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Businesses need endless security measures to protect their resources from theft and potential attacks. And one honest fact is that this is usually not a one-off process. Instead, organizations must consistently harness the best ways to secure their networks in 2022.
Corporate networks must be kept secure for many reasons, including gaining their customers’ confidence and trust, upholding sanity within their organization, avoiding data theft which could result in some devastating effects on the company, and so on.
To make your businesses secure online in 2022, consider these simple ways:
1. Passphrases Work Better
Passwords used to be the only thing needed to secure your online resources. But with the wave of insecurity across networks, it is critical to utilize passphrases to strengthen your security layers.
Passwords can be relatively more predictable to hackers. And in fact, they can access your details in just minutes since passwords can be fairly straightforward. However, passphrases can be twisted and quite hard to decode. For example, they could include symbols, numbers, lower case, and uppercase letters.
2. Deploy Firewalls and Anti-virus Software
Many standard devices are built with Antivirus software installed; however, this protection is not sufficient to keep your online resources secure.
Combine firewalls as an additional layer to your security. They are more robust and form the first line of defense, securing the gateway to your network. Consider building your network security through an IT provider to ensure guaranteed protection.
3. Encrypt Transaction Processes
Securing customer data is crucial for companies that handle financial transactions, including credit and debit cardholder data storage. Every financial transaction must go through an encryption process to make it impossible for data breaches and external unauthorized use.
You can consider outsourcing the encryption software installation to an IT company or leverage established payment processing platforms like Stripe and PayPal.
4. Reinforce With Two Factor Authentication
Using two-factor authentication, you can easily set up your document access, website, and emails to reinforce security. Unlike a single authentication process, two-factor authentication will strengthen your protection, making it harder for unwarranted penetration.
Two-factor authentication is an authentication mechanism with two layers of security points requiring access with either passcode, face recognition, fingerprints, etc. The primary focus is to bolster security, reduce fraud risks, and make it harder for potential cyber-attacks.
5. Update Your Software and Servers Often
Constantly updating your cybersecurity tools goes a long way to removing vulnerable areas in your network security. Hackers often target platforms with weak and outdated security software and servers to break their protective mechanisms.
Companies serious about securing their resources will not negotiate to update their software from time to time. Websites with outdated software are vulnerable because technology continues to advance, and cybercrimes also increasingly become more sophisticated. Hence, you should download the latest version of your software and server security as fast as they are available to keep your network resources tight.
6. Restrict Physical Access To Files
Files containing sensitive information should be protected from employees who have no business with them. For instance, former employees and partners should have no access to company files. You can also leverage a cloud system to disconnect unauthorize individuals.
When company information is shared over emails, systems, and other methods, it is vital to invalidate device access of people who are no longer active employees and are not entitled to such data. Doing this will help to prevent the abuse of information. A straightforward approach is to request passcodes or passwords that can be changed as soon as a team member, a vendor, or a partner changes the job.
7. Encrypt with a VPN
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have lots of benefits to network security. For example, remote work significantly increases the possibility of a cyberattack, but deploying a cloud VPN will help to disguise your identity online, making it difficult for your device to be tracked.
VPNs encrypt data transmitted across a network so hackers cannot access it. VPNs allow you to securely exchange information on a WiFi network between your company and employees.
8. Prioritize Data Backup
Irrespective of your business size, it is necessary to backup all important data on your network so that your business can continue to run in the case of an unexpected situation on your system. Some companies have had to battle fire outbreaks, floods, theft, or physical damage to equipment.
With your data backed up, you can respond and recover your data quickly and keep your business running. You can easily download CRM/email lists, website data, and other crucial documents and data as a file on a hard drive or CSV from the platform. They should only be available to authorized personnel. In addition, you can leverage cloud storage to keep your company data separate from your computer.
9. Avoid Public WiFi
It is always safer to avoid public WiFi as many cyber thugs lurk around these open networks to steal information from people. And if at all you must use, then consider using a VPN. But it is always better to safeguard your sensitive data by keeping off public WiFi and enlightening your remote employees on the need to do.
Public WiFi networks are lucrative for all cybercrimes, and even highly secure devices can become vulnerable. If at all it would be considered for any worker, it should only come as a last resort after exhausting every other option. You may also want to invest in a portable 4G hotspot for them.
10. Ensure to Build Data Security into Onboarding
The primary focus of building data security into onboarding processes is to enlighten employees about being aware of security best practices upon being integrated into the organization. In addition, this process should have all the relevant security information delivered via various delivery means such as onboarding videos, in-person sessions, group sessions, memos, and online delivery methods.
Different workers have their more convenient and appealing way of learning. And with varying delivery mechanisms being deployed, they can opt for their preferred option and learn at their pace. But then, all employees should be integrated into the company with good security awareness, which is especially specific to the organization.
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