WorldExecutivesDigest|All businesses use technology these days. Whether it’s cloud storage, an online submission system, or even simply using email to communicate with clients, you probably don’t have a choice about whether to use technology in your business. All technology is in some way vulnerable to attacks from hackers and cyber criminals, but there are some practices and technologies that can help shield you from technological troubles.
Regular Updates
Many software packages include regular system updates. This is partly to allow them to improve the system and add new features, but it also allows them to patch security issues as they appear. For that reason, you must keep on top of system updates to make sure that you get patches as soon as they are available. Staying on top of system updates may not always mean installing them as soon as possible, however. Make sure to read up on an update before you install it. New, untested features may create security holes rather than fixing them. Be careful and exercise reasonable caution when installing anything onto your systems.
Zero Day Protection
Patches from the company won’t be able to save you from everything, after all. For example, zero day events are breaches that haven’t been patched yet. That is to say: a problem or security flaw has been discovered, but they have had zero days to repair it. Hackers work just as fast as the software programmers, so it is possible for a virus to be released that exploits that gap before the programmers have a chance to release a patch. Protecting yourself from zero day threats can seem impossible; after all, how do you protect yourself from the threat you can’t even imagine? Nonetheless, there are companies that offer zero day protections, sometimes using a combination of AI and monitoring to predict attacks and respond quickly.
Monitoring
Speaking of monitoring: make sure that you are monitoring your systems so that you can catch a breach as soon as possible. Part of keeping your business safe from threats means having a rapid response team ready to deal with issues as they arise. A data breach is bad enough. A data breach that goes unnoticed for days or even weeks is the worst case scenario.
Best Password Practices
In addition to extraordinary security measures, make sure that your daily practices ensure the security of your network and your data. Using best password practices, for example, can go a long way towards keeping your business safe from cyber threats. Change passwords regularly and use two factor authentication wherever possible.
Consistent Backup
Consistent backups can help protect you from ransomware attacks and data loss, if your backup system is sufficiently secure. Data loss can happen when a system fails or if someone makes a mistake, or if a virus corrupts your data. Ransomware is malware that steals data, or locks you out of your data, or threatens to delete your data unless you pay a fee. All of these scenarios can be disastrous for a business. Back up your data early and often and as securely as possible, to ensure that you are protected from worst case scenarios.
Plan for the Worst
Remember that despite all the precautions to take, there is no way to guarantee that you won’t be caught by a ransomware attacks or a security breach. It’s best to have an emergency plan, just in case. Think of it as insurance: hopefully you won’t need it, but if you do need it, and you don’t have it, you will regret it. In this day an age, using technology in your business is not optional, and that means that being tech savvy is no longer a luxury but a necessity. Good planning and best practices can help protect you from malware, cyber criminals and other technological threats. Be sure to stay on top of the latest in technological developments for your business, as technology is constantly growing and changing.
