Cyber Security Checklist For Business Owners
With every passing year, technology advances by leaps and bounds. It’s incorporated into nearly every aspect of a business owner’s day-to-day operations, since there are so many ways it can help by saving time, assisting customers, making our lives easier, and cutting costs.
But as wonderful as technology is, it can come with a cost. Cybercriminals work hard to take advantage of systems that are vulnerable to their attacks. Reports indicate that nearly forty-three percent of cyberattack victims are small businesses. These incidents can vary from minor annoyances to attacks that can cost businesses thousands of dollars. If left unchecked, some cyberattacks can even cause businesses to close indefinitely.
More often than not, the businesses that suffer the most from cyberattacks had little to no plan in place for how to protect themselves from cybercriminals. Compass Network Group has extensive experience with cyber security and has worked with a wide range of clients.
We have compiled a checklist for business owners to go over to make sure they are protecting themselves against cybercriminals. How many of these practices do you already follow in your business?
1. Assess Your Risk
Start by determining where there are weak points in your business. Do you have old equipment that needs to be upgraded? Do any of your devices have unpatched or out-of-date software? Do you have new or untrained staff who may not know safety best practices?
All these areas can used against you in a cyberattack. Cybercriminals will find ways to access knowledge about your business, sensitive documents, information about your customers, and payment information such as credit card numbers.
Work with IT support professionals in your office to identify areas of your business that may be susceptible to an attack, then plan your strategy to mitigate the risk.
2. Make Sure You Have Multiple Layers Of Protection
A multifaceted approach is the best way to reduce the chances of a cyberattack and the damage it may cause to your business. Your office computer systems may be at risk if you do not have multiple layers of protection.
Compass Network Group can help maintain security and office compliance with the following steps:
- Maintain software updates
- Schedule regular virus scans
- Set up firewalls and intrusion detection systems on your network
- Use a secure connection for all remote access
- Analyze data and user behavior for suspicious activity
- Use multi-factor authentication for access
3. Limiting Access And Training Staff
The staff who have access to your business’s database could be a problem. Each user is a potential risk and could unknowingly create an access point for a cybercriminal.
Limit the number of staff who have access to sensitive information. Only allow them access to the information necessary for their job. You can also prohibit the installation of unauthorized software on company computers.
Training is crucial, too. Train your team on security practices such as how to create strong passwords and recognize scams, such as phishing scams via e-mail. Test your staff regularly to ensure they adhere to security protocols.
4. Regularly Backup Important Data And Information
The loss of data can cripple a business after a cyberattack. Data loss can even happen during emergencies like natural disasters and other events. To prepare for either case, ensure you have a backup of everything necessary to run your business. Backups should be scheduled regularly and there should always be redundancies.
Follow the 3-2-1 rule for data to ensure you always have access to vital information. THREE sets of data should exist, including the original and two copies. Those copies should exist on TWO different types of media. ONE copy should be stored off-site like on a cloud server.
5. Always Expect An Attack
In today’s world, the threat of your business experiencing a cyberattack is only a matter of time. Unfortunately, you have to think in terms of “when” and not “if.” Cybercriminals like to go after unprepared businesses, as they make for easy targets.
With the help of Compass Network Group, we can help prepare your business and ensure that after a cyberattack, your office is back to full operation as soon as possible.
Compass Network Group can work with you whether you have a dental office or small business. With decades of combined experience and the latest technology and security practices, we are here to help you protect your business. Contact us to schedule a discovery session to see how we can help you today!
