Many young startups forget to enhance their cyber-security. Are you one of them?
According to Business Insider, an estimated $655 billion will be spent on cyber security initiatives to protect devices between now and 2020.
What’s more, another study tells us that the number of data breaches doubled from 2014 to 2015. Currently, in 2016, data breaches have already risen by 16%.
To protect you, let’s look at why strong cyber-security is vital to your company.
What’s the Big Deal?
Your company most likely has plenty of IT equipment, and you access the Internet on a daily basis. It’s probably the hub of your business.
Every day, all across the world cyber-attacks are happening. Hackers want your information as well as the information from your customers.
It’s vital to the security of your IT systems and your files that you recognize the risk and work to improve your cyber-security.
How Can I Improve?
You can do quite a few things for strong cyber-security. First, you should attend to the basics. These include the following:
- Use strong passwords and ensure your employees are doing the same.
- Use anti-virus software.
- Always download software updates as they often include security updates.
- Don’t download suspicious looking emails.
- Train your staff in good cyber-security protocols.
Because training your staff is an integral piece of your cyber-security efforts, let’s look at some best practices.
Training Your Staff
Aside from your anti-virus software, your employees are the front line when it comes to your electronic safety. They need to know how to recognize, respond to and recover from a cyber-attack.
Here are a few types of cyber-attacks to be aware of.
Phishing
This is an email that contains a link or attachment that launches malicious computer code into your computer systems. More than 90% of cyber-attacks begin this way.
This is why training your staff is important. After all, it just takes one person to let the malicious code in.
Phishing emails may look like special offers. They may also look quite similar to regular emails, but they won’t have accurate contact info.
Hackers may target individual staff members in your company, so the emails can be quite convincing.
Train your staff how to recognize these and delete them immediately without opening.
Social Engineering
You’ve probably gotten a phone call from a social engineer at one time or another.
These people are con artists who try to manipulate unsuspecting employees. Their form of attack can arrive by email or phone.
Your employee may answer the phone and find someone telling them they are from the bank, the IRS or other official sounding organization.
Their goal? To elicit as much information as possible from your employee such as a password, user name or other vital information. They’ll try to gain access to your computers so they can install malicious software to steal information.
Passwords
It seems like everything requires a password these days, and that’s certainly true of your company.
You may assume that your employees are following best password practices, but that isn’t always true. Bad passwords put your company’s information at risk.
Teach your staff how to create strong passwords and how to keep them safe. Remind them to write them down, never share them and never send them by email.
Encourage them to use passwords that include a good mix of numbers and letters with a few special characters as well.
To Conclude
Cyber-security is a complex issue. Enlist the help of your IT department, and if you don’t have one, it’s a good idea to consult with some IT specialists who are well-versed in cyber-security.
Then, train your employees.
Once you get a handle on your cyber-security strategy, you’ll find that it will give your company an edge it today’s competitive business world.
Are you a new startup ready to improve your cyber-security? Are you looking to get your new business off the ground and watch it rise to success? We are here for you. We can help answer your questions and guide you through the process. Outsource your finances, payroll, HR duties and more to us. Contact Escalon today to get started.
Image: Matthew Wiebe
