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It doesn’t take much to hack a business. All it takes is someone with the right skills and a little time on their hands. A weak password, an unpatched website vulnerability, or even an unprotected USB drive can expose your company’s data to hackers.
Modern businesses must take cyber security seriously. Not only is the risk of getting hacked a real threat, but data breaches can cost companies millions of dollars each year with the average cost of a malware attack being $2.4 million.
Here’s how you can protect your company from modern online threats.
Use a Bulk WHOIS Lookup Tool
A bulk WHOIS lookup tool is a simple way to determine who owns a domain or IP address. For example, if you are getting an odd email from what appears to be your client, but it’s coming from a suspicious-looking domain name, this can help you verify whether or not the message is legitimate.
This tool can also give you information about when a website was registered and by whom, where it’s based, and how often the site is updated. With this information, you can determine whether you are contacted by a potential client or supplier, or by someone with malicious intent.
Get Encryption Software
Encryption is the best way to protect your sensitive company and customer data. Encryption software scrambles your files so that only authorized users can see them. If a hacker gets their hands on an encrypted file, it will be nearly impossible for them actually to do anything with it.
Opt for software that uses two-factor authentication. This means users have to type in a password, as well as a special access code that’s provided by your system. Not only will this protect you from malware and viruses, but it can also prevent many phishing scams.
Get Access Control Software
While encryption software protects your documents from prying eyes, access control software makes sure that only authorized people can even access your files. On average, only 5% of companies’ folders are properly protected. Access control software can help with this by telling you who is logging in to your system and remembering the IP addresses of all devices that log in.
Additionally, access control software can also create unique passwords for every single user. This makes it impossible for hackers to steal all the passwords and gain access to your system at the same time.
Keep Your System Updated
Windows, macOS, Android devices, Linux distributions – all of these operating systems have security vulnerabilities that are frequently being discovered by hackers. As a result, many people don’t want to upgrade their system because it can be a headache and take time. As such, they’re putting their operating systems at risk.
Make sure your website is always up-to-date. Maintain your computer’s integrity by ensuring that you are running the latest version of Windows or macOS as well.
Regularly Back Up Your Data
Modern businesses – even small ones – have tons of sensitive files to protect. If your local storage is damaged or destroyed, it can be very difficult to recover from the damage.
It’s important that you regularly backup all of your files onto an external hard drive. You can also opt for cloud-based storage that can be accessed from anywhere you have an internet connection.
Have a Disaster Recovery Plan
If your local data gets destroyed or damaged, it’s important to know how you’re going to pick up the pieces and continue doing business. Specifically, make sure that your employees know what to do in the event of a disaster – whether it’s an accidental fire or a ransomware attack.
This way, your employees will remain focused on getting their work done while you handle the more serious side of the disaster.
Stay Aware of the Latest Trends
The cybersecurity industry is constantly evolving. While many experts believe that encryption and access control are among the most important aspects of keeping your company safe, new technologies and threats are being introduced every day.
Staying informed helps you keep your business ahead of the curve. This way, you can be prepared if some of the newer technologies come into play or if a new threat to your business is discovered and reported on.
Final Thoughts
Cybersecurity is an ever-evolving situation. By staying up-to-date on the latest trends, threats, and technologies, you can ensure that your company never becomes a victim of a hacking attack.
While there is no way to ensure complete safety from all cybercriminals out there, there are plenty of things you can do today to minimize your chances of getting hacked.
