How to Keep Your Business Safe from Hackers?

Cybersecurity Ventures estimates the cost of cybercrime to reach a staggering $6 trillion globally by 2021. According to recent estimates, businesses are now falling victim to ransomware attacks every 11 seconds. It’s clear that going forward, businesses of all sizes will need all the help they can get to protect their businesses from cyberattacks, especially with the advent of Ransomware 3.0. Knowing when to hire experts to protect your business from hackers is essential. Experts in the field of cybersecurity are necessary for any company that needs protection from advanced attack strategies or cyclical attacks. Data security professionals specializing in network security, such as those at IT Support San Diego, will be vital to ensuring the survival of your business.

Top 5 Ways to Protect Your Business from Hackers

Put in place the right security programs

The first step to protecting your business from hackers is ensuring you have the proper security software. This includes anti-virus programs, firewalls, and backup systems. A firewall stops hackers from gaining entry into your network by blocking incoming connections. At the same time, anti-virus programs scan files as they are downloaded or accessed to detect any malicious software that may be present.

One thing to remember when setting up these programs is that they can only do so much independently. Even the most secure system will still be vulnerable if users aren’t taking steps to protect themselves online. So it’s important for employees not only to use strong passwords but also to delete cookies after browsing sessions (cookies are small pieces of information left behind by websites).

Secure your network 

You’ll need to be familiar with various tools and processes to lock down your network. These include:

• Firewall:
  A firewall is a device or application that monitors incoming and outgoing data traffic on a computer and blocks suspicious activity.

• Virtual Private Network (VPN):
  A VPN acts as an intermediary between two networks, allowing users to send encrypted information over the Internet.

• Proxy:
  A proxy server is an intermediary for requests from clients seeking resources from other servers. In this way, it helps mask internal IP addresses from outside access.

• DMZ (Demilitarized Zone):
  The demilitarized zone is an area on your network where you can put web services like e-mail or web hosting in a position that isn’t directly connected to the central part of your network but still accessible by the Internet at large. For example, if you want to host something for people who don’t have access directly inside. This is a dual-edged sword as hackers have no way into a DMZ, but there isn’t any additional protection against their actions once they’re inside this area because there aren’t any other security measures.

IT Consulting Irvine can take care of the implementation and management of all these security tools and processes for local businesses. 

Install Anti-Malware and Anti-Virus Programs 

Anti-malware and anti-virus programs are a must. You’ll need to install them on every computer in your office, including those that aren’t connected to the internet. An anti-virus program will scan your computer for any potential threats, such as viruses and malware that could cause harm to your data or business. It will then quarantine any suspicious files so they cannot infect other computers on your network. In addition to regular updates from both Apple and Microsoft (which are essential), you should keep these services up-to-date with automatic software updates by using the “auto-update” function on each respective operating system (OS). This will ensure that all existing vulnerabilities are patched before hackers exploit them for malicious purposes like stealing personal information or accessing sensitive documents without authorization. 

Minimize the scope of human error by educating Your employees

One of the easiest ways to protect your business from hackers is to educate your employees. Employees should know how to avoid phishing scams, malware, viruses, and ransomware. The most important thing is for employees not to click on links in emails that appear suspicious or ask for personal information (such as social security numbers). If you suspect that one of your employees has been hacked, they should be advised not to open any attachments received via email until they check their system by IT personnel.

Keep your data secure and encrypted

The most crucial step to protecting your business from hackers is to ensure your data is secure and encrypted. Encryption is the process of encoding data so that only authorized parties can read it. It’s used for several reasons, but most importantly, it keeps your data safe from hackers. Encryption protects data in transit and at rest; it also protects data in motion, which means any time a computer sends or receives information over an open network like the internet rather than through a closed system like private servers or USB drives.

If you’re seeking additional help and guidance on protecting your enterprise infrastructure from hackers, consider reaching out to a reputed managed service provider like Cybersecurity San Diego. 

About Steven:

Steven Truong is a Marketing Coordinator at I.T. Responsive, an IT Support Irvine Company. Steven has a professional background in marketing and communications for small to medium-sized businesses in several industries. He’s well-versed in creating effective marketing strategies for clients.