A harrowing fact that every business owner should know – 93% of companies who lose data for more than 10 days file for bankruptcy within a year. This is why it is imperative for you to take proactive measures in order to protect yourself from hackers and cyber crime. Is your business at risk?
Phishing Emails
Have you ever gotten an email from someone pretending to be from your bank? This is a phishing email. The person committing this cyber crime creates a scenario where you give away personal information under the assumption it is going to a secure source. These emails are often tempting to click on, so you need to educate your staff about the risk.
Give a presentation on phishing emails and how the employees shouldn’t click anything they don’t trust 100% and remind them that banks do not send emails asking for login information. You can also carry out ‘cyber crime drills’ where you test your staff with your own phishing emails (but stop them before they fill anything out!) Finally, keep a process in place where employees report phishing emails and know who to notify in case an email was clicked.
Data Thieves
Data thieves are everywhere, constantly looking for a way in to your business’ information. This is why encryption is key for any business to protect themselves. Make sure all documents, photos, music, videos, bookmarks and anything your business may need is backed up and encrypted. This way, even if someone gets through your first lines of cyber defense, your files are still secure. Hiring professional IT services is recommended for data encryption.
Password Hackers
Another cyber crime that can affect your business is password hacking. If you have employees with passwords like ‘abc123’ your business is vulnerable to hacking. There are programs hackers use to guess common passwords for many computers and accounts, all at the same time. In the very least, all passwords for all employees should contain random numbers, symbols and letters and be at least 8 characters. It could also be helpful to hire a professional to give a presentation on best password practices.
Network Infiltrators & Virus Spreaders
Open networks are like a bullseye for hackers. If just anyone can log into your business’ wifi, you are opening yourself up to big risks. Make sure to secure your network with a password and be very tactful when giving access to anyone.
Viruses can steal vital business information from your online space or simply bring your entire network down for the enjoyment of a hacker. Make sure that you have powerful antivirus software that is always up to date. Beyond your antivirus software, you should make sure each and every program on your business’ computers is always up to date.
Preventing Cyber Crime
These tech safety tips will only get you so far when it comes to cyber security. For the ultimate protection, get in touch with IT experts. Bay Computing & Consulting Services is a team of highly trained and experienced IT professionals ready to help you out. Our Remote IT Services can solve your tech issues no matter where you are.
We are here to help you with your technology issue when you need us. We will give your home or business computer the full treatment while we safeguard your network. We also offer consultations where we can identify security gaps and educate you and your employees on the best safety practices. Whether you are a big business or just a PC owner, we have you covered. Contact us today!