If recent data breaches and hacking attempts are indicators, no business is entirely immune to such incidents. More companies, large and small alike, are falling prey to hackers and cybercriminals, and it is absolutely necessary to have a proactive stance towards cybersecurity. To prevent hacks, businesses need to be mindful of in-house practices and measures, and for help, we have enlisted the best cybersecurity guidelines below.
Create cybersecurity policies
Knowing what it takes to prevent a data breach is just one part of the task. The next step is to set policies and an incident response plan. In case a breach occurs, your company needs to have measures to minimize damages. If you are unsure of how to create such policies or have a comprehensive plan, consider hiring cybersecurity experts. Also, if you have not invested in cyber insurance, there is no better time to consider that.
Follow the ground rules
- Ensure that all software, firmware, and apps are updated to the latest version. This also includes IP surveillance systems and other network resources.
- Change all default passwords and usernames right away. It doesn’t take long, even for novice hackers, to figure out backdoor entry into the system.
- Ask employees to set strong passwords. Use of special characters and uppercase & lowercase letters is an absolute must. Also, ensure that passwords are at least 10 characters long.
- Use a password management tool. You would want to have a platform to set, create and retrieve passwords easily, and there are numerous trusted tools for that.
- Encrypt networks and data. This is as basic level of cybersecurity as it can get. Secure your networks and data using the best encryption solutions.
- Test networks and devices. If your devices, IT resources, and networks have vulnerabilities, you have to figure out those before hackers do. The ideal step is to schedule periodical tests.
- Watch outside devices. BYOD is not a choice for many businesses anymore, but it can be a double-edged sword. Make sure that employees are aware of the ideal practices for using company resources on third-party devices and networks.
Finally, train your employees. If that means working with a team of cybersecurity experts, that extra investment is worth it. Every company needs to be sure that it has done everything possible to secure data and resources, and if a breach happens, there is a response team ready to swing into action.
