When it comes to data protection and security, you can never be too cautious nowadays. Everything revolves around information – who has it first, who knows most etc. Hence, it has become essential to ensure that you are well-protected against all this. Now, software for moving companies might not be a top priority on the “wanted and valuable” list, but you never know. So, here is a short guide to help protect your business from cyber attacks.
Steps to protect your business from cyber attacks
One of the best ways to fight software is with software. And so, you can be sure that there are plenty of tools that can protect your company data. So, here are some practical yet simple steps that will safeguard your business from cyber attacks:
Backup of your data is always the first step of any major project
You never know when a bad internet connection might occur or a power outage. So, instead of waiting for any of these to happen and crying over unsaved data, make sure to always back up everything you do. And in the event of a cyber attack, this can also help keep you on track, with minimal consequences.
There are multiple backup methods that you can implement to protect your business from cyber attacks. So, to make the right choice, consider what makes a backup system “bulletproof”:
- The use of cloud storage or portable devices
- Scheduled weekly backups
- Quarterly backups throughout your departments
- Annual backups of all your company data
The two things to remember here are to always keep backups in several locations and to regularly test whether or not you can retrieve backed-up data.
Secure your computer and devices
Cyber attacks can infect any piece of hardware and software. Hence, it is essential that you have proper security software installed on your company hardware. This would include anti-viruses, anti-spyware and anti-spam filters.
If you are not that well-versed in the aspect of security software, consider hiring a professional company to take care of this for you. Anything you use should have automatic upgrades and updates put in place, to be able to defend against any new threats. Firewall security is another topic you should explore in order to protect any internal networks or portable devices.
Monitor and protect the use of computer equipment and systems
It’s important to keep track of the computer equipment and software your company uses when trying to protect your business from cyber attacks. Organize the level of access your employees have to sensitive data and remind them to pay attention to where or how they use their devices. You can even organize threat-awareness training sessions for departments to ensure that everyone is up-to-date.
Manage administrative passwords to protect your business from cyber attacks
You always have to have people guessing with this kind of access. Make sure to keep administrative access limited to a small number of department heads and staff members. The password should be updated monthly to ensure that potential attackers don’t get the opportunity to gain full access to your system. And if you have a need to access and use data on a daily basis, you can always create a standard user profile, with limited access and options.
Choose strong passwords
The stronger the passwords you use are, the more secure you will be against potential cyber attacks. Nobody will have trouble figuring out a password that holds your pet name or favorite band. After all, we all have social media accounts today, so it’s all the easier to get personal information about people and their interests.
So, you can use a password generator to create a strong and hard-to-crack password that you can note somewhere for yourself and your staff members. This will also help avoid having one password for multiple accounts. There are also password managers that can not only generate passwords for you but also store them.
Use spam filters to declutter your inbox from unwanted emails
Emails are one of the major promotional tools of the modern-day world. Hence, email campaigns are optimized to target particular audiences and businesses. To help you remove or minimize the risk of one of these emails being spam, you might want to implement spam filters.
Another step you can take towards annoying spam emails is to simply unsubscribe or block out a certain email address from any incoming emails. And this is something that you should make sure that your entire staff does. Because if cyber attacks can happen through your account, they can also happen through other accounts.
Educate your staff to be safe online
Your staff has to be aware of their role in terms of keeping your company safe from potential attacks. After all, they are all in this just as you and should do everything in their power to contribute to the development of your moving company. For them to be aware of this, you have to make sure they are informed. So, organize training sessions where you will cover some of the important topics:
- Computer rights and responsibilities
- Network access usage and why it is important to protect your business from cyber attacks.
- Maintaining good passwords
- Avoiding and reporting potentially harmful emails etc.
Another measure to put in place would be to limit social media access for your employees. Make sure that they control what they share and where. Take the time to explain certain security policies and procedures to your staff, to ensure all employees are aware of the IT security and data policies in your business.
Protect yourself from the consequences of cyber attacks
There are certain insurance policies that you can take out to ensure coverage in case of cyber attacks on your business. After all, the expenses that a well-executed cyber attack or malware can cause go well beyond replacing a laptop or repairing a database.
So, if you want to protect your business against the costs that may result from the attack, a Cyber Liability Insurance Cover (CLIC) can go a long way towards that.
Always make sure to stay up to date
Moving industry news can cover plenty of relevant topics, including online safety concerns. This is why you should always make sure that you follow industry trends and news. Stay informed about the latest incidents with malware and by doing so, it will be all the easier to take necessary measures to protect your business from cyber attacks.
