a good idea for the drive to be somewhere off site in case you have a fire, flood, or something else that could damage or destroy the drive. Make sure to inspect your backup on a set schedule to make sure that it is always working properly.
Hire Professionals
When a business grows to be a mid to enterprise sized company, it will start having to make certain investments that it didn’t before. You may not have been able to afford it when your company was small, but now you should be hiring professionals to help with your cyber security and protection.
They keep up with all the trends and threats, and will have solutions for trying to prevent them from affecting you. Not only are they the experts in the industry, but you have other duties to which you are committed. Instead of worrying about data breaches and other threats, you can go about your day and rest your head at night knowing that you have a professional on the job for you.
With a mid to enterprise level business, there are several places where your data might be vulnerable. You must take steps to prevent hacking and other digital threats to get through. If you don’t already, make sure that you have a plan in place that is effective, realistic, and scalable in case your business continues to grow and evolve. Use these tips to keep your business as safe as possible.