How Businesses can Protect from a Multitude of Online Security Threats

In today’s digitally driven world, where networks, databases of personal information, and valued assets in hardware and software applications are a part of business operating costs, the risk of online threats has never been scarier. 

Online threats such as malware attacks, ransomware, and phishing attacks are happening at more alarming rates than ever before. Every single attack poses a unique threat to your business. You could risk customer loss if data is breached, a cost of doing business that costs businesses millions every year.

At the same time, you have to secure your hardware and devices to ensure that property is maintained and safe from every potential external or internal threat. 

Then you have websites, social media pages, and online portals where social threats and financial risks are abundant. The job of keeping your business safe from these risks is getting more difficult every day. 

Learn more about the many ways your business can protect itself from these multitudes of online security threats.

Improve and Increase Staff Training in Online Security

In the digital era, knowledge is power. It is this power that hackers and attackers are often looking for. Combat that with more knowledge in your operating center that will protect your business from online security threats. Not every business can function with an IT department that will handle that security and those threats, or a separate security team.

For those that can, those departments are often overtaxed with daily operations and administration, and the task of monitoring additional risks can be easily overlooked. Ensure that your team, or key leaders in your team, has access to increased staff training in online security. Even knowing how to recognize phishing attacks or potential external or internal threats can keep your business and networks more secure.

Backup Plans for Backup Plans

The world has evolved such that there are multiple avenues for backup plans when it comes to keeping data secure. A backup plan is not a preventive measure to remove threats from your business but is a preventive measure against data loss. Data loss can bring a business to its knees in just a few moments.

Ensure that your security team and IT department have a backup plan for every backup plan and that your employees are trained on it. From cloud computing to external drives saving copies of the data on every device, every backup plan is an insurance policy in its own right.

Conduct Security Audits Early and Often

A security audit is an audit of your company’s digital assets and hardware assets. If you have a large digital presence, ensure that your websites and social media pages undergo regular and routine security audits in order to assess the system for leaks, threats, and problems.

A security audit of your network, hardware and digital assets will not only find any vulnerabilities in your system and digital database but will also serve as a preventive measure against data loss. There are automated tools out there that your human assets can use to check for security breaches or risks early and often.

Secure Your Devices and Network

Your network needs to be secure within the framework that you design for it, but there will always be vulnerabilities. Choose network secure services that can help to combat malware, phishing, spyware, and botnets, as well as other risks to your system and business.

You don’t have to do this singlehandedly. There are many businesses today that can consult with you to provide a unique and specialized service that ensures and improves secure networks and devices.

Use Encryption to Protect and Secure Data

End-to-end encryption has become a term that is used as a household term in today’s digital universe. Become familiar with this term and its importance. Encryption is a way of protecting and securing data, or masking it in a way that cloaks it and prevents it from being disrupted, rerouted, and used for nefarious or malevolent gain. Encryption works to prevent not only data from being stolen but also modified.

It can happen when a threat interferes with your system and alters data to cause financial and business loss. Create an encryption plan to ensure that your data is always protected and secure from external threats.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication

Multi-factor authentication is the new way of doing things when it comes to keeping passwords, accounts, and businesses secure. Gone are the days of security questions or no second gate at all when a user or consumer is logging in. With multi-factor authentication or additional layers of verification, businesses tell their customers that they are offering a private space that is less prone to threats or risks. 

Multi-factor authentication offers layers of protection and peace of mind for today’s consumers. Businesses that can offer devices for staff that serve as the tool for two-step verification or multi-factor authentication are taking their security and their businesses to the next level and offering both front-end and back-end workers peace of mind.

Monitor Use of Computer Equipment and Systems

External threats today are the biggest problem facing businesses, but this does not negate the very real presence of internal threats. The need for continuous monitoring of computer equipment and systems can help to increase your security and prevent online security threats from putting your business at risk. Again, you don’t have to do this alone. 

There are many consultants and businesses that can do this in the background while you and your team focus on what you do best. This can entail IT monitoring, device monitoring, content filtering, and a wide range of other services that will put your mind at ease.

Create an Online Security Plan For Your Business

Every security plan for your business is going to be extensive, particularly in a day and age where online security threats can be the most costly threat to any business. Create an online security plan that includes employee training, equipment, and system monitoring, trained teams, regular security audits, and uses tools such as backup plans, encryption, and multi-factor authentication. 

Implementing these business basics does not have to be costly. Consult with the right group to get the answers you need that will buy your business peace of mind.