Ways to Enhance Cybersecurity in Your Business

Cybersecurity refers to the steps that you take to protect your data and reduce the risk of cyber-attacks. Nowadays, hackers are finding more sophisticated methods of accessing a business’s datasets, so having strong and effective cybersecurity measures is essential.

Cybersecurity and the Cloud

Cybersecurity becomes particularly important when you store your data on the cloud. With cloud infrastructure and the use of third-party data storage and management solutions comes an increased risk of data breaches.

Cloud computing has several layers of protection but it still carries a security risk. Data Security Posture Management is one of the most effective ways to enhance the security of the data layer.

Data Security Posture Management monitors your sensitive data, making it easier for you to identify security risks or areas of weakness in your system. It’s particularly important if you use a lot of third-party programs or applications, where your data is at risk of getting into the wrong hands.

Important Steps to Enhance Your Business’s Cybersecurity

DSPM isn’t the only method of cybersecurity that should be on your mind. As a business owner with hundreds or even thousands of datasets to keep safe, there are plenty of steps that you can take to enhance your online security.

Create standardized security procedures

The way your IT security team responds to certain cyber threats is important for resolving data breaches as quickly as possible. Failure to have a standardized protocol for each type of security threat can delay your IT team and increase the risk of data loss or corruption.

Your IT staff should all be aware of the process of reporting cybersecurity threats. They should also receive ongoing training regarding how to resolve common threats and security breaches.

Use up-to-date software and applications

Maintaining up-to-date software is one of the most important factors in your cybersecurity. Outdated software is more vulnerable to cyber-attacks as it is much easier for hackers to access. Ideally, all of your software should be updated at least once a year. However, if your software provider updates the applications more frequently than this, you should always use the latest versions of each software. You should always update your software or switch to a completely new application following a cybersecurity breach. Once hackers have access to a system, they will be able to do so over and over again if you don’t change your software.

If you use a number of plug-ins or additional features on your software, make sure to update these regularly as well. In most cases, plug-in updates are automatic when you update your software but it’s always good practice to double-check that you’re using the newest version of every plug-in.

Use two-factor authentication whenever possible

Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of protection to your data. It enhances the complexity of your system, making it harder for hackers to access your stored data.

Most software has the option to switch on two-factor authentication nowadays. Make sure that this is turned on in every application that you use to minimize the risk of cybersecurity threats and data breaches. With 2FA, your employees and any clients who require access to your store data must go through more than one identification process.

For example, they may need to enter their login details, followed by the answer to a specific security question. Some 2FA applications use biometric scanning, face recognition, and fingerprint scanning to identify the user.

Buy software that has built-in security features

When you purchase a new piece of technology or you install new software onto your existing devices, do you consider the built-in security features? If not, you should! A lot of modern-day technologies and applications now come with a wide range of safety features that are automatically installed into the system. However, it’s important to check that this is the case when you’re updating your existing hardware and software.

Data security should always be one of the main factors when you’re deciding which devices and software to buy. For example, you might want to search for technologies that automatically update every six months or those that have self-recovery features so the risk of data loss is minimal.

Avoid oversharing on social media

As tempting as it is to share lots of great information about your business with your social media followers, doing so can be a detriment to your cybersecurity. Avoid telling people about your latest investments or disclosing your profits. You should never talk about your networks or cybersecurity measures, as this is almost like inviting hackers to access vulnerable parts of your system.

Have a strong security incident management plan

Having an effective and extensive security incident management plan in place is essential for any business. When your team knows exactly which steps to take after a cybersecurity incident means that they can resolve the issue as quickly as possible. The more data breaches your business experiences, the better your security incident management will become. You can use data engines to review your current plan and identify potential risks.

Keep two or three copies of your data

When you’re busy running a successful business, backing up your data isn’t always the first thing on your mind. However, keeping second copies of your data is vital to reduce the risk of data loss. If you experience a security breach or your system gets corrupted, you might lose all of the data that is stored within that system. Having a second or even third copy of your data means you don’t need to worry about losing your precious datasets.

Encrypt your data

Whenever possible, you should encrypt your stored data and documents. It involves translating your data from one form to another so that only authorized individuals can access it. This adds an extra layer of protection to all of your devices and makes it harder for hackers to access your system.