The invention of computers and the internet has been a game-changer for the global economy. As the new technologies were introduced and became readily available to individual users and businesses alike, the world witnessed rapid globalization and a booming tech industry. As technology brought along its benefits and advantages, people also diverted their attention to the troubles it brought in the form of cybersecurity.
Cybersecurity includes protecting information on your device that a hacker would want to acquire, especially for exploitative purposes. Cyber-attacks and data breaches intend to damage businesses, their reputations or use stolen information for blackmail. Therefore, in the growing world of technology, one must implement a robust strategy to protect themselves and their company to avoid cyber-attacks. Here are some tips to help develop and deploy a cybersecurity strategy.
1. Conduct staff training programs
Training your employees is extremely important. Sometimes even the slightest mistakes of commission or even omission can leave a business vulnerable to cyber-attacks. Small carelessness can often have devastating consequences and tend to become a leading cause of data breaches. Educating employees regarding the risks of using unprotected networks or malicious websites will go a long way in ensuring that silly mistakes do not cost businesses significant losses.
2. Do not ignore the firewall
Firewalls help to protect your internet networks. They monitor network traffic and determine whether to block or allow specific users or sources of traffic. The purpose is to stop outsiders from gaining unauthorized access to data within your network or on your devices. They serve as a shield preventing any cyber-attacks on your computer or a network via the internet. If you wish to learn more about cybersecurity or are in search of a career-building opportunity in the industry, consider a masters in cyber security online to speed up the process. The online program provides an excellent opportunity to up-skill and apply the knowledge you gain in a practical setting simultaneously.
3. Keep your backups safer
Having a robust system of data backups serves a two-pronged purpose in the space of cybersecurity. Backups can be helpful in case of a data breach. If you feel obligated to erase your data due to a potential cyber-attack, having a backup can prevent data losses. Moreover, backups also help you get back on your feet instantly after a disaster or natural hazard. Cloud storage is amongst the safest options for data backups today compared to conventional physical storage and backups.
4. Control physical access to your systems
The easiest way to expose yourself to a cyber-attack or data breach is to allow unrestricted physical access to your systems. A hacker can walk in and plug in a malicious storage device and infect the entire system or gain instant access to it. By having physical access, hacking through a network becomes irrelevant because it is much easier to infect whole networks by gaining direct access to the servers in question. Therefore, keep systems out of reach and only allow reliable personnel to access them.
5. Have separate log-ins for each employee
Instead of having a shared log-in account for all employees on a business’s network or applications, it is better to have individual log-in IDs for each employee. Multiple users connecting under the same log-in credentials can expose a company to massive risk. On the contrary, having separate accounts of each employee can reduce the chances of a data breach and can also help keep track of the number of people currently accessing the network. It not only increases security for the network or application but also improves its overall usability.
6. Get creative with passwords
Passwords are the first line of defense in every cyber-attack. Having weak, easy-to-crack, or similar passwords for multiple accounts can make them easy bait for hackers. Getting creative with passwords will go a long way in ensuring that unauthorized individuals do not get access to your digital credentials and valuable information. There is a tradeoff in having secure and creative passwords with their ease of remembrance. Having a password wallet is the best way to ensure that one does not forget or misplace their log-in credentials. If somebody prefers the old way of penning down a password a few times to build muscle memory, that strategy also works well.
7. Invest in reliable anti-malware solutions
Factory-installed anti-malware drivers on computers have come a long way. Drivers like Windows Defender have significantly improved over the years and now provide reliable security for your Windows-based devices. However, if the data stored on a device is valuable or sensitive, relying purely on trivial anti-malware will not be enough. It would be better to invest in a quality/premium anti-virus or anti-malware software solution and install it on all devices that you or your business own. It can provide online and offline protection and help in keeping precious data safe.
8. Keep all your devices updated
Running software that was last updated in 2015 will provide protection and security features relevant to 2015 only. This means that not updating devices regularly with all the latest improvements and security features will leave their data exposed to newer cyber-attacks. The world of cybersecurity is constantly evolving. What was considered secure a year ago can become a significant vulnerability today. Therefore, keeping your systems updated helps root out any vulnerabilities that may have developed over time.
Conclusion
It might seem overwhelming at first when looking for a place to start building a robust strategy to protect oneself and one’s business against cyber-attacks. However, the above eight tips will help guide people to take the first step in the right direction. Before having a robust strategy in place, it is crucial to educate oneself on the issue first. Therefore, consistent learning about cybersecurity will go a long way in ensuring protection in the new digitized world.
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