National organizations like the NSA field hundreds of millions of hacking attempts daily. While your business isn’t likely to come into contact with quite so many malicious actors, understand that every day, your company runs the risk of losing its data to hackers and consequently, a whole lot more.
The threats that exist in the digital space, particularly during this time where we’re seeing increased parties working from home, are more important than ever to pay mind to. The best way to beat those threats is to roll out effective cybersecurity programs and policies.
If you’re not sure where to start when it comes to which programs should be at the top of your list of things to institute, keep reading. Below, our team shares a handful of high-priority tasks that are worth checking off your list.
1. Roll Out Mandatory Software Patches
Hackers generally gain access to data through issues written into operating systems and other pieces of software. Once software manufacturers find these issues, they quickly send out patches to fix them and plug the vulnerability.
The only way you can benefit from these patches is if you choose to download them.
As a business owner, you must work with an IT team to ensure your machines are set-up to mandate the installation of software patches. If you leave it to your employees to manually opt into these updates, you may find that they won’t take the time.
2. Create Educational Programs
These cybersecurity services providers and several others say that understanding threats is the number one means of protecting against them. We couldn’t agree more.
One of the most important programs you can invest in rolling out across your organization is an education-based one that gives employees the context they need to avoid adversity.
Something as simple as training employees on how to identify phishing emails could mean the difference between your company staying in the black or losing millions to a breach.
3. Require Password Changes
Your employee’s work laptop and password in the wrong hands could equal a world of hurt for your business. To ensure that a team member’s password doesn’t get picked off, mandate password changes every 30 to 90 days.
This can be done easily through Windows and Mac functions which IT professionals can set up.
To further solidify password security, share tips with your employees on how to create effective passwords. A little bit of guidance on this front can significantly strengthen your workforce’s security.
4. Offer Mobile IT Services
In this age of working from home, access to IT services has reduced dramatically. That may leave employees that are struggling with a virus-ridden machine without the help they need.
We recommend working with a mobile contractor to institute an IT program that enables employees to dial a number and get in-home assistance. Depending on the size of your workforce, you may find that IT contractors are willing to give steep discounts on their services.
5. Refresh Company Computers Tri-Annually
Seemingly well-functioning older computers could still have issues going on in the background that need to be managed. To give your IT team the time to assess aging machines, make it a policy to refresh team member computers every three years or so.
Refreshing a machine doesn’t have to mean giving an employee a brand new computer. It could mean replacing your employee’s computer with a refurbished one, assessing your employee’s reclaimed machine, and then giving that computer to another team member once it’s cleared.
6. Regularly Consult With an Attorney on Security
There are a lot of implications that circulate around holding onto consumer data. In today’s day in age, we’re willing to bet that you at least have some information on the people that shop with you stored on company machines.
To ensure you comply with data security laws, talk to an attorney every year. They can help you avoid getting caught doing something that violates local legislation which can save you thousands of dollars in fines.w
7. Mandate Two-factor Authentication
Teams are increasingly using cloud applications to get work done. The bad thing about these applications is that anybody with an internet browser and your password can access your data.
Fortunately, securing full protection of your cloud application access is as easy as enabling two-factor authentication. This option makes it so an application will send a login confirmation to a cellphone before allowing you to log in.
With two-factor authentication in place, a hacker with your password wouldn’t be able to access your account unless they also had possession of your phone.
8. Have a Contractor Asses You Workflows Annually
The world of cybersecurity threats is evolving. So should your cybersecurity programs.
If you’d like to stay ahead of the curve, bring in a third-party IT consultant to review your workflows and make sure what you’re doing is still considered safe. If your contractor makes recommendations on how you can improve, consider the cost-benefit ratio, and move forward from there.
Instituting the Right Cybersecurity Programs Will Keep You in Business
IBM estimates that a single data breach could cost a company 4 million dollars. Unless you’re prepared to absorb that kind of impact, take our cybersecurity programs advice to heart and start instituting what you can.
We understand that there are resource implications involved in adjusting policies. Believe us when we say though that those resources will support the longevity of your organization.
For more entrepreneurial advice, check out the latest content we have available on our blog.
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