Hackers target businesses the most since most lack awareness of how to protect a business from cyber-attacks. Digital technologies play an essential role in business operations.
Companies require innovative technological solutions to increase employee productivity, grow the market size, gain a higher competitive advantage, and attract new customers.
However, increased reliance on digital innovations creates new opportunities for cybercriminals. Websites and eCommerce platforms provide hackers with a rich source of finances and sensitive business or personal data.
Data breaches may cause adverse financial or reputational implications for the affected company. That said, understanding how to protect your business from cyberattacks is pertinent to preventing attacks.
Develop a Robust Cybersecurity Program
A cybersecurity program assists businesses to identify vulnerable assets, risks impacting critical information, and informs budget allocations to ensure adequate resources.
When developing a cybersecurity program, considering the following points can protect your business from hackers:
- Identify processes for identifying, assessing, and managing cybersecurity risks
- Define procedures for detecting instances when IT assets are under attack
- Maintain plans for responding to data breaches and attacks
- Protect critical information and assets from possible cyber intrusions
- Develop and document disaster recovery plans to facilitate the recovery of destroyed, lost, stolen, or unavailable assets
Developing a cybersecurity program enables you to establish how to protect your business from cyber-attacks. A holistic cybersecurity program means covering all data, information systems, and critical IT infrastructures.
A cybersecurity checklist can help businesses with vast network products, hardware, or software.
Best Cybersecurity Practises for Protecting Businesses From Attacks
1. Documented cybersecurity policies
Businesses require to document best practices for end-users accessing protected systems to ensure business cyber-attack protection. They include cybersecurity policies that ascertain the company’s employees, as well as third-party partners, adhere to the minimum but compulsory measures.
Policies like remote access policy, BYOD policy, disaster recovery policy, and encryption and privacy policy can enable businesses to protect themselves from cyber-attacks.
2. Update software and systems proactively
One of the leading causes of cyber-attacks among businesses is the use of outdated software. For example, some companies are still using Windows 7 OS even though Microsoft no longer supports patch development. Outdated programs expose a business to multiple risks since they contain exploitable security weaknesses.
Legacy systems usually have unaddressed vulnerabilities since vendors don’t release security patches. That said, businesses must use modern software applications and document a policy for installing new patches on time.
An automated patch management program can assist enterprises to download and install new updates or patches to prevent cyber-attacks targeting a business.
3. Healthy password practices
Every business owner uses some form of technology, such as email communication, to run daily operations. At the very least, all employees use passwords to secure their workstations, email accounts, and network access. But how many users adhere to best password security practices to protect your company from cyber-attacks?
Password etiquette refers to recommended practices for maintaining strong passwords. Businesses require to cultivate a strong culture where all employees observe recommended password practices.
For example, it should be mandatory for everyone to create new passwords every week, share passwords securely, and create hard to guess but easy to remember passwords.
4. SSL certification
Websites are vital components to growing a business since they provide a platform for interacting with customers directly. However, hackers can target websites with poor security to execute multiple cyber-attacks. Acquiring SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certification can protect your enterprise from attacks.
SSL encryption provides end-to-end encryption such that a business can transmit sensitive information between a client and web servers. An SSL-certified website further builds a company’s reputation since it assures visitors their information will be protected.
5. Network segmentation
Network segmentation is the process of separating a network into different layers according to use. For example, a business can segment a network to provide general users with a public network while maintaining a private network layer for internal use. Network segmentation secures a business from lateral movement attacks.
Suppose an attacker compromises a network meant for general use. In that case, the hacker will be unable to access the separate network set apart for internal use, giving a company sufficient time to deal with the incidence.
An unsegmented network can lead to devastating attacks since adversaries can compromise every asset connected to the network.
6. Automatic lock screen
Insider threats are real and among the leading causes of attacks in a business. Insider threats have knowledge of a company’s internal structure, such as which account to access to steal specific information.
Therefore, companies should implement policies requiring employees to configure their lock screens to lock automatically. The practice can prevent instances of unauthorised access, allowing you to protect your company from cyber-attacks.
Every business struggles to prevent ransomware attacks due to inadequate access to cybersecurity teams and resources. Kaesim Cybersecurity experts have a wealth of experience regarding the best technologies and policies for protecting you from attacks. We leverage our advanced and intelligent technologies to protect businesses.
Get in touch with our experts and unlock access to the best cybersecurity experts and resources to stop attacks from threatening your business operations.
