Cyber security threats are an ever-present concern for businesses, especially as the world becomes increasingly reliant on the internet for storing and sharing sensitive data. This year, there has been a swift rise in sophisticated cyber security attacks, making the threat more prevalent than ever before. All companies are vulnerable to cyber crimes, but organisations with high-value sensitive information are especially at risk. While basic cyber security measures like anti-virus software and avoiding scammy-looking email attachments are important, there’s a lot more that goes into cyber security. As a business owner, you need to take proactive steps to protect your IT systems. Here are some effective tips:
Conduct Regular Cyber Security System Reviews
Simply having a cyber security infrastructure and policy in place doesn’t ensure its effectiveness. Cyber security is constantly evolving, and cyber criminals are always exploring new ways to scam businesses and penetrate their security measures. Therefore, it’s crucial to conduct regular cyber security risk assessments to check for vulnerabilities and upgrade your cyber security tools accordingly. The frequency of these assessments depends on your system and the changes in the tech landscape, but at least two assessments per year are recommended.
Encrypt Valuable Data
For particularly important and sensitive data, such as financial details and medical notes, consider using encryption. Encryption adds an additional layer of protection to data because only someone within your organisation with the cypher key can decode the data. By encrypting your data, you reduce the chances of being hacked and ensure your particularly valuable information is secure. You can easily encrypt your data using online encryption tools or by working with cyber security experts.
Implement A Security Operations Centre
The internet has introduced the rise of globalisation, making it easier than before for individuals worldwide to interact with, or potentially attack, any website or database. Therefore, if you run a large international company, consider using a Security Operations Centre (SOC) run by cyber security experts who monitor and manage your company’s IT infrastructure 24/7. Running an in-house SOC can be expensive, so exploring a provider of SOC as a service can be a cost-effective alternative. These providers can defend your business against cyber attacks and ensure your IT infrastructure is safe at all times.
Provide Regular Staff Training
Your employees are a vital asset in your company’s fight against cyber-attacks. They can be the first line of defence and notice anything suspicious. Therefore, give them access to resources to help them be more vigilant and regularly provide them with training. Cyber security threats continue to evolve and change, so make sure that your workforce gets training at least twice a year. Consider offering small catch-ups with some internal team members and inviting professional IT experts to train them at least once a year.
In summary, cyber security is critical for businesses, and using a simple anti-virus product is no longer enough. Serious precautions must be taken to ensure that your business is always protected against cyber threats. By proactively protecting your digital assets, you’ll maintain the trust of your customers and reduce your chances of receiving an expensive fine for non-compliance with relevant laws. While it’s a lot of effort, the rewards of keeping criminals away from your valuable IT infrastructure make it worthwhile.
