How Secure is Your Network

Sep 30, 2021 | Uncategorized

October is National Cyber Security Awareness Month and we want to share some tips on how to better secure your business. Going digital with your business has definitely been an amazing step with many benefits. Unfortunately, it also introduces some new areas of vulnerability for your business. If you’ve ever had someone break into your home, you know the feelings of violation, fear, and loss that follow. Think about all the time, effort, and perseverance it took to build your business. Now imagine an invisible criminal breaks into your network from the comfort of their home or from virtually anywhere and steals vital information. Your bank account has been compromised along with private employee and client information. What does this mean for your business? At best, you have a very costly cleanup ahead before you can return to normal activity. At worst, you suffer significant financial loss and could possibly be faced with prosecution from angry employees and/or clients who claim their information wasn’t properly secured. It’s possible this could even lead to the fall of your company.There’s no denying that protecting your business from cyber threats is a top priority. Were you aware that 44% of small businesses reported being a victim of a cyber attack, with an average cost of approximately $9,000 per attack? That’s a huge hit! It takes everyone in your company, from the newest employee all the way up to leadership working together to fight cyber attacks. Here are a few tips from Homeland Security your company as a whole can apply.

SIMPLE Cyber Security TIPS FOR EMPLOYEES

1. When in doubt, throw it out. Stop and think before you open attachments or click links in emails. Links in email, instant message, and online posts are often the way cybercriminals compromise your computer. If it looks suspicious, it’s best to delete it.2. Back it up. Make electronic and physical back-ups or copies of all your important work. Data can be lost in many ways including computer malfunctions, malware, theft, viruses, and accidental deletion. Good backup is the only sure defense against Ransomware. Consider a good cloud-based backup service such as CrashPlan, Mozy or Carbonite.3. Guard your devices. In order to prevent theft and unauthorized access, never leave your laptop or mobile device unattended in a public place and lock your devices when they are not in use. Your laptop’s hard drive should be encrypted to prevent the data from being read if your laptop is lost or stolen.4. Secure your accounts. Use passwords that are at least eight characters long and a mix of letters, numbers, and characters. Do not share any of your usernames or passwords with anyone. When available, turn on stronger authentication for an added layer of security, beyond the password. Don’t reuse passwords – if one password is compromised the attacker will likely try that in other places. Consider the use of a password manager such as LastPass or Dashlane.5. Report anything suspicious. If you experience any unusual problems with your computer or device, report it to your IT Department.

SIMPLE Cyber Security TIPS FOR BUSINESS OWNERS

1. Equip your organization’s computers with good centrally-managed antivirus software and antispyware. This software should be updated continuously and be monitored.2. Secure your Internet connection by using a business-class firewall. Do not allow personal and outside devices on your internal network. Enable encryption on all laptops.3. Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information.4. Require employees to use strong passwords and to change them often.5. Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages.6. Investigate data breach insurance protection and adding multi-factor authentication where it is available.7. Invest in employee training on how to protect themselves and your business from cyber threats.In a perfect world, every employee would work their hardest to keep your network safe and secure. Since we don’t live in a perfect world, let this post help you determine next steps. Businesses often think they can’t afford outside help…until it’s too late.Sawyer Solutions is an IT company with the highest level of expertise in IT security and compliance, cloud computing, disaster recovery planning and backup. Contact us to learn more or to set up a free consultation.Need a program for your organization or a lunch-and-learn for your business or non-profit? Sawyer Solutions offers free training on cyber security issues and has a presentation that is approved for Continuing Legal Education and Continuing Education for CPA’s. Let us tailor a presentation for your group!Special Offer: Sawyer Solutions is offering a free Network Security Assessment for your business now through the month of November. Contact us today to set up an appointment.