A hacker-proof system is all about your company’s software. What you have and how you use it will make or break any form of security your company tries to enforce to protect against data leaks, spam, viruses, and malware.
The steps needed to fortify a company’s network are extensive, but there are frontline defenses that are essential to keeping your company data safe and protected.
Here are 5 ways to establish your hacker-proof system:
1. Keep your computer operating systems updated
Manufacturers will release updates to their operating system on a fairly regular basis, mostly due to security risks they have identified after they have sold the software to consumers. If you’re worried about system updates disrupting your team’s workflow midday, we suggest setting up a scheduled time for automatic updates to run overnight to ensure your systems are installed with the most recent security patches.
2. Install anti-virus and anti-malware protection
This likely seems overstated by us at this point but we really cannot stress the importance of anti-virus and anti-malware protection enough to our customers as it is one of the best ways to combat threats to your company network. Human error happens but technology cannot be fooled as easily. Make sure you have anti-virus and anti-malware protection across the board on computers and mobile devices your team use to access company information.
3. Use encryption software when completing transactions
Encryption is the best way to protect your customer’s financial information. The bonus to encryption is that customers feel more at ease when they complete purchases with a company that uses encrypted merchant platforms. A significant number of small businesses outsource their payment processing to companies like PayPal, which already have encryption included in their checkout process.
4. Use encryption software when sharing and storing files
Encryption is also important for safeguarding a company’s internal information. Whether you need to share and store customer files, financial information, or any other company data, encryption will ensure that hackers cannot get into these files. Using the Cloud for file storage is a great way to encrypt company information, for example.
5. Limit access of sensitive information to those who actually need access
A quick and easy way to add another layer of defense to your company’s security is to only provide access to sensitive folders or other electronically stored information. It may be easier and less time-consuming to grant everyone on your team access to everything stored electronically for your business, but this is easily one of the biggest ways sensitive information can accidentally be hacked.
There are a number of ways hacker can get in and do a number on your company’s system. However, when the proper steps are taken, hackers will find themselves unable to get beyond the many walls of defense and give up trying to hack into your company. Of course, there are many hackers out there and small businesses are highly targeted due to their limited resources to reinforce their systems like big corporations do. But this doesn’t mean it is a hopeless fight. Having security measures in place will give you an edge, one that can save you countless hours and headaches when, and not if, your company is targeted.
Be proactive against any risk to your companies security by implementing these important strategies today.
If you have concerns about the security of IT system, please reach out to me today.