For modern businesses, the threat of cyber attacks is very real. Operating in the digital age brings with it many more concerns than businesses previously needed to worry about. Though digitalisation of businesses has brought about a wealth of benefits, there are also several drawbacks to keeping some of your most important company information online. The biggest threat being that someone may try to access it. To keep your business protected from cyber-attacks, take a look at our helpful tips:
- Protect Against Zero-Day Attacks
Software developers are directly involved with the security of their solutions. Their customers trust that they’re offering a safe product, which is why they buy it. As a general practice, many software providers carry out maintenance and updates to check that your information is safe. They’re called ‘security patches’ and they are designed to fix detected security vulnerabilities. Choose vendors that offer a 24/7 hour response to suspicious activity.
- Use Secure Passwords
It sounds simple, but many professionals are still using basic passwords for their computers. It’s time to banish this and make it compulsory for employees to use complex passwords. To encourage this, you can promote the use of password managers like Dashlane, which can generate strong passwords for websites. It will also allow you to share login credentials without actually revealing your password to colleagues.
- Use Two-Step Authentication
As an extra layer of security, it’s a good idea to implement a two-factor authentication system. This means that users will need to pass two verification steps to gain access to an account. You can add this to everyday tools like Gmail, Dropbox and social media accounts. App developers are known for including two-step authentication, especially the likes of banking apps.
- Encrypt Your Information
Encryption protects your data from hackers. It converts readable information into code, which can only be decoded with the right decryption key – held by you. This is integrated into a lot of software already, so ensure that you’re only using tools that are already encrypted. For internal communications, use an encrypted messaging tool like WhatsApp and Brosix.
- Test Your Security
Test and test again your security measures to ensure they’re tough. Use technical due diligence services to test the technology. Some vulnerabilities may only come to light when the project is given a test run, which is why security testing is a crucial part of the development life cycle. Frequent testing needs to be part of your long-term cybersecurity plan since new risks may arise as your network grows and develops.