Major data breaches are rampant! Recently, an estimated 78.8 million medical records containing personally identifiable information for members and employees of Anthem,  Inc., were affected. Breaches, such as these, should serve as a wake-up call to businesses both small and large that they can’t take their online security too lightly.
To make sure your business is protected from hackers, you need to do all you can to secure your network from potential attacks. Businesses storing any kind of confidential or sensitive information, such as credit card numbers or username and password combinations, need to be aware that hackers prey on them.
What can your business do to prevent being attacked by a hacker? CIO.com offers 15 cybersecurity tips for businesses that store critical information – especially confidential or sensitive information belonging to its consumers, including the following four key tips.
#1. Provide Security Training to Employees
Employees can be your first line of defense against hackers – but only when they’ve been provided with the proper security training. The National Cybersecurity Institute states that “Without training, workers will likely lack the skills and knowledge they need to adequately protect their companies’ network from data breaches caused by hackers.†Your employees should be trained to use strong passwords and secure networks. Training employees on what to look for can also prevent a data breach.
#2. Layer Your Security
One of the best ways to keep your business safe from hackers is to make sure you have a firewall protecting your network. A firewall is a software program or piece of hardware that helps screen out hackers, viruses, and worms that try to breach your network and gain access to secure information. You should also add extra layers by using two-factor authentication for all logins as well as a reCAPTCHA for contact forms. Antivirus software should also be used.
#3. Configure Suspicious Activity Alerts
Suspicious activity alerts, alert users in real-time about potential threats to the security of their systems and provides information on how to avoid, minimize or recover from the damage. You can define alerts you want sent. Configure an alert for multiple and suspicious transactions coming through from the same IP address as well as alerts for other suspicious activity.
#4. Patch Your Systems Immediately
Your business should apply any and all security updates for your operating systems and critical applications as soon as they come out. Once system vulnerabilities have been found, it’s often only a matter of time before hackers develop programs intended to steal secure data. Your systems are at risk until they’ve been patched – period. Don’t risk your data, patch your systems immediately!
Take charge of your businesses’ system security by contacting one of our security experts today at (888) 203-1550. At No More Salespeople Consulting, you’ll work with an industry expert, rather than a salesperson simply trying to make his or her quotas. We look forward to discussing your businesses’ system security with you soon!
