A company is only as safe as its computer network and, though it’s hard to admit, many businesses are frightfully unprotected when it comes to possible hackers, viruses, and other nasty internet elements. Cyber attacks have leveled people from all walks of life. A local business owner might have his vital information hacked a bit easier, but even the highest levels of government aren’t safe from internet thugs, as we’ve learned from the recent Wikileaks scandal. The sad fact is that there will always be cyber terrorists, whether they cause small scale identity theft or widespread security breaches. But you can make sure that your business is much more safeguarded if you just follow a few simple and vital tips.
Firewall
If you’re running a business and you don’t even have a firewall installed on your network, you are in serious trouble. Without a firewall, your vital information can be accessed by anybody with even the smallest amount of computer savvy. While there are many great inexpensive firewalls out there, you’d be better off spending a little more money and getting a high quality one. After all, your business depends on it.
Password Protection
You and all of your employees should be setup with a satisfactory password protection system of some sort. Setting up a password for each employee’s computer is vitally important, and then you’ll want a master password for yourself. Encourage your workers to select complex passwords with both numbers and letters. Also, inform them that it is a good idea to change their passwords often.
Anti Virus
You’ll definitely want to invest in a good antivirus program and, as with a firewall, you won’t want to skimp. In fact, the best antivirus software usually comes with firewall support as well as anti-spyware and anti-malware. Make sure that your antivirus covers all of these as well as a spam blocker. The best way to find a suitable program is to check out recent antivirus reviews. Once you decide on a quality software, make sure that your workers update their antivirus programs frequently.
Cyber Security
Though these measures will go a good way toward keeping you protected from cyber criminals, it sometimes helps to go the extra route and insure yourself even more against possible business threats. In cases like these, many business owners consult cyber security firms. These groups are experts in the field of information protection and they’ll go through your entire network and remove any weak or susceptible elements. If you’ve got the money to add this extra layer of security, it certainly wouldn’t hurt. Either way, just make sure that you at least have some combination of the security measures listed above.