Small businesses are the target of approximately 43% of all cyberattacks. To achieve success in modern business, it’s crucial to empower employees with the ability to search the web for information. However, this also exposes the business to potential Internet risks. Ensuring the utmost security for employees, without introducing unnecessary obstacles, is the key to safeguarding web browsing. You should adhere to the following practices to ensure safe surfing and company data protection.
Data Security Best Practices
#1 Teach your Staff
Cybersecurity experts emphasize that the biggest vulnerability to your business is not the technology itself, regardless of how stringent your firewalls are or the cost of your IT equipment. Instead, 88 percent of all data breaches occur due to employee mistakes.
This is because your staff may be unsure about how to handle specific situations or fail to recognize them as potential threats. For instance, an email requesting to click on a link to reset an account with “unusual activity” is likely a cyber extortion attempt, as is an alleged internal call from IT asking for a user’s password.
During training, it is crucial to emphasize that the most significant risk arises from criminals trying to deceive your employees, rather than people hacking into the company’s Wi-Fi. The key is to teach them to recognize signs of deception and to take appropriate action when something seems amiss.
#2 Browser Security
In this matter, it is worth mentioning secure browsers. Yes, Chrome is not bad, but some browsers have a bias towards security. The safe Brave browser or Tor fits this description well. But you should carefully analyze whether Brave is a good browser or whether it has its own nuances. You can find Brave browser reviews online and use VeePN’s security analysis. This way you will learn about the strengths and weaknesses of the browser.
#3 Configure your Browser
To enhance the security of your browser, take advantage of the various settings available. These settings offer options to block popup windows, warn about potential security risks, and enable automatic updates. By disabling popup windows without permission, setting up automatic updates for the browser and its plugins, and heeding security warnings, you can ensure a safer browsing experience.
#4 Better Passwords and MFA
Don’t assume that using your mother’s maiden name and her birthdate as your password will go undetected. Powerful algorithms developed by cyber thieves can accurately guess even complex passwords in a matter of seconds. While the traditional advice of creating a long password, consisting of at least 12 characters with a combination of numbers, symbols, uppercase, and lowercase letters is a good starting point, it’s not sufficient.
Nearly every security professional recommends incorporating two-factor or multi-factor authentication into your security measures. Two-factor authentication is a security process that requires you to provide two different authentication factors to gain access to programs or resources.
#5 Guard your Wireless Networks
Business Wi-Fi may not provide the level of security you expect. While it has become faster, especially with the introduction of the 802.11ax standard, its security relies on the protocols you implement. Moreover, the connection with the free VPN addon is more reliable than the basic version of the private connection. This suggests that it is best to build a comprehensive defense.
Here are some tips to safeguard your wireless networks:
- Create complex passwords for devices like printers, point-of-sale systems, and cameras to prevent unauthorized access.
- Prevent others from discovering your network by disabling SSID broadcasting.
- Maintain a record of approved devices that can connect to your Wi-Fi, automatically blocking any unauthorized devices.
#6 Switch to the Cloud
Many companies prefer to store their data on physical hardware within their own premises, but an increasing number of businesses are transitioning to exclusive cloud storage or adopting a combination of both. Every time you or a colleague takes action, cloud services automatically backup your data online.
Cloud encryption often outperforms internal solutions for protecting your on-premises networks, making it more difficult to crack and providing your data with an even higher level of security.
#7 Back-Up Data
To ensure preparedness, it is important to acknowledge that attacks may occur. While 100% prevention is ideal, prioritizing safety is imperative. You should establish a system for regularly backing up all essential data, encompassing documents, databases, financial information, and any other crucial components for business operations. Opting for cloud storage is a recommended approach to safeguard your files.
Conclusion
You should know that data security best practices go beyond the precautionary steps mentioned above. There’s more to it, such as regularly backing up all data, encrypting it in transit and at rest, and enforcing secure password practices, among others.
However, it’s important to understand that cybersecurity cannot eliminate all threats—achieving that is not possible. It’s also crucial not to overlook its significance. By implementing proper security measures, you can greatly reduce the risks involved.