Cybersecurity: Stepping Up Your Game Protects Your Company’s Assets

If you operate or own a company, you know that you need excellent cybersecurity in 2023. You understand that hackers lurk online, and they might want to shut down your website or cripple your entire business network.

You have options for stopping hackers, and we’ll talk about them in the following article. Enhanced online security might cost money, but you shouldn’t mind buying some modern safeguards.

Private Cloud Data Storage

Let’s say your company uses data. They might collect and process it. They use it to find out which clients like your products and services, where they live, how often they buy things from you, etc.

You can use public cloud storage to secure your data if you like. With the public cloud option, you know other companies use the same cloud-based services, even if they can’t see what you are doing.

You may worry about this model, though. Public cloud solutions have cybersecurity in place, but sometimes hackers get past those defenses.

You might use a private cloud setup instead. Benefits of private cloud include enhanced security protocols. If you use this method when storing your data, you can feel better when you collect and manage employee and customer information.

This option costs more, so budget accordingly. You might allocate money from other departments you feel can afford it.

A Firewall for Your Internet Connection

Every company with online resources needs internet connectivity. Virtually every business qualifies. You won’t often see companies in 2023 without websites and other online resources they must constantly monitor, upgrade, and expand to remain competitive.

You need a firewall for your internet connection. You can get your IT department to set up a customized one, or you can rent one from a company that offers them, like Kaspersky or Avast.

When you access the internet behind a firewall, you block brute-force attacks. If a hacker tries accessing your network this way, you’ll turn them away, and you’ll also know when they attack in real-time. You can isolate the entity probing your network and repel it.

Back Up Everything

You should have active backup systems working every day to protect your website, data, and all your online resources. Many companies have complex online networks, but some don’t bother backing them up frequently.

It’s unbelievable, but some businesses neglect this crucial practice. You must have automatic backup resources in place that monitor website changes and record them. If your network crashes, you can quickly restore your site and all other resources so your workers and clients won’t experience a lengthy downtime.  

You increase employee and public trust by backing up your data. If you have a backup ready and waiting at all times, you avoid disaster if something unexpected occurs.

Have Strong Worker Identity Authentication

Your workers must access your network frequently. They might log in every day and make system changes. They may all work on a single app or platform, or you may have several if you’re running a huge company with many facets.

Every worker should have a unique ID and password. That password should change often. You might use a random password generator and assign your workers a new password every time they sign in. They might chafe when you do this, but it’s for the company’s good.

You can also use biometric indicators when they sign in and enter your secured facilities. This is more about in-person security measures than cybersecurity, but you should not neglect this business aspect either.  

You can have them scan their iris, fingertip, or their whole face. This technology exists for smartphones, but you can set it up and use it for your in-person workers as well.

Have a Breach Protocol in Place

You must have safeguards and a protocol in place if someone breaches your network. You should get an alert in real-time and know how to lock down the system.

If this happens, you should have procedures to isolate the offending entity and eradicate it. You can use analytic software to pinpoint where the breach occurred and the hacker’s location within the system. At that point, forcing them out becomes possible.

Conduct Employee Training

You can conduct regular employee onboarding and continued training sessions with a cybersecurity emphasis. Some workers might not think about online and in-person security when you hire them. Make sure they understand you take these concepts seriously, and you won’t cut them any slack in this area.

You can hire a cybersecurity firm and have them visit your building. Their representatives can give a talk and coach your workers about various risks and outside threats they might encounter.

Have these seminars every few months. If you hire many new workers periodically, make sure they go 

through it during the onboarding routine.

Set Up VPNs

You might set up VPNs for your remote workers. Virtual private networks let your workers in other locations log onto your network without risking prying eyes getting access.

Remote workers may log onto your network from a library, coffee shop, café, or on public transportation. Your network remains vulnerable in those instances unless you give each employee VPN access.

You might spend money on cybersecurity every year and never experience a problem. If so, don’t let it fool you. Just because you don’t have any hacker issues, it doesn’t mean no one tried to penetrate your network. The calm you experience means the system works, not that it’s unnecessary.

Cybersecurity best practices will always change as the years pass, so stay up to date on the latest tech that becomes available. Keep cybersecurity experts on staff or hire a company to monitor your network and probe it for weaknesses.

Ethical hackers can help you in this area. They will test your network’s strength and identify any weak points. They’ll tell you about them and how to shore them up.

Cybersecurity is no laughing matter, so use every tool at your disposal and protect your company’s digital assets.