A data breach can be catastrophic for any business, and an unsecured public WiFi network can open your company up to all sorts of risks. However, protecting against data breaches isn’t always easy or straightforward, particularly if you don’t have the time or money to hire an in-house IT department. Fortunately, there are some simple steps you can take to protect your company and customer data against cyberattacks, including those that are performed over public WiFi networks. Here are ten effective business data security tips you should consider implementing right away.
1) Implement Secure Passwords
Passwords are as essential to protecting data as firewalls and virus protection, but too many companies overlook their password security. Weak passwords leave your systems vulnerable, so it’s important that they’re updated at least once a year. In addition, all employees need to be trained on how to create a secure password by following these guidelines: Make them long; ensure they aren’t easily guessable by substituting numbers or symbols for letters; use upper-and lower-case letters; add special characters when possible; avoid personal information like addresses and phone numbers. Don’t reuse passwords between different accounts. The old adage there are no stupid questions applies in this case.
2) Update Software Often
Most hackers target software vulnerabilities because they make it easier for them to get in. If you don’t update your software often, you could be leaving yourself vulnerable to attack. It only takes one instance of unpatched software for a hacker to access data—so make sure that doesn’t happen by regularly updating. It’s especially important if you store sensitive information on your computers or on cloud platforms like Google Drive or Dropbox: Every time a new patch comes out, it’s probably best to update immediately (but back up first).
3) Encrypt Sensitive Data
Encrypting your data means scrambling it so that only someone with access to a certain passphrase or key can read it. When you buy a USB thumb drive, you’re asked to enter a passphrase (think of it like a password). If someone steals your thumb drive, they won’t be able to read its contents unless they know your secret passphrase. So when you encrypt sensitive data, make sure there is a secure way for others—even yourself—to access that information if necessary.
4) Avoid Phishing Attempts
According to Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report, about 91 percent of all cyber attacks begin with a phishing attempt. Phishing is when hackers try to trick users into clicking links or giving up private information by posing as someone they trust — such as an employee at your company, a customer service representative from your internet provider, or even your friends. In reality, it’s someone with bad intentions that wants access to valuable data like financial accounts or confidential company information. By learning how you can identify phishing attempts and protect yourself from cybercrime, you can prevent damaging hacks from occurring on your business network.
5) Use Cryptography Services Well
If you want to improve your data security, use cryptography services well. A cryptosystem is any mechanism or technology used for cryptographic purposes. Cryptography is often used in computer systems where strong security is necessary, such as online banking systems, mobile communications, and internet commerce sites like Amazon. In these settings cryptography helps ensure that data passing between two computers can only be decrypted by a specific system using a specific key – no other device can read it. This means that transactions are secure from tampering by outside parties with nefarious intentions. Cryptography does not stop unauthorized people from accessing your information – but it does make their job much more difficult and time-consuming so they have less incentive to try.
6) Encourage Employees to Practice Good Cyber Hygiene
Do you have employees who share their passwords? It may seem harmless, but it’s one of many practices that can expose your company data to hackers. To ensure company security, train your employees on how to protect themselves—and your business—online with good cyber hygiene. This will help eliminate risky behaviors such as sharing passwords, downloading malicious files, and opening emails from unknown senders.
7) Update Antivirus Software Weekly
Although antivirus software is a great first line of defense, it’s just that—the first line of defense. If a piece of malware makes it past your antivirus software undetected, you need to have other protective measures in place. This includes running up-to-date antivirus software on your business network and system devices. It also means keeping all operating systems, applications, and firmware updated as much as possible. The more vulnerabilities an attacker can use against you, the better chance they will succeed at breaching your security defenses.
8) Implement Network Access Controls
The main goal of network access control (NAC) is to bring user security into compliance with corporate security policy. It should be noted that there are two distinct types of NAC solutions: preventive (before a user accesses your network) and a detective (after a user has accessed your network). A mixture of both could also be implemented, where preventive controls kick in before users are allowed onto a protected segment, while detective controls take over once users are on-site. In either case, it’s important for these systems to operate seamlessly for employees without slowing them down or hampering productivity.
9) Don’t Save Passwords in Plaintext on Servers/Devices
If you have a username or password that needs to be stored, it should be encrypted in a database (if it’s not already). Passwords saved in the plaintext are easy targets for hackers. But as you might guess, only encrypting passwords isn’t enough. They also need to be stored in such a way that only those who need access can get to them—otherwise, anyone who gains access via SQL injection will have free reign over your data (or worse). This means storing your passwords using a hashing function so they aren’t vulnerable. Luckily, there are libraries that do all of this for you.
10) Use Two-Factor Authentication
The purpose of two-factor authentication is simple: It protects your account in case someone else gets a hold of your password. The person logging in knows their username and password but also has a second code, which can be sent via text message or emailed directly to them. With two-factor authentication, even if someone guesses your password, they still need access to that second factor in order to log into your account. Whether you’re protecting personal accounts or company information, it’s important that you use two-factor authentication wherever possible (although many sites don’t offer it as an option). The more complex security measures you take, particularly for sensitive information like credit card data and bank statements, the better off you’ll be.
Conclusion
Most people don’t think about data security until they have a reason to. But when you consider that most large companies are hacked every year, it makes sense that you should be prepared before disaster strikes. Think of your company as a well-protected home, with various doors and windows through which hackers can enter. Follow these 10 tips for business data security, and your company will remain secure for years to come.