6 Essential Steps for Protecting Your Business from Cyber Attacks

All your hard work toward achieving business goals can be wasted as soon as a cybercriminal infects your company with a virus or steals your data. Some even manage to publish private information or hack your social media accounts. Follow these six steps to ensure your business is protected from cyber-attacks. 

Backup Your Data

You will recover any information you lose in case you encounter a cyber incident or computer issue if you have the right tools to back up your business’s data and website. Make sure to take the proper measures when backing up your data regularly. 

You also want to check that you can restore your data periodically. Here are some characteristics of an ideal backup system.

• Daily cumulative back-ups 
• End-of-week server back-ups 
• Quarterly and yearly server back-ups

Prevent and Protect from Cyber Attacks

The first half of 2018 saw 4.5 billion records exposed due to data breaches. Take this as your cue to prevent and shield your business from cyber-attacks. Start deploying security protection that can detect these threats. 

One tool you can use is Acronis Cyber Protection & Acronis Notary. They will prevent cyber criminals from stealing your data and using them illegally. 

Train Your Staff

Cybercriminals can use your employees as weapons to access your data. These people send fraudulent emails to your staff, sometimes impersonating you or other organization members to ask for personal information. They may also ask employees to send specific files. 

Training your staff is one way to prevent these attacks. Teach them to check links before clicking, critically analyze email addresses, and use common sense when sending confidential information. 

Secure Your Devices and Network

There are many ways to protect your devices and network, including setting up a firewall. It’s a type of software or hardware gatekeepers any incoming and outgoing traffic. Make sure to install it on all your devices since it’s the most effective way to defend yourself. 

Another way to secure your network is by turning on spam filters, which hide phishing emails and viruses that infect your computer and steal information.

Keep Your Systems Fully Up-to-Date

Cyber attacks sometimes happen because your software and systems are not regularly updated. The criminals exploit weaknesses to access your network and steal confidential data. Try investing in a patch management system to manage all updates required for your software and system, keeping it updated and always resilient.

Create a Security-Focused Workplace Culture

Cybersecurity tools are not enough when protecting your business against attackers. You need to build a cybersecurity workplace culture in your company too. Establish a firm data use policy that every employee should read and sign. Here are some examples to include:

• Password requirements
• Designated email security measures
• Rules about how to handle certain types of technology
• Plans in case of a cyber incident 
• Outline how to handle sensitive information.

Your policy should also include who gets to manage specific information. For instance, the social manager may only have access as an Editor but not as an Admin of your pages.