4 Steps Businesses can take to be more Cyber Secure

In today’s digital world of business, cybersecurity is more important than ever. Digital networks are nearly ubiquitous, and fraudsters are becoming more innovative.

According to the Federal Commercial Crimes Investigation Department (CCID), cybercrime has increased, accounting for between 40 and 50 percent of cases reported to Malaysian police, and many companies have fallen victim to cybercrime.

Big businesses face complex challenges when it comes to cybersecurity and it takes time, effort and investment to achieve the desired security. Aside from formulating new strategies and overhauling risk frameworks, there are a few simple things you can do to make your business a less attractive target for attackers.

Here are 4 ways you can improve cybersecurity in your business.

1. Secure your networks

Connecting to an unsecured network gives hackers an open door to your systems which can be detrimental to your business. This is especially the case when you connect to unsecured networks such as the free Wi-Fi at your local café. If and when you do, make sure to safeguard your internet connection by using a firewall and encrypting your information.

Otherwise, invest in a portable hotspot and make sure you have a Wi-Fi network that is secure and hidden. This will ensure the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID) is private and inaccessible by others.

2. Follow safe password best practices

While it is a “no-brainer” to password protect your computer networks, it is important to pick a secure, hard-to-guess password such as the random number and letter sequences. Also, make sure this is not written down somewhere it can be easily discovered by unauthorised users.

You may also consider multifactor authentication that requires additional information besides a single password to gain entry. Finally, set prompts in your systems to require password authentication and remember to change it often. This might be tedious but keeping your data safe is what matters most.

3. Encrypt and back up data

An effective cybercrime protection strategy must include two components: preventing physical access to sensitive data and rendering that data useless if it falls into the wrong hands.

Companies can achieve the latter by always encrypting their data. According to researchers in the International Journal of Advanced Computer Science and Applications, data encryption remains the ‘most efficient fix’ for data breaches, should they occur.

Be sure to encrypt all sensitive data, including customer information, employee information and all related business data. Full-disk encryption software is included in virtually all operating systems today and can automatically encrypt data on a desktop or laptop computer whenever it is idle.

4. Train your staff in cybersecurity best practices

When it comes to cybersecurity, there’s a common saying – “you are only as secure as your least informed employee” – and it holds true. What if an unsuspecting employee at your office uses weak passwords or falls for a phishing attempt – and their system becomes compromised?

This is why it’s critical to educate your employees on how cybercriminals can trick them into revealing sensitive, private information. They should be trained to identify suspicious phone calls or emails instantly. With proper training, they can help to safeguard the organisation from these kinds of attacks.

Having strong policies for cybersecurity best practices is a good place to start.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity readiness goes beyond just having a firewall or antivirus program. Ideally, every organisation should have solid cybersecurity frameworks, policies and procedures observed by all personnel because no business is safe from cyberattacks. And the old adage holds true: Prevention is better than cure.