No organization wants their data breached and their information stolen. But as you have seen in the news, no business seems to be safe from cybercriminals. From what happened to British Airways and Uber, among others, it’s easy to assume that only giant companies with lots of money are targets for cybercriminals. But truth be told, six in ten SMEs get victimized by cyberattacks. So, no matter how big your business is, it’s important that you take steps to prevent that from happening to you.
Stephenson’s IT Support Solutions is here not only to provide you with IT support in Barnsley but also to share some helpful tips on how you can prevent cyberattacks and data breaches:
Train Your Employees
It’s surprising that in 2019 only 29% of employees got cybersecurity training, while 81% of directors or senior managers did. While there’s nothing wrong with training the upper echelon of the organization, those who are always accessing information that belongs to your company – your employees, should also get the same training. You want to make sure that they know how to protect your data and they should know what to do in case of a breach and how to identify one.
Establish Data Security Policies
Many people think that policies are nothing but a long document at the end of which you have to tick the box. But a data security policy is not as simple as that. True, ideally, your team shouldn’t have to make use of the data security training they got. But that also means they probably wouldn’t remember what they need to do in case of an incident.
Your data security policy should serve as a resource for your staff so they would have a guide when they’re unsure about what they should do like when a customer sends a data access request or when they’re uncertain about the protocol regarding taking office devices home.
Therefore, clear data security policies should be established and made accessible to everyone in the organization who might need them.
Use Multi-Factor Authentication
Your employees probably already know the importance of a strong password. That said, it doesn’t mean security’s guaranteed. That’s why you should use multi-factor authentication whenever it’s possible.
With a multi-factor authentication feature on, every time someone logs in using people’s accounts, a confirmation code will be sent either to their email or mobile number. Whoever’s trying to log in would have to put in that code, too. That’s an extra layer of security right there.
Do Regular Penetration Testing
Your in-house IT department or an independent team of IT experts like Stephensons IT Support Solutions should simulate a cyberattack on your system regularly to check for vulnerabilities. This should be done randomly and should include social engineering tests, too, that for example, would attempt to trick your team into giving them access to your data thinking it’s their superior.
How to Prevent Cyber Attacks
These are just some tips on how you can avoid cyberattacks and their repercussions. Don’t take cybersecurity lightly. No organization had ever thought an attack would happen to them until it did. In matters like this, being extra vigilant certainly pays off. To ensure the safety of your organization, your data, and your assets, you should get reliable IT services in Barnsley from a team with a solid reputation.
Stephensons IT Support Solutions offers expert on-site IT support to commercial and personal clients. Contact our consultants to find out how our team can strengthen the security of your organisation!