The word ‘hacker’ might create an image of a hooded figure sat in front of a computer monitor with lines of numbers flashing across it, like something from a Hollywood film. While the truth isn’t necessarily all the silver screen makes it out to be, hackers can strike in lots of different ways, which makes it imperative to have procedures in place to protect your business from hackers.
Here are a few easy ways you can boost your chances of not getting hacked: Multi-factor authentication is a must for every business.
A method of protection that sits alongside strong, encrypted passwords, MFA can act as a second line of defence against a data breach. For example, with MFA implemented, a hacker who might have your login details would still have to prove they are you. This can be done in several ways; either through a telephone number or email address which is sent a code, or through biometrics such as your fingerprint.
This extra line of defence is likely to thwart a hacker who’s acquired your password keeping your data safe.
For more information about implementing MFA within your business, contact Neuways today on 01283 753 333.Whole businesses need to be aware of the latest scams that criminals have come up with.
By ensuring your entire company is aware of the latest email phishing scams or cold calls, you can effectively eliminate another method by which a hacker can breach your business.
One of the best ways of ensuring you are aware of all the latest cyber threats and phishing scams, is to sign up to our “Neu Cyber Threats”.
This update arrives in your email inbox every Thursday morning!
Another great resource to keep you and your colleagues safe from the hackers phishing emails is to visit our Phishing Awareness page which gives you the 8 key points to look out for in any email.
So next time you receive a phishing email, ensure you inform your colleagues.
If a hacker does infiltrate your systems and access your data, or plant some malicious ransomware, you will need a strong business continuity plan.
This can be the difference between survival and extinction. Only 10% of businesses without a plan survive a successful cyber attack. Now compare that with 90% of businesses who were able to survive with a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery plan in place.
Any downtime that a hacker or ransomware causes can inflict monetary loss upon a business as well as loss of reputation with your customers and suppliers, so making sure the right steps are in place in the event the worst does happen, is important.
If your business has a staff member working out of the office, whether that be from home, or on the move, it’s important to remind them of the potential pitfalls that come with doing so.
We advise against joining any public networks no matter how commonplace they are in places like airports and coffee shops.
This is due to the lack of security on these networks, which can leave users vulnerable to an attack from hackers and all of their data visible. To avoid this it’s advisable to only join secure WiFi networks or use your mobile data.
If you have any concerns about WiFi, check out our six key WiFi threats.
Regular maintenance and updating your systems with the latest software patches is another way of keeping out cyber criminals. Software providers issue updates for a variety of reasons, including: Updates and patches are usually quick and easy to install, and are usually prompted by the device.
However, a dedicated Managed Service Provider (MSP) can also remotely manage the application of system updates across all of your business devices and software, ensuring you are always protected, despite rogue members of staff not being proactive with updates.
Ultimately, through regular housekeeping, consistent updates to your IT infrastructure will help keep any criminals away.
If you’ve suffered a data breach or want to prevent your business from experiencing one, contact us at hello@neuways.com or call us on 01283 753 333 today.
