.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
As a business owner or CEO, you understand how important it is to keep your company's IT security secure. Cybersecurity threats are ever-growing, and the effects of a breach can be catastrophic, not just financially damaging but also in terms of customer trust and data loss.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to reduce the risk of a security incident - from training employees on best practice to investing in the latest technologies - and this blog post will provide 9 top tips for protecting your business IT security.
Keep reading to discover our ultimate guide for staying ahead of cyber criminals!
7 Top Tips for Protecting your Business IT Security
Here are the top tips on how to protect your business IT security and keep it cyber secure.
1. Install Firewalls and Antivirus Software
Installing firewalls and antivirus software is one of the most important things you can do to protect your business IT security.
Additionally, firewalls can help prevent unauthorised access to your network, while antivirus software can detect and remove malicious programs from your system.
Make sure to regularly update both programs to ensure that they are up to date with the latest security patches.
2. Use Strong Passwords
One of the important tips for business IT Security is using strong passwords is essential for keeping your business IT security secure.
Make sure that all your passwords are at least 8 characters long, use a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols, and avoid using common words or phrases.
It’s also a good idea to change your passwords regularly in case they have been compromised.
3. Educate Your Employees
Another important tips for business IT security is educating your employees on the importance of IT security is key to keeping your business safe from cyber-attacks.
Make sure that all employees understand the importance of using strong passwords, avoiding suspicious links or emails, and not sharing confidential information online.
You should also provide regular training sessions to ensure that everyone stays up to date with the latest security protocols.
Check out our blog on how to train your employees on cybersecurity.
4. Regularly Backup Your Data
Backing up your data on a regular basis is essential for protecting your business IT security against data loss in case of an attack or system failure.
Make sure that you have multiple backups stored in different locations so that you can easily restore any lost data if needed.
5. Monitor Network Activity
Monitoring network activity is an important part of keeping your business IT security secure as it allows you to identify any suspicious activity before it becomes a problem.
Make sure to keep track of who is accessing what data as well as when it was accessed so that you can quickly act if needed.
6. Secure Remote Access
If your employees need remote access to sensitive information, make sure that their connection is secure by using virtual private networks (VPNs) or other encryption methods such as SSL/TLS certificates for transmitted data over the internet.
This will help prevent hackers from gaining access to confidential information through unsecured connections such as public Wi-Fi hotspots or personal devices used for work purposes.
7. Use Two Factor Authentication (2FA)
Another important tips for business IT security is two factor authentication. It adds an extra layer of protection by requiring users to enter two pieces of information to gain access - usually something they know (like a password) combined with something they have (like a physical token or smartphone).
This makes it much harder for hackers to gain access even if they manage to guess someone’s password as they would also need physical possession of the device or token linked with the account to gain access.
8. Incident Response Plan
Another critical tip to ensuring your business is prepared for the festive period is ensuring you have an incident response plan. This will include a strategy to ensure your data is recently and regularly backed up, as well as how to deal with a cyberattack appropriately, and a strategy of how to minimise downtime and get your business back up and running quickly.
9. Conduct Vulnerability Audit
Are you not sure whether your cybersecurity is up to scratch? We recommend conducting IT security audits that will highlight any weaknesses and vulnerabilities in your IT infrastructure.
Read our blog on the four types of security audits your business should conduct.
We have created two tools to help you identify any areas of your IT security that are vulnerable to being exploited. Download them by clicking on the links below.
Download our IT security assessment checklist.
Download our Cybersecurity Risk heat map.
Conclusion
To protect and keep your business IT security cyber secure, install firewalls and antivirus software, use strong passwords, educate employees, regularly backup data, monitor network activity, secure remote access and utilise two factor authentication.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about your cybersecurity or any of the tools or blogs suggested in this article, you can book a free cybersecurity assessment conducted by one of our cybersecurity experts.
