CYBER SECURITY TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

Cyber security is very important, especially as the business world becomes more digital and organisations strive to become paperless.

TOP 10 CYBER SECURITY TIPS FOR BUSINESSES

If you’re working on a cyber security plan for your business, then you may be interested in reading our 10 top tips! We also have more information on our news item about creating a cyber security plan for your business – https://inreachgroup.co.uk/creating-a-disaster-recovery-plan/

Here are our top ten cyber security tips for businesses

1. Educate your Employees:

To ensure your cyber security is always up-to-date, it’s important to conduct regular training sessions to educate employees about common cyber threats.

You can also work on encouraging a security awareness culture where employees feel responsible for safeguarding information.

2. Consider a Strong Password Policy:

By ensuring all your systems require strong, unique passwords can help to increase your cyber security. You can also look into using multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security – this will depend on the size of your business and the type of information you are trying to protect.

3. Keep on top of Software Updates:

It’s not a surprise to know that the most up-to-date system softwares are the harder to hack into. If you are trying to avoid a security breech then regularly updating software can really help.

4. Invest in Firewalls and Antivirus Protection:

This one may seem obvious, but it’s surprising how many businesses don’t invest in a firewall or antivirus software. For data protection and reducing the risk of a cyber attack then a firwall is a must.

5. Secure Your Network:

To make your network more secure, you can use encryption protocols for all data transmissions. You can also segment your network to limit the spread of malware and isolate sensitive information. Contact iNREACH today to help set this up for your organisation.

6. Backup Your Data Regularly:

Part of your cyber security plan should involve a backup schedule for your data. You should regularly back up critical data and store the backups securely, offsite or in the cloud. To take this security tip one step further, you should also test your recovery plan periodically to ensure data can be restored quickly.

7. Control Access to Information:

Again, this is a tip for larger companies, but controlling access to various information types can help reduce the risk of a security breech should a cyber-attack occur. By giving employees access only to the information necessary for their roles, means that less data is available from each employee. This can protect certain types of data during a breech.

8. Keep a Record of Network Activity:

By continuously monitoring network traffic, you can detect unusual activities and highlight potential threats. This can help save valuable time when a breach does happen.

9. Establish Incident Response Procedures:

Develop a comprehensive incident response plan outlining steps to take in the event of a cyber attack. This helps to minimise downtime should an attack take place

10. Conduct Regular Security Audits:

You can also conduct periodic security audits to identify vulnerable areas in your systems and processes. You might be surprised where the vulnerabilities are – you can higher a third party to carry out these checks for you.

WHY YOUR BUSINESS NEEDS TO INVEST IN CYBER SECURITY

We always explain the risks to our clients and what can happen if your organisation doesn’t invest in cyber security. Here are some of the key risks that you could be facing:

• Data Breaches – the most obvious risk is unauthorised access to sensitive information which can lead to significant data breaches. This can then result in loss of data, and often black mail for data recovery.
• Financial Loss – Cyber attacks can cause your business financial losses due to theft of funds or fraudulent transactions. Other costs are included, such as legal fees, regulatory fines, and compensation to affected customers.
• Operational Disruption or Down Time – Down time is something which can have a huge effect on your business. If your business cannot function due to a cyber attack your customers can become agitated and may take their business elsewhere.
• Reputational Damage – Cyber incidents can damage your company’s reputation which can lead to lack of trust from customers.
• Legal Consequences – If your business fails to protect sensitive data, legal action could be taken against any of the affected parties.

CYBER SECURITY FROM iNREACH

At iNREACH, we offer Cyber Security services to all of our clients. Depending on the size of your organisation and the industry you operate in, you could require different cyber security plans. Contact our team to discuss your business.

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