Why Your Business Can't Overlook Cybersecurity
Nov 01, 2021
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In recent years there has been a rise in online businesses and employees who work remotely especially after pandemic lockdowns. Although this is helpful both to the business and the employee, it does also come with some risks and it has caused many businesses a lot of financial damage over the years.
Cyberattacks can come at any time. If your business is not prepared for a cyberattack it could face dire consequences. Your business must be prepared for the worst rather than taking the chance and hoping you don’t become a victim.
There are many cybersecurity tools to choose from, however, you need to make sure that you’re using the right ones. If you’re confused about which cybersecurity tools to use, read on to find out.
How is Your Business At Risk?
Cybercrime is on the rise, especially with more people spending time at home and working online. Hackers are finding new ways to break into people’s devices, and in some cases, they can even go unnoticed.
All it takes is one unsecured device within your network to let a hacker in. In the majority of cases, cybercriminals will target victims who do not have any cybersecurity tools in place, as these devices are significantly easier to breach.
A breach can come in several different forms, from phishing scams to malicious software. However, once a cybercriminal can breach one device they will be able to infiltrate the rest of the network.
If an unsecured device has been breached, cybercriminals can steal account login credentials, personal information, email addresses or even important business files. From there they have several options in terms of the crimes they can commit.
If they steal personal or business information they can sell it on the dark web to other criminals. Business information can also be sold to your competitors, in which case all of your hard work will be gone.
Malicious software can be used to monitor devices and hack into accounts. Anything from social media accounts to bank accounts could be at risk of being hacked. This will allow cybercriminals to commit fraudulent transactions.
Which Cybersecurity Tools Are Essential For Businesses?
There are some key cybersecurity tools you need to use within your business to keep it secure. These will keep your devices safe from cyberattacks and will allow you to safely run your business.
It is important to avoid using free cybersecurity software. It is always best to use software from well known and reputable companies. Cybercriminals often develop rogue cybersecurity software that they can use to break into people’s devices.
The first cybersecurity tool you need to invest in is antivirus software. Antivirus software will scan your device daily to look for any malicious software. The malicious software can then also be removed from your device. Without antivirus software, any malware could live on your device undetected and also be passed on to other devices within your network.
You must ensure that your antivirus software is always kept up to date. Software updates are regularly sent out to fix any flaws in the system or add an extra layer of defence against new cybercrime tactics.
Another cybersecurity tool you need to make use of is VPN software. A VPN or virtual private network can encrypt your internet connection, preventing anyone from seeing what is happening on your device and snooping around your files. It is especially important to use a VPN when you are connected to a public WiFi hotspot such as the ones found in airports and hotels.
You could also make use of a third-party password manager. This will allow you to keep track of your passwords, and allow you to safely share them with your team. Your passwords must be strong and unique, otherwise, they could be stolen easily. A password manager can also create passwords for you.
Strong passwords are made up of random words, numbers or symbols that do not relate to you or your business. Weak passwords that relate to your personal information can easily be guessed if the cybercriminal can dig up enough information about you.
Unique passwords are also essential because they will prevent multiple accounts from being breached at the same time. You must ensure that each of your accounts has a different password.
Why You Should Teach Your Employees About Cybersecurity
Training your employees on cybersecurity is important for your business because one unsecured device could lead to the downfall of your whole network. Cybercriminals will often look for that one weak link to infiltrate a network.
For example, if one device has been infected with a virus or spyware it can be transmitted to other devices within the same network through email attachments. Employees may unknowingly open an email attachment and have their devices infected with a virus, this is another form of phishing.
Even if your devices have cybersecurity tools installed, a virus can still cause massive amounts of damage within your network before someone can identify and eradicate the virus from all of the devices on the network.