Over 45% of the businesses reported a cyber-attack in the past 12 months (Cyber Security Breaches Survey 2017) and the impacts can be immense. Having to fix a website, a server or even losing potential clients are a few consequences of cyber-attack. You could, in fact, damage your reputation and relation with your clients, even after years of hard work so you do not want your data or your clients’ data, to be in the hands of a hacker.
The good news is that protecting against cyber-attacks or viruses does not take a lot of time or money and there are many ways of securing the basics of your infrastructure:
Step #1 – Backing up your data
A regular backup is very important and will reduce the inconvenience of any data loss from theft, fire and ransomware viruses. You should always ensure that you, not only backup your files, but also test restore them.
Tips: Consider backing up to the cloud. Your data will be stored in a different location, away from your office/devices and you will still be able to access them wherever you are.
Step #2 – Keeping your Devices safe
Always, always have a password to all devices that you use. Configure your devices to be tracked and remotely wiped in case of any of your devices being lost or stolen. You should never connect to public Wi-Fi when sending sensitive information and always keep your devices updated with the latest patches available.
Tips: If you are using a Windows computer, ensure you have the Windows Pro version, in order to use Bitlocker encryption or a third-party encryption software.
Step #3 – Password
There are many software and applications available now in the cloud that require passwords. Passwords are currently the most reliable source when it comes to security. Remember, passwords are only as good as you want them to be so do not use generic passwords, such as london123, password, password123, 123456, etc. Always ensure your passwords have letters, numbers and a symbol, making a minimum of 8 characters. Finally, always change the manufacturers’ default password before you start using a device.
Tips: Never use the same password for every cloud/app services and use a two factor authentication (2FA) for important websites, such as banking and emails when possible.
Step #4 – Malware Damage
Use an antivirus software on all computers and laptops. You should avoid installing unofficial apps on your smartphones and ensure that you have the latest definition database in place for your antivirus and switch on your firewall. This will create a buffer zone between your network and the internet.
Tips: Avoid opening emails with attachment if you do not know the sender and always ensure that the email is legitimate. No official company will ask you for login details or bank account details through an email.
At CSE Agency, we do not only provide Cyber Security packages but we can also train your staff and assist them in avoiding making the latest common mistakes. Most of the attacks start from an employee opening an email or visiting a website that they were not allegedly supposed to.
If you have been breached, do not hesitate to contact our response team and we will be happy to assist.
