6 Cyber Security Lessons Your Business Needs to Learn
Right now, cyber security is a hot topic in the business world. There’s even a UK government-backed campaign aiming to provide advice for the online safety of both consumers and SMEs, Be Cyber Streetwise.
While the World Wide Web is undoubtedly the best free tool any modern business can have, 24/7 exposure online can pose a great risk for any business too. According to a BBC report, as the world becomes increasingly connected via the Internet, it’s inevitable that cyber-crime rates will follow:
“Many warn that greater connectivity means more points of entry for hackers constantly on the look-out for weak points in any network”
So what should your business be doing to survive the threats of cyber-crime? We think protecting your business should be as easy as learning your ABCs. Here are our 6 top tips to getting your cyber security measures in place.
1. Always surf the net using an encrypted connection
Ensure any Internet connection you’re using is encrypted, whether you’re at the office, at home, or in a cafe. If you use an unencrypted connection, you put yourself and your business at risk to eavesdroppers who can view and steal your data.
2. Be sure to create hard-to-guess passwords
Cyber Streetwise suggest #use3words and #thinkrandom when it comes to devising your passwords. Passwords in plural? Different accounts require different passwords, so that if a cyber-criminal was lucky enough to guess one password, they don’t have access to all your accounts online. Most importantly, don’t use “123456” or “password” – these are the most common passwords – and the most worryingly simple too.
3. Choose effective anti-virus software
…and keep it updated. Malware and ransom-ware are on the increase. Make sure that you stay one step ahead of the cyber criminals by keeping your guard up with automatic updates from your anti-virus software solution.
4. Defend all your devices from online threats
It’s not just your office PC or laptop that is at danger to cyber attacks. As this article explains, mobile devices are at risk too, especially if employees have outdated and unsupported models that aren’t running the latest security patches. Like your anti-virus software, keep mobile firmware up-to-date, and practice the same security tips on tablets and mobile phones as you would on your PC.
5. Every employee should be aware of and accountable for your business’s cyber security
Ignorance of cyber security shouldn’t be an excuse for compromised business data. Communicate to all staff the importance of cyber security and set up a non-negotiable IT policy. There are more tips on this from Get Safe Online.
6. FTP and email are not secure ways of data exchange.
As discussed in our previous blog posts, you need to take the risks associated with your business’s file sharing seriously. Luckily, data exchange doesn’t need to be a worry. MX is a smart solution that overcomes the risks of cyber attacks. It’s a HTML-based data exchange platform that allows you to share files within your business, and to clients, in a secure environment. In fact, as well as being a secure method of file transfer, MX is incredibly easy to use and fast too.
“It’s like we are building cars that go 500 miles per hour but only building brakes that can cope with 30 m.p.h” – Business Insider
Unfortunately, the problem is that whenever there’s an innovation in technology, there’s also a new cyber threat, and quite frankly, businesses don’t have the time to stress about their online security.
By using MX as your data exchange tool, at least you’ll have one less security risk to worry about. Why not benchmark MX for your business with our free 30 day trial. No obligation, no credit card required.