In today’s world, cyber-attacks on businesses have been on the rise. In order to ensure that your small business does not fall prey to such attacks, it is important that you take necessary steps in advance.
Here are some of the most effective IT security suggestions for your small business:
1) Make sure employees know about cyber-security
The first step to effective IT security is creating awareness. This can be done by providing information regarding cyber-security in an accessible format in the company. The employees need to know the kinds of threats that could harm their computers and what measures they should take in order to protect themselves against these threats. They also need to know how they can prevent the data on the computers from getting stolen.
2) Keep your anti-virus software updated
A lot of cyber-attacks are initiated by hackers taking advantage of security holes in outdated anti-virus programs. Thus it is important that the employees update their anti-virus software regularly. Their operating systems should also be kept up-to-date. In addition, the anti-virus software should be configured in such a way that it alerts the user when any unauthorized programs are trying to install themselves on the computer.
3) Encrypt your hard disk
In order to ensure that data is not stolen from the company’s computers, all data storage devices that store important information need to be protected with encryption software. This is because the hackers would be unable to access data in these devices without the password.
4) Protect computers from malware
Malware refers to any unauthorized programs that are installed on a computer without user permission. In order to prevent such infections, it is important that employees follow safe practices when using their computers. For example, they should not open any email attachments or click on any links in emails unless they are sure that the source is trustworthy. In addition, they should install a good anti-malware program on their computers.
5) Have a backup plan
In case of a cyber-attack that results in data loss, it is important to have a backup plan in place. All data should be saved on an external hard disk or cloud storage services so that they can easily be recovered if the need arises.
6) Enable the firewall
The firewall needs to be enabled on all company computers so that it blocks any unauthorized access attempts. It also protects against malware, phishing and other online threats.
7) Use strong passwords
Employees should be encouraged to use strong passwords that are hard to crack. These passwords should be changed on a regular basis. In addition, they should not use the same password for all their online accounts.
8) Restrict employee access to sensitive data
Only employees who need access to sensitive data should be given permission. In addition, they should be made aware about the procedures to report a security breach if it occurs.
