Large companies with robust budgets can build systems and hire IT professionals to ensure the security of their data. But what can owners of small and medium-sized enterprises do to ensure good digital security?
You probably already know that installing aantivirus software is Compulsory. ♪ Put it together ♪ a firewallAnd you'll be safer, right?
Not so much! These measures are important, but they will not perform miracles in the case of digital security. In fact, the more I think about it, the more I realize that staying safe in the digital world depends on the amount of common sense you're willing to invest.
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And of course, the technology you can also use in your favor.
After all, managing information and protecting data is necessary for any company that wishes to stand out in the field in which it operates.
And the first step is...
Identify vulnerabilities
If you think of something that keeps your business running, what would it be? I bet the first thing that's gonna come into your mind is the cash flow.
The interruption in the cash flow is one of the reasons why most small and medium-sized enterprises close. But this is definitely not the only challenge for those who undertake.
If you are a freelance graphic designer, you probably store projects on your computer or in the cloud. What would happen if someone took control of your cloud account or encrypted all the files on your hard drive, requiring you to pay a ransom to recover them?
Let's imagine a different scenario:
You're a successful influencer. Most of your business revolves around building and managing your presence on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. What would happen if someone took control of their social networks?
It is important that you identify the vulnerability points of your business and focus on taking preventive action from the start.
The next five tips will help you do this:
1. Difficulty your passwords
Creating different passwords for each website or account you create is a nuisance. Who could remember all this? This is one of the reasons why most people's password patterns are considered risky.
Analyzing a total of 500 million passwords that have leaked into various security breaches throughout 2019, the NordPass found that “12345”, “123456” and “123456789” were the most frequent.
Among all these passwords composed of numerical sequences were used to “protect” a total of 6.3 million accounts. However, the rest of the list of most used passwords does not present a very optimistic scenario, considering that these three options were followed by “test1” and “password”.
An even bigger problem, however, is that many people reuse passwords in various accounts. If one of your accounts is hacked or your details leaked, all other accounts with the same login details will be displayed.
You can use password managers to safely generate and store passwords for all your online services. All you need to do is create a strong password to access the rest.
The LastPass is one of the most reliable and offers the best resources in the graduitous plan.
Never use identical login details on different accounts or websites.
Do not reuse old passwords
Multifactor authentication and security codes are not just for online banking services. Make sure to enable this for every account and online service you use.
With this tool, you can check regularly if any of your email accounts were exposed as a result of a data breach. Do not store your passwords in physical format. Post-its are a big bust.
2. Don't let loose ends
Technology is there to make everyone's life easier. But every day only increases the amount of tools and platforms for project management, marketing, productivity, sales we use... The list is endless.
Think of the various registrations made on websites to receive some information or even buy online and all this turns into a black hole, with lost information that hides in your “digital toolbox”.
You cannot protect your data effectively if you are not aware of where everything is.
Solution: A while ago, I decided to improve my online hygiene and I created a simple strategy.
I've compiled a list of all my digital assets, including accounts, tools and active signatures. I did it gradually, following the emails I get in my inbox.
I scratched the items I wasn't using or didn't need anymore.
Then I channeled the rest of the items on my list to a password manager and managed new complex passwords for each service.
I got rid of the obsolete accounts and canceled the subscription of irrelevant newsletters or spam. It shouldn't take more than five minutes a day if you do it like one step at a time.
Bonus tip:
Most online applications and services have an option to “delete” or “unregister” hidden somewhere in the account settings. If you cannot find it, send a simple email to the support team and request a manual deletion of your records.
3. Block malicious websites
Set up your computer or smartphone to automatically block access to known malicious websites. We all (including me!) often accidentally click on a link that can lead to a malicious site.
The internet is full of threats and websites that can cause security problems for businesses. A very common practice of criminals is to send spam with links to suspicious websites that can install viruses and malware on computers.
By accessing a harmful website, it installs a malicious program without the user noticing, with this equipment and the network may be compromised. As soon as most attacks occur, how Ransomware (data hijacking) And financial fraud.
Therefore, it is highly recommended that your company's network browsing be protected and block any harmful website.
The main types of harmful websites can be divided into the following categories:
Access animators, hacking, keyloggers, malware, spyware, phishing and online frauds.
4. Update your apps and software
Make sure you are running the latest and safest versions of your software. You're probably thinking: I have to update – again? Got it.
Often due to laziness or even forgetfulness, we stop doing software updates.
Because you should know that criminal invaders love to direct their attacks on outdated software. Keeping your operating system and apps up to date makes you a much harder target to be hit by the bad guys.
Professional tip: Schedule updates for times you know you won't be working on the computer. When updates are performed overnight or during coffee breaks or relaxation, it is much less likely to hinder your workflow.
And last but not least:
5. Backup your data
Protect yourself from cyber attacks, such as ransomware, which objectively target your data. Ransomware is a type of malware, or malicious software, that tries to prevent users from accessing their data or devices.
The software then requires ransom payment to restore your access. This type of attack first appeared in 2012 and has caused headaches and frightening stories of data loss since then.
Regular backups data are not only valuable in ransomware recovery and other cyber attacks, they are a critical part of any healthy business technology plan.
Conclusion
If you've come this far, you've understood that the cybersecurityIt's important enough to protect your company. A small investment made today can prevent a huge loss – of potentially irreplaceable time, money and business data – tomorrow.
Starting with the tips on this list won't take long and it'll be a great start to protect your company from threats that are so harmful and growing.
And remember: Migration of your data to the cloud dramatically improves information security in various categories.
The first thing you should keep in mind is that the cloud service providers They have strong safeguards to protect their information.
