cyber security made easy

It seems like you can’t watch the news without learning about a new major security bug or corporate hacking scandal. Heartbleed and Shellshock scared a lot of Internet users, and soon articles on enhancing cyber security were popping up everywhere. Small business owners need to be especially savvy about cyber security, since so much of their business is based on the web. Here are some things to know about keeping your business safe online, as well as what to do in the event of a security breach.

No business is too small to be vulnerable to hackers. According to the National Cyber ​​Security Coalition, 71% of cyberattacks target small business, and nearly half of small businesses report being attacked. Even more alarming, experiments have found that 60% of small businesses that are cyberattacked go out of business within six months. The NCSA reported three reasons that small businesses are most often targeted: they do not have the resources to respond to an attack, information such as credit card numbers is often less secure, and small businesses are more vulnerable than large corporations. Can be partnered with and given access to hackers. those companies.

Ensure that all devices on the company network or handling any company data have reliable anti-virus and anti-malware software. This is a basic, but easily overlooked, precaution against malicious files and other attacks. Your network should also have a firewall to protect the network as a whole.

Educate your employees. In addition to making sure everyone in your company is familiar with your security system, it can be helpful to train employees on basic Internet safety and security. There are many online resources that raise awareness about phishing scams, security certificates, and other cyber security basics.

Create strong passwords. For any resources that require passwords on your system, create (and staff) complex passwords that are not subject to social engineering or easy guessing. There are many guides available on the web on how to create strong passwords.

Use encryption software if you regularly deal with sensitive information. This way, even if your data is compromised, the hacker will not be able to read it.

Limit administrator privileges to your system. Set appropriate access limits for employees without administrator status, especially when using non-company devices. Limit administrator privileges to those who really need them, and limit access to sensitive information by time and location.

See Cyberinsurance. Cyber ​​security breaches are generally not covered by liability insurance, but if you want to protect sensitive data, talk to an insurance agent about your options.

Back up your data weekly, either to a secure cloud location or to an external hard drive. That way, if your server goes down, you’ll still have access to your data. The cloud computing services of Boardroom Executive Suites by SkySuite are an ideal tool in this area.

If you have determined that a security breach has occurred, determine the scope of the attack. This is a good time to call in an expert consultant in cyber security. This will both give you a sense of what damage you need to minimize and indicate whether it was a general mass-produced attack or a specifically targeted attack.

Once you’ve done this check, take all your systems offline to prevent damage.

Repair affected systems. You can use a master disc to reinstall programs on your device. Then, with the help of your advisor, figure out where your security system has gaps. Use this as a learning experience to strengthen your defenses to prevent another attack from happening. This includes educating your employees about what went wrong and what they can do to prevent it from happening in the future.

Be honest, transparent and timely in communication with your customers. Tell them what happened and what you are doing to fix it.