Automation is key for quickly improving productivity, a lesson the hackers and cyber criminals of the world have taken to heart. New automated tools are allowing hackers to test, attack, and breach the security of hundreds of thousands of targets with minimal efforts, making small and medium-sized businesses a renewed focus of cyber-crime.
In these attacks the attackers are generally probing for emails, addresses, credit cards, propriety information, and any other valuable data that can be accessed, copied, sold, or otherwise exploited for identity theft and profit. Below are seven strategies for computer security best practices to help you block and prevent these attacks:
1. Limit Personal Web Browsing
Employees should know and understand the limits when it comes to using the internet while at work. Even if you ban obviously sketchy varieties of websites (adult materials, gambling, torrent sites) employees may not realize that even legitimate websites can be hijacked, and personal browsing of the internet exposes your network to a wide variety of threats.
2. Manage Data Securely
Printing out passwords or writing them down on notepads may be convenient, but it’s also incredibly risky. Paper files can be stolen, lost, or thrown away, and that can open your data up to low tech and hard-to-detect breaches. Instead, employees should use secure password vault applications or the standard ‘forgot password’ option.
3.Enforce Strong Passwords
Strong passwords, those longer than 8 digits with a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers, are difficult for routine hackers to break. A weak password, or one that is easily guessed, however, will eventually allow hackers into your system.
4. Install a Good Firewall
A firewall protects the network by controlling internet traffic coming into and flowing out of a business. Good management will make sure that threats on this network are detected and blocked in real time, while allowing normal businesses operations to continue.
5. Maintain Antivirus and Software Patches
Updates to antivirus systems and software patches are critical, as they allow your software to operate without chinks in the armor of your security. These updates must be automatic and mandatory, otherwise new threats can and will slip through.
6. Secure Company Hardware
Smartphones and laptops are both targets for theft in the real world, and once stolen they can also become portals for theft in the digital one as thieves strip information from the devices. Therefore company devices should ideally have remote security features installed, including encryption software, password protection, and remote wipe capability.
7. Partner with a Managed Service Provider (MSP)
As small and medium sized businesses turn new attention to their digital security more and more are working closely with MSPs, like Grundig IT, to secure their networks and safeguard the customer information. MSPs can serve as or complement existing internal IT, allowing small businesses to cover themselves or freeing up existing IT staff to focus on more strategic projects while MSPs handle day-to-day security and other IT projects.
For more information, pricing, and managed IT service details, please contact us at 925-528-9081 or info@grundigit.com.
