The world is seeing a rapid increase in cybercrime – it can be nefarious third parties becoming more and more intrusive into the consumer data that is reportedly more valuable than oil.
It can also be cybercriminals who attempt various attacks like phishing scams, and ransomware attacks or try to infiltrate malware into a business network to cause huge amounts of malicious damage.
This damage can lead to huge financial and reputational damage for the business – last year alone, over 53 million people were affected by data breaches from businesses.
The pandemic shifted how businesses operate, pushing the already rising demand to turn digital and become more accessible in the online space. As businesses made this important process of growth, not all businesses are adequately protected against the dangers that you can see online.
A big threat can come in malicious third parties looking to track, mine, and collect your data but the largest danger can come in the form of cybercriminals, of which whom there has been a massive increase since 2020.
Businesses have to make the crucial steps to becoming protected online, which means shoring up defenses as well as not being so easily accessible or exposed to cybercriminals. Here are the best ways to layer your business’s protection online and become more defensive against cybercrime.
When people think of security software for a business, they may be thinking of some kind of expensive security suite that is an all-encompassing package that is way over budget and doesn’t necessarily show a great return on ROI (return on investment).
This is not true, however, as many free and cheap options aren’t just viable options, but can truly be effective in the purpose you get them for.
Protect Against Viruses
A free antivirus can be perfect for an employee looking to add a screening and protective process to their online activity.
An antivirus will monitor and check all downloads and uploads to make sure you are not working with malicious material that could be the tool of some cybercriminal looking to implant malware or ransomware into your network.
Data breaches can lead to consumers’ online identity being at risk, so it is crucial to put in place security tools so that this internal data is secure.
Proxy Servers Provide Safety
Another strong tool for a business could be a proxy server – this particular piece of security and safety software can work as an online HUB for your business, providing an IP residential instead of a business that can give your employees a sense of anonymity but also protection.
Without a residential proxy, your business and employees could be targeted by cybercriminals or see third parties track and collect your data and manipulate certain online situations because of this.
Firewalls Screen Your Business
Having a strong firewall in place to protect your business data could be a true game-changer – a firewall works as the layer that screens incoming and outcoming traffic, looking out for any hidden malicious or dangerous files which could infect your PC and servers inside the business.
Once a file manages to corrupt the internal networks of a business, it can not only cost a lot of money or cause irreplaceable data damage but can lead a business to closure through the damage it can do. Investing in a tougher, smarter, and the more protective firewall does not seem like such a bad option now.
Enforce Higher Password Practice
It’s common for passwords to be incredibly weak in today’s online world, which makes zero sense when you see the high risk and danger element of having poor password health for your accounts.
As a rule of thumb, it is crucial to have lengthy passwords which exceed 14 characters but to also put in place a mixture of upper and lower cases with the inclusion of numbers and symbols.
Some people may think this is a crazy or impossible task to do with so many accounts, each requiring its own unique and individual password.
However, thanks to password managers, you can use a tool like this to generate random passwords that you can store in the manager, and have it bring up the password to the co-ordinated account with ease.
Authenticate Your Staff
Putting in place a solid two-factor authentication procedure for logins, can shore up your business security and create a solid culture of security, safety, and data protection.
Many businesses are requiring two-factor authentication and companies like Google and Microsoft are making it mandatory for certain processes to protect internal data.
Two-factor authentication adds another layer of security against passwords – if a password gets lost, leaked, or stolen, it means that the cybercriminal attempting to fraudulently login to your account won’t be able to without completing the authentication.
Typically it is done via an RSA token, smartphone application, or other digital methods.
If you combine all these processes and tips for becoming more resilient to cyber criminals, you make your business infinitely more stronger and trustworthy in the face of customers.
