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Cyber attack can create a massive damage to the companies and individuals operating on larger scale as well as those involved with small entities. A massive cyber attack can also affect the company’s infrastructure which can further have a huge impact on its ongoing operations. Cyber attacks are common and usually in news more often than not. Whether you’re a small business or a huge enterprise, it is important to ensure that your business is immune from the minor or major cyber attacks that can possibly affect the pace of your organisation’s progress.
Recovering from cyber attacks is not impossible; but then why not ensure that your business is completely safeguarded against cyber attacks that are mostly unanticipated? A lot of businesses thrive on the internet for covering their daily tasks but still a good number of businesses believe that data hack is a different concern which may not have a direct impact on the business. This is one illusion that we need to get rid off!
However, the first thing you need to get rid off is a poor security. In order to ensure that you’re not an easy target, here are a few things to consider before you plan out the steps to keep your business secure.
Encryption of data
Hackers mostly employ techniques that can help them steal money either through bank routing digits, employee security numbers or credit card accounts. Talking about the current operating systems, it is always advisable to turn on the full disk encryption tools. It is important to ensure that there is no lag in performance; you will be glad to know that the activation of this feature does not take more than a few minutes.
Once they are on, you can be assured that all the files and the programs that exist on the drive are successfully encrypted. However, the only concern in this case is that the encryption will apply once the computers are logged out which means that they are prone to cyber attacks when the systems are running. Set the computer in a way such that it logs out after some 15 minutes of idle (not in use) mode. A lot of hackers have previously hacked and demanded some ransom in exchange of the password recovery so this is one issue that must not be overlooked.
Hardware security
It is also important to physically lock your systems. Time is an enemy to burglars breaking into the premises of your workplace. Theft is not easy with fully protected hardware, equipments and other systems. Employ robust solutions in order to make the network storage safer.
Keep the doors of the server rooms locked and prohibit entries into the same. You must ensure that only the trusted and the concerned workers get in; organisations must also keep a track of the changes being made in the hardware security systems so that things don’t get messed up in absence of professionals responsible for the same.
You must also consider hardware based encryption so that even if the drives are stolen, they remain of no use to the thieves. Businesses can also make use of tracking software. Have a word with your IT expert and know the areas of concerns that can create issues in hardware security in the long run; find them and get rid of them at the earliest!
Network security
With the help of “war-driving”, hackers can target the vulnerable Wi-Fi spots affecting the security of the passwords and various other financial data. Make sure that you do all the needful to disable the SSID on the router as it can help. This will ensure that the network is a hidden one and can be accessed only by the specific networks. Businesses must update their wireless networks to an encryption standard that is latest.
You must create passwords that are tough to crack by using the capital letters and special numbers. If the experts are to be believed, it will take million years to crack the well thought out password. Keep self updated on the techniques involved in the network security; keep an eye on all that is trending in.
Anti-virus security
Malicious viruses and software can very well attack the computers and pose threat to the financial data.
Such viruses may arrive through harmful websites and emails carrying spam. Malwares attack your systems by running codes at the background and gradually extracting the login information.
Load the anti-virus protection on systems and the good thing is that they go along with mobile phones too. Run them after all the existing programs and software. Be careful of malware as they can also attack through the software and programs that are out-of-date.
Hiring an unbiased expert can help in defending yourself against the cyber attacks. Hire an IT expert within your organisation who can educate your employees on dealing with the cyber attacks on their personal systems. They should not trust every mail or link that comes their way. Prohibit them from using their personal mails through company’s network.
With the growing IT needs, cyber attacks have definitely become inevitable. However, ensuring that preventive measures are taken for safeguarding the networking security systems will only enhance the robustness of your existing security system.
About the Author: Michael Evans is a passionate blogger and he occasionally writes for Rope-barriers.com, a leading UK based budget post and rope barriers manufacturer and supplier.
