Unfortunately, in today’s high-tech world, your business is a target for hackers. To think otherwise is to invite disaster. And while cybersecurity may seem daunting, there are eight simple best security practices for your computers and software that can go a long way to protecting your company. Let’s take a look.
1. Keep Your Software Up to Date
One of the main reasons software companies provide updates is to upgrade the software’s security. As hackers continue to find new ways to get into your systems and devices, software security must be enhanced to keep up with both existing and new cyber threats.
2. Keep Your Hardware Up to Date
As with your software, hardware must be kept up to date. If the hardware is too old, it may not support the latest software updates. In addition, older hardware has a difficult time responding quickly to cyberattacks.
3. Install and Use Antivirus and Antimalware Software
Make sure every device that is connected to the internet has the proper antivirus and antimalware protection and that it is kept up to date. While this can’t guarantee 100% protection, it will significantly reduce the risk of your devices becoming infected.
4. Educate Your Employees
This cannot be stressed enough. Make sure every single one of your employees understands how to spot suspicious emails and what to do about them. And make sure they know not to click on links in emails unless they have verified the source. All it takes is one click-by-one employee for your company to fall victim to a cyberattack that can take your network down for weeks.
5. Implement a Password Policy
Ensure that all employees are aware of and follow your password policy. This includes creating complex passwords, avoiding reusing passwords, and using a password manager to help you and your employees generate strong passwords and regularly send out reminders to change passwords.
6. Practice Good Mobile Device Security
This means that mobile devices should always be locked with a password or PIN, and they should never be left unattended. Any apps on the device should only come from trusted sources, such as the Apple App Store or Google Play. In addition, no personal information should be stored on a mobile device, and the operating system of the device should always be kept up to date.
7. Protect Your Data
Sensitive data, such as health records or credit card information, should never be stored on a device. This data should be stored on a separate server that is protected, and the data should be removed from the system when it is no longer needed. Whenever data is stored or transmitted, it should be encrypted.
8. Backup Your Data
No matter what you do, there is no way to guarantee you won’t get hit with a cyberattack. For this reason, you should back up all your data regularly so you can delete and reinstall your systems and reload the data. This will allow you to recover from an incident as quickly as possible and with the least amount of damage.
Contact Platinum Technologies today to find out how we can help you protect your computers and software against cyber threats.
