Protect Your Company from Cyber Attacks

Protecting your business from cyber attacks is more crucial than ever. It is not a secret that cyber attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated and can pose a significant threat to your company’s security.

Taking proactive measures to safeguard your business from cyber threats is essential. You must protect the key elements that make your business your business:

• Sensitive information
• Operations
• Image and prestige
• Employee and customer morale

What Are the Three Key Prevention Controls for Cyber Attacks?

Firstly, implementing a robust firewall and antivirus software can help prevent malware and other cyber threats from infiltrating your systems. Secondly, establishing strong password policies and using multi-factor authentication can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access. Lastly, regularly updating and patching your operating system and software can address vulnerabilities, making it harder for cyber criminals to exploit.

These and other prevention controls can be classified into three major groups:

1. Physical Controls

In today’s digital everything, small businesses often overlook physical security regarding their computer systems.

They shouldn’t.

Small businesses need always to be mindful of their networks and computers. Consider restricting access to servers and other high-value digital assets. Implement old-school and time-tested security practices that safeguard your assets:

• Security guards who keep strict staff entry and exit logs
• Security cameras, or real-time CCTV systems, particularly in sensitive areas
• Restricted walls, fences, locks, etc. 

2. Technical Controls

This is where technology comes into place to safeguard your business operations and digital assets. These technical controls reduce the risk of unauthorized access:

• Anti-virus and anti-malware with real-time scanning. Though these tools are essential, they’re no longer enough to detect the ever-evolving malware.
• Next-gen firewalls are empowered with AI-driven filtering and blocking of suspicious traffic into or out of your computer networks.
• Disk encryption practices add a stronger layer of protection to sensitive, high-value data.
• Strong password policies that minimize the risk of credentials cracking or spoofing scams.
• Multi-factor authentication, including biometric authentication if possible
• Patch management is one of the most important controls. Security or critical updates, in particular, must be applied immediately after release.

3. Administrative Controls

You must establish strong administrative controls to ensure maximum cyber security for your business.

Doing so will help you prevent unauthorized access, detect and respond to potential breaches, and maintain the confidentiality and integrity of your information. 

These cybersecurity administrative controls include:

• Cybersecurity policies
• Data handling procedures
• Confidentiality policies
• Cybersecurity insurance

Develop a Cyber Security Policy 

Developing a broad cyber security policy is the first step for protecting your business from cyber threats. This policy should outline the best practices for maintaining your assets safe and secure throughout your technology infrastructure. This includes local and remote locations such as clouds, remote workers’ devices, etc.

A sound cybersecurity policy should cover the following:

• Best practices to follow to prevent a breach
• Procedures in case there is a breach
• Guidelines for handling sensitive data, particularly that of your clients or customers

Create Cybersecurity Best Practices

Establishing security policies and practices can help prevent cyber incidents and mitigate potential damages. Encrypting sensitive data and monitoring web browser activities are vital to these practices.

Train Your Employees

Employee training is pivotal in the fight against cyber attacks. It has been well-documented that humans are the weakest link in the cybersecurity equation. Not because we are dumb but because it is easy for hackers to trick us into clicking or downloading stuff we shouldn’t.

Free gift cards, winning tickets, and fun games are all exciting and laden with malware ready to wreak havoc in your business.

Implement an ongoing training program to educate your employees on the latest cyber scams.  By creating a security-conscious culture, your staff can become the first line of defense against cyber threats. And help effectively safeguard your business assets.

Why Cybersecurity Matters 

Latest statistics show that 63% of small businesses will go bankrupt within a year of their cyber attack.

Those stats are not reassuring. And unfortunately, cyber attacks on small businesses are real. In fact, 42% of cyber attacks are aimed at small businesses. 

Why?

Because small businesses usually have lower cybersecurity in place.

Cybersecurity is crucial because a data breach can lead to severe consequences to your business: Financial, reputational, and emotional. By prioritizing cybersecurity, your businesses can have peace of mind and instill trust in your customers and community.

Best practices for preventing cyberattacks

In conclusion, adopting best practices such as implementing strong cybersecurity controls, training employees, and creating robust security measures needs to become an integral part of your business culture. Nowadays, businesses with strong security consciousness are businesses with strong bank accounts.