Tips on cybersecurity from Dunhill Staffing’s insurance carrier.
The advancement of information technology has made it easier than ever to run a small business. Still, your organization, as well as your customers and their data, may be at risk unless proper cybersecurity measures are in place. To ensure that your business is protected, follow these cybersecurity best practices:
Cybersecurity Best Practices
1. Conduct an initial audit
An initial audit is to determine potential exposures for your organization and establish an action plan for identifying and implementing proper
controls.
2. Establish written policies
Detailing your organization’s cybersecurity safeguards, including topics such as password protocols, guidelines for internet use, customer data control, and penalties for policy violations. This not only demonstrates that a company takes data privacy and cybersecurity seriously, but it also provides everyone a part of the organization with detailed information for problem resolution, disaster recovery, and security management.
3. Keep hardware and software up-to-date
Keeping up-to-date with your software can help decrease risk from the latest malware or other security threats. Viruses and malware are constantly evolving to exploit the vulnerability, so it is essential to keep up with updates to ensure that these fixes are promptly addressed.
4. Secure your internet connection
Including implementing a firewall and assuring that Wi-Fi signals are secure and encrypted. These steps are crucial when keeping your internet connection secure. Take your network security to the next step by doing the following:
- Use Multiple Firewalls
- Turn Off the WPS Setting
- Use a VPN
5. Manage employee access
To the internet or customer data by creating separate, password-protected user IDs for all employees and only granting employees access to systems needed to perform their job. This is especially important as more and more people work from home or anywhere outside of the office. Working remotely can pose a new set of security threats. To limited those threats, your employees should be following the following:
- Make sure they are following a written remote access policy
- Use cloud applications
- Safeguard users’ devices
- Limit remote access rights
6. Keep systems used for payments separate
Security is always a threat whenever there are payment features involved. This is important to consider when deciding on different systems your business is utilizing for payment features. These should always be separate to ensure that this information is as secure as it can be from other potentially less secure systems.
7. Work with banks
To make sure that the payment systems and services in place are trusted and secure. Banks take a layered approach to online and network security, as the traditional system protection is no longer good enough. Banks utilize the following to ensure that your information and financials are protected:
- Encryption
- Multi-Factor Authentication
- Hardware Security Modules
- Security Assessment
- Limited Data Access
- Best Practices
8. Make regular backups of vital data
Including internal documents and customer information. This can be solved by having a backup strategy. Having a clearly defined data protection plan that will consider: what, when, and how data, applications, and systems will be backed up and restored to a usable state for business purposes.
9. Store data backups offsite
As mentioned above, having data backups outside the traditional sense is essential for your business’ data storage. This can be utilized at a remote location or in the cloud.
10. Implement physical security measures
Your data can be compromised when you’re not prepared to withstand certain threats. Here are the following ways you can physically protect your business’ information:
- Protection against dumpster diving
- Site access control
- Employee awareness training
- Secure network-enabled printers
- Building secure guest WiFi
- Secure doors and windows
- Accounting for lost or stolen devices
- Locking up your servers
- Implement video systems
- Securing backups
11. Secure mobile devices
By requiring password protection and installing trusted security and anti-fraud systems. There are additional steps you can take for both your company and your employees for all mobile devices, such as:
- Use a strong pin/password on the device
- Enabling fingerprint logins
- Disable Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth when it’s not needed
- Disable location services when you don’t need them
- Backup phone often
12. Require employees to change their passwords
At regular intervals, and consider implementing multi-factor authentication systems. This can be a big contributor to help ensure network security.
Protect Your Business & Get More Advice from Dunhill Staffing
When it comes to cybersecurity and your business, there should be no shortcuts taken. If you’re looking for more advice or are currently searching for top talent to join your team, reach out to Dunhill Staffing today!
