Running a business of any kind requires decent protection from cyberspace criminals. If your company doesn’t have a good internet security suite, you are exposed to all kinds of malicious code that could infiltrate your computers and cause havoc to the data you have on there.
The main threats for a small business are;
Malicious code – otherwise known as viruses, Trojans and worms. These can get onto your computers via email attachments, you opening up a bogus website link, through people hacking in… the list goes on. In order to protect your computers at work and the information they contain, then it’s vital to install good antivirus programmes, anti-spyware and firewalls on all the computers in the office. Don’t forget to include laptops and smartphones that can connect to the internet. Once installed make sure the programmes are regularly updated, and that you run the scans often. There are free antivirus downloads that you can use; however, these are usually basic versions of the pay-for software and have fewer features.
Stolen laptop or mobile device. Having a device stolen that contains work information can be devastating for a business. All the data contained on it about your business and customers should be protected through encryption. Encryption programmes make data unreadable to outsiders who do not have the encryption key or password.
Unsecured wireless networks. A global retail chain was attacked by hackers via their unsecured wireless network and 47 million customers’ financial information was stolen as it had such a basic encryption programme on it. If you have a wireless network at work, it is imperative that it is encrypted by WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) and that you change the default password.
Disgruntled employees. There have been cases of dismissed or disgruntled employees taking revenge on their companies and causing havoc on the computer systems. To avoid this possibility, make sure critical functions and responsibilities are divided among different employees, so limiting how much damage an individual could cause.