For most, the holidays are about giving. However, for the Grinches of the digital world (better known as malicious hackers), the holiday season is the perfect opportunity to steal valuable data from consumers and businesses. Small companies are especially susceptible to cyberattacks, as they tend to lack the funds and staff required for a speedy recovery. Because resources are so limited, small businesses should make cybersecurity a priority this season. Below are some tips on how to protect your network and data, including implementing remote desktop support services, educating your employees about best practices, and more.
Understand Your Industry’s Level of Vulnerability
It is true that every industry has the potential to be targeted by hackers, but some sectors are especially prone to cyberattacks. These include retail, financial, manufacturing, and automotive industries, as they tend to process large sums of money and a lot of private data. To make matters worse in terms of vulnerability, these sectors typically use interconnected devices and automated processes that serve as big targets for scammers. Assessing your level of risk is the first step in preventing breaches and other cybersecurity issues.
Implement Remote Desktop Support Services
The biggest problem with most small businesses regarding online security is that they do not have any policies or processes in place that actively work to prevent or mitigate cyberattacks. Around the holidays, a lot of employees are working from various locations (vacation destinations, hometowns, etc.), making it even more crucial for companies to implement comprehensive remote desktop support services. These services should be aimed at maintaining a secure network and helping your remote workforce solve any tech issues promptly, regardless of their physical location.
Teach Your Employees About Cybersecurity
Implementing any kind of cybersecurity policy is essentially useless if your employees aren’t properly trained about risk awareness and best practices when working online. Keeping your employees adequately informed about the latest threats and how to recognize and report suspicious activity could be the difference between a secure IT system and a major data breach.
Familiarize Yourself with Popular Scam Tactics
Hackers will try anything to get valuable data or money from small businesses. This includes everything from phishing tactics to overpayment scams and more. Beware of calls from unknown persons, sketchy websites, pop-ups, and suspicious emails. A cyberattack is the last thing you want and is sure to suck all of the cheer out of this holiday season.
Use Secure Wi-Fi Networks
Because the majority of companies require a Wi-Fi connection for operations, keeping your IT system safe by hiding your network, making it password protected, using strong passwords, and updating login credentials are all great ways to ward off malicious hackers. If you have guests that might need to connect to your Wi-Fi, it may be wise to set up a private network for employees only and offer a separate guest network for clients to use.
Make Duplicate Copies of Important Data
Regularly backing up important data through the cloud is great way to prevent any lost data should a mishap (like a natural disaster, data breach, etc.) occur. The holidays are not a time when you want to be scrambling to retrieve lost data should a cyberattack occur, so having duplicate copies of business-critical information is vital.
Install & Update Antivirus Software
You should always ensure that every device you use for your small business is protected by antivirus, antimalware, and antispyware software. While installing antivirus software is a great first step in keeping your network safe, you must keep in mind that regularly updating your software is just as important. Outdated software can have gaps in security, making you a prime target for hackers and scammers.
Invest in a Virtual Private Network
A virtual private network (VPN) enables mobile devices to connect to other secure networks via the internet and transmit data back and forth safely. This is especially helpful for employees working on the go from their smartphones this busy holiday season. Setting up a VPN is a fairly simple process and can work wonders in terms of cybersecurity, so investing in this type of technology is well worth it.
By following the above tips, you can rest easy knowing that your small business will remain protected and profitable this season. However, it’s not always as simple as it seems when it comes to keeping your network safe all on your own, especially for smaller companies. If you need assistance supporting a remote workforce, implementing extra security measures, or monitoring your IT system in general, contact us at TXSG today. We are happy to lend a hand and fight off those mean ole cyber grinches with our BrightStar Managed IT Services (designed for both remote and in-office applications) and our BrightCloud Private Cloud Hosting services. Let us handle your pesky tech issues so that you can focus on serving your clients and spreading holiday cheer this Winter.
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