Paul Watson
In the present day and age, online businesses are at their highest. All you need is a business idea and a strategy and you can reach the people across the globe within no time. The ability to out your business online has significantly expanded the reach and profitability. The It Department has become the core of many businesses that could acknowledge the importance of technology and Internet presence. While your business grows at a scintillating pace on the Internet, it also exposes you to different types of security threats. Here are some ways you can protect your data online.
- Secure hosting system
There is no denying that free hosting sounds attractive and entice many start-ups to invest in. However, these hosting services are often shared, slow and most importantly insecure. This is threatening if you keep customer data, other sensitive data, or online payments and checkout options on your website. Choose a secure hosting service that can provide you with an SSL certificate for the best outcomes.
- Ensure e-mail security
There are millions of e-mails sent across the Internet every day. It has been observed in research that only half of these e-mails are legit and others go to spam. This implies that your business also receives plenty of spam e-mail daily which can be infected by viruses and other malware. Use anti-spam software, ask your employees not to use office e-mail for any subscriptions, and not to open any link or attachment if it comes unexpectedly.
- Use strong passwords
This is the minimum requirement for having an online existence of your business. Choose a strong password with a combination of letters, numbers and special characters and change your passwords frequently.
- Stay updated
Cybercriminals are continuously working to find a breakthrough in different software especially the popular ones. Using an older version gives them enough time to crack it and harm your system. Update your security software and applications installed on your system to make it difficult for them to infiltrate.
- Emphasis on network protection
Using an updated and dependable anti-virus and anti-malware is the first step to secure your network. You should pick the software that provides malware cleanup and website penetration testing.
- Use secure Wi-Fi
Technology has shifted to mobile devices leaving behind the fixed wired networks. Wi-Fi is the present-day Internet. However, it is risky too. Keep your Wi-Fi encrypted and ensure your employees use only a secured network even outside the office. You can also use a VPN for the purpose. Change your Wi-Fi password frequently especially if you allow guest networks for clients.
- Keep frequent backups
Although the world is moving towards cloud-based working, external hard-drives and DVDs are still important. Keep back-up of your online data, preferably offline on these devices. This would help you recover the data in case of any attack without much loss and delays.
- Set up firewalls
Install firewalls on all the devices used in your office including laptops and mobile phones. These firewalls will monitor the incoming and outgoing packets and block the suspicious ones.
- Educate your employees
No matter how smart your employees are, make time and effort to educate them about the potential ways of attacks and how to avoid them. An explicit session on network security will help in reassuring that they are cautious and alert.
