PRIORITIZING CYBERSECURITY FOR YOUR BUSINESS

Business owners prioritize the protection of their products, offices, employees, and even put contracts in place to protect the services they offer.

What many businesses tend to neglect, however, is the protection of their digital assets. As technology develops, cybersecurity has become a top priority to protect businesses from losing assets. Having a security plan in place for your business’s information, customer information, and other sensitive material is critical. We have outlined some basic practices for ensuring your digital information remains protected.

Monitor employee access
Your employees are of course your greatest asset, but when it comes to cybersecurity, they could quickly become your biggest threat. Employees who are not kept up-to-speed on digital trends might not be aware of threats that are lurking. Ensure that your employees are educated when it comes to digital threats and cybersecurity. If you have an in-house IT manager, it is important they have a plan should an employee experience an issue with a virus or other security issue. If you do not have an employee in-house, we highly recommend securing a trusted third-party vendor to assist you with any and all IT needs.

Using strong passwords is an easy, but essential way to improve security. Have your employees change their passwords on a scheduled basis to increase protection as well as create awareness with your employees.

Install the right equipment
Just like having a properly working, updated security system in your home increases your protection, the same applies to your tech equipment. Both your hardware and software should be updated with the latest and greatest in cybersecurity. Your IT manager should check your hardware on a regular basis to ensure no threats are present and that security software has been updated.

Secure a qualified IT professional
As mentioned previously, it is important to have someone associated with your company who is dedicated to addressing your IT needs. Whether you have someone in-house or choose to contract with a third-party vendor, having a professional dedicated to your IT and cybersecurity needs is essential. Evaluate the size of your team, the sensitivity of the work you are doing, and the equipment essential for keeping your business afloat when considering how you will structure your IT needs.

Keep up with updates to hardware and software
Cheaper is not always better, especially when it comes to tech and security needs. It is important to assess the equipment that you have in place and ensure that it will protect your business from unwanted hacks or viruses. Consulting with a professional is highly advised when it comes to assessing your current equipment and developing a plan for unavoidable updates. Remember, as technology advances, so do security threats. Having your data backed up to a remote or cloud-based server will also help to ensure your information and sensitive data are kept safe.