Your business, no matter the size, can be difficult to protect when it comes to cybersecurity. While you may know which elements of your business you want to protect, you may not be aware of all the tools available for your safety. Here are five essential cybersecurity features you should know about.
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Your Provider
One of the most important cybersecurity services you should consider is your provider. The company that offers internet service for your company is the foundation of your cybersecurity strategy. Your provider is likely Google or Microsoft, and these providers are recommended for most businesses. However, you can choose another provider that provides the basic tools to run your company, like spreadsheets, word processing, and email. Microsoft and Google have wonderful built-in cybersecurity features that are ideal for small businesses. It’s essential that you keep your provider up to date, and you can even pay extra to ensure that your company has the latest versions of software to make your business safe and efficient.
Email Security
One alarming fact you may not know is that 90% of cyber threats come via email. This means that you have to protect your email so you can shield your business against cyber threats. Businesses face a variety of security issues such as fraud, phishing, viruses, ransomware, other malware, and data breaches.
Fraud is most commonly executed as supplier fraud, which is when you get an email stating that one of your regular suppliers has changed their banking information. If you don’t recognize this trick, you’ll pay into the “new” account and lose your money, but you’ll still owe your supplier, which can affect your business relationship and company budget.
Phishing is the process of sending fake emails from people who are pretending to be legitimate business owners or associates. You may receive fake emails from your bank, your accountant, or your investor. These emails are used to steal money or install dangerous software on your computer. Phishing is often related to viruses, which are the top cybersecurity threat a few years ago. However, viruses are under control for the most part thanks to Microsoft and Google.
It’s also important to be aware of ransomware. These attacks usually come in the form of a fake email. The sender includes clickbait in the email, and when you click on the “offer” or link, all of the programs on your computer will be shut down until you pay a ransom. In many cases, paying the ransom is still not enough to restore your data.
Beware of other types of malware as well. Attackers can use email to install other forms of malware on your computer system, which can slow your computer down or ruin your entire network. You should also watch out for data breaches, which is when attackers hack into your system and access all your information, including your payment information, emails, and customer data.
Antivirus Software
Even though viruses aren’t as common as they once were, you still need to make sure your company is protected. There are several free options you should consider when you’re looking for anti-virus solutions. A quick Google search can help you make the right selection.
Passwords
It can be frightening to think that a simple password is the only thing keeping your sensitive company information from unauthorized parties. One of the ways you can keep your business details confidential is to choose a complex password with numbers, symbols, and upper and lower-case letters. It’s also important to change your password every few months. Make sure your team doesn’t give out company passwords to anyone and use two-factor authentication to sign in to your accounts whenever possible.
Firewalls and Network Security
When it comes to cybersecurity services for your business, you should make sure your firewalls and network security are up to date. In most cases, the additional security tools listed above should be enough to keep your small business safe. However, as your business grows, you may want to consider firewall protection.
Even if you use all these cybersecurity safety features, there is still no guarantee that your business will be totally safe at all times. However, these tools do increase safety and it’s better to be safe than sorry. Be sure to talk to your IT team or a professional from your service provider to select the services that are right for you.
