In 2017, a number of 24.089 records were compromised based on the average data breach records. This cost businesses over $3.62 million in a single year. At this point, it is believed that one in four online businesses can expect a data breach at some point of their existence on the online market.
Cyber security is a huge concern of people who use technology. It has received a lot of press in the past few years, which results in continuous updates and changes that aim to reduce, if not eliminate, cybercrime on the Internet. As a person who has an online business, you need not only learn what is cyber security, but also learn how to protect your online business from criminals.
Seeing how the numbers above are only expected to grow, there are some things you must do to protect your business from cyber-attacks.
1. Make Good Use of Cloud Storage
Did you know that 43% of all cyber-attacks occur on small businesses and startups? This means that, even if you’re an entrepreneur at a small business, your data is still at risk. Thanks to clouds, you can now keep your data safe from breaches and incidental losses.
However, remember that clouds aren’t always are completely safe. You’re still at risk when you store your data in a cloud format. Some of the more popular cloud options like Google Drive and Dropbox do their best to secure your content. But, no matter how hard a cloud server plants cyber security into their products, you are still vulnerable.
Therefore, you should choose the safest cloud you can find, but also provide an extra layer of encryption to protect your data. To keep it secure, you need to use various encryption SSL systems and tools. This doesn’t make a cloud service bad, but it makes you a responsible and cautious entrepreneur. Think of it this way – it is like when you order assignment help in Sydney from the most popular company, but still use a plagiarism checker to make absolutely sure of the originality.
2. Always Use Strong Passwords
A password can determine whether a cyber-criminal accesses your data or not. It’s the part of the security keychain that’s most commonly the reason for breaches. Therefore, you need to make sure that you have the most secure password on all your systems, data, e-mails, and even profiles on websites.
Your cyber security plan must include utilization of stronger passwords with complex order and more characters. Thankfully, there are plenty of tools and apps that can help you pick the best password.
3. Require Multi-Factor Authentication
To make it even harder for attackers to use your business data, require multi-factor authentication to keep your accounts protected. You can combine passwords, make use of your hardware and smartphone, and even use your fingerprint or face recognition to unlock an account.
The face recognition feature is currently under debate when it comes to security. It is really handy, yes, but a single picture of your face can unlock the account. However, taking into consideration that most cyber criminals don’t know what you look like but are only interested in business data, you can definitely consider it as one of the authentication methods. It may be necessary to use one of these top VPN providers.
Conclusion
Technology has been one of the best and most effective changes in the business world. However, all great things come with their own set of risks, which in this case, is cybercrime. As an entrepreneur, it is your obligation and job to keep the business data safe and confidential. Therefore, it is time to make some changes to implement a safer and stronger cybersecurity strategy that will give your business a better chance to thrive and survive. In the unlikely event that you still got attacked by cybercriminals even with the necessary precautions taken, look for a digital forensics company to help you.