Practically all businesses today use computers and the internet to carry out numerous functions. There is no doubt that this technology makes running a business a lot simpler than it used to be, but it is not without its challenges, namely that of cybersecurity.
You don’t need to try too hard to find prominent examples of companies facing dire repercussions for their failures to protect the sensitive information of their companies, clients, and consumers. Businesses as big as Target, Equifax, and Yahoo!, to name a few, have all been victims of cybercrime, and this has dealt significant blows to all of these companies’ reputations.
In 2020 alone, 155.8 million US citizens were hit by data breaches and the average cost of a data breach in 2021 is a staggering $4.24 million so you are going to want to make sure that your company doesn’t fall victim. Here are four of the best ways to do that:
1. Firewalls
Firewalls are a type of software that protects your IT infrastructure from external threats. If a cybercriminal tries to gain access to your computer network or install a virus on your network, for example, your firewall will not only block these attempts but also alert you to them so that you can take extra precautions if necessary.
2. Cybersecurity
Basic cybersecurity measures like setting strong passwords, using encryption to protect sensitive data, and installing the best antivirus software you can find, are just basic common sense. Your IT system is like a bank; it contains lots of precious material that other people will want to try and take for you. So, you should treat it like a bank, but instead of installing lots of high-end alarm systems, safes, and security doors, you need to install as many cybersecurity packages and systems as you can possibly find in order to prevent a USA crime from taking place.
3. Employee Training on Recognizing Warning Signs
No matter how good your cybersecurity packages are and no matter how much protective software you install, your business still has one potential weak link in the form of your employees.
Human error is still the primary cause of all data breaches – 88 percent of them in fact – so if you don’t teach your employees the basics like not opening emails from unverified sources, using a strong password and changing it regularly, and not removing data from the workplace unless vital, you could still end up with a data breach despite your best efforts
4. Outsourcing an MSP
Outsourced cybersecurity services to a managed service provider are probably the best method any business has for protecting itself against various threats to its data online. When you outsource, you will be put in touch with IT professionals who know all of the tricks the cybercriminals will try to use to access your sensitive data, and what to do about it.
If you employ all of these preventative measures, you can keep your business safe, prevent the wrong people from accessing your sensitive data and avoid a potential PR disaster so don’t fail to act!
