Nearly all businesses have an online presence, which means cybersecurity should be a top priority. If you have a company website, store customer data in the cloud, or run an on-site server, you’ll need to take steps to implement an effective cybersecurity strategy and run regular checks to ensure your security measures are sufficient. To get started, take a look at these five ways to improve business cybersecurity now:
1. Verify Accounts
If you accept online payments, it’s essential to provide customers and clients with access to secure payment facilities. However, you’ll want to make sure that your business isn’t hit by online payment fraud too. With ACH payment solutions from Envestnet | Yodlee, you can conduct instant account verifications to ensure that the information you’re receiving from a customer isn’t fraudulent. By reducing risk and completing checks in real-time, enhanced ACH payment solutions give your business an extra layer of online protection.
2. Restrict Data Access
User access controls (UACs) give you the opportunity to restrict data access and ensure that employees can only visualize data that are relevant to their job role. Sadly, a significant proportion of cybercrime occurs in-house, which means companies need to protect unauthorized access from employees, as well as outside hackers. When you implement user access controls, you can prevent staff from accessing confidential or financial data unless they have express permission to do so.
3. Use Multi-Factor Authentication
When employees log in to your company’s platforms or software, multi-factor authentication means they will need to input at least two types to gain access. After entering a password, for example, an SMS code might be sent to the user’s phone, or they might be asked to open a corresponding app on a mobile device. With more than one authentication method, it reduces the risk of unauthorized persons gaining access to your company’s systems and helps keep your data secure.
4. Keep Networks Secure
Your company’s network underpins your IT infrastructure, but it can also be an easy way for hackers to gain access to your systems. There are numerous ways to optimize security, however, including restricting or disabling dynamic host configuration protocols (DHCP), using WPA2 encryption, updating firmware regularly, and implementing intrusion detection systems. When you have the right protocols in place, you can identify potential threats and mitigate them quickly.
5. Train Staff in Online Security
If employees are unaware of basic cybersecurity principles, they may inadvertently provide access to unauthorized users. Social engineering attacks are becoming increasingly common, and staff are often unsuspecting targets. By implementing effective employee cybersecurity training sessions, you can ensure that your teams can resist these attacks and flag potential issues to your IT staff.
Keeping Your Company Safe Online
Your IT systems allow you to streamline operations, expand your business, and deliver optimal performance but they can also pose a significant risk to your brand. No matter what type of business you run, taking steps to increase your company’s online safety will enhance your protection and reduce the risk of data loss, regulatory breaches, and reputational damage.
Interesting Related Article: “What is Cybersecurity and Why is it so Important Today?“
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