Does Your Business Have Any “Cybersecurity Skeletons” in the Closet?
It’s October, so let’s dive into a topic to give you the chills—cybersecurity skeletons in the closet. You might not have old skeletons hidden away in the basement. But there’s a good chance of cybersecurity vulnerabilities lurking in the shadows, waiting in the dark to wreak havoc.
You can’t fix what you can’t see so it’s time to shine a light on these hidden dangers. Once you know, you can take action to protect your business from potential cyber threats. You can be the last hero standing.
Let’s get started uncovering threats that could leave your business in danger. Here are some of the most common cybersecurity issues faced by SMBs.
Outdated Software: The Cobweb-Covered Nightmare
We get it; updating software is a hassle. But running outdated software is like inviting hackers to your virtual Halloween party. They’re not even the cool hackers who would be played by Angelina Jolie, these are the dorky ones who live to steal your customer data.
When software vendors release updates, they often include crucial security patches. These patches fix vulnerabilities that hackers found to exploit. So, never let outdated software haunt your business. Keep everything up to date to ensure your digital fortress is secure.
Weak Passwords: The Skeleton Key for Cybercriminals
If your passwords are weak, you might as well be handing out your office keys to cyber criminals. Using “123456” or “password” as your login credentials is a big no-no. Also, don’t use simple, easy to guess words like “Batman”. We daydream of being Batman too, but it’s too easy to guess.
Instead, create strong and unique passwords for all accounts and devices. Use a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. Password managers offer a lifesaver for generating and storing complex passwords securely, and several browsers offer it for free.
As a business owner, you can’t expect your employees to do this naturally. Provide them with requirements for creating passwords. Set up software to force strong password creation. Just please, don’t let them use a Mel Brooks password like “12345”. Remember Spaceballs?
Unsecured Wi-Fi: The Ghostly Gateway
Picture this: a cybercriminal sitting in a parked car. He’s snooping on your business’s unsecured Wi-Fi network using man in the middle attacks. Scary, right? Unsecured Wi-Fi offer a ghostly gateway for hackers to intercept sensitive data.
Ensure your Wi-Fi is password-protected. Make sure your router uses WPA2 or WPA3 encryption for an added layer of security. For critical business tasks consider a virtual private network (VPN) to shield your data from prying eyes.
Lack of Employee Training: The Haunting Ignorance
Your employees can be your business’s strongest line of defense or its weakest link. Employee error is the cause of approximately 88% of all data breaches. In this corner of the boxing ring we have the finest cybersecurity measures known to man, and in the other corner is the employee who doesn’t know how to use any of them. Guess which one wins?
Without proper cybersecurity training, your staff might unknowingly fall victim to phishing scams. Or inadvertently expose sensitive information. Or all other sorts of activities that keep any educated owner or manager up with nightmares. Regularly educate your team about cybersecurity best practices.
Such as:
- Recognizing phishing emails
- Avoiding suspicious websites
- Using secure file-sharing methods
No Data Backups: The Cryptic Catastrophe
Imagine waking up to find your business’s data gone, vanished into the digital abyss. Without backups, this nightmare can become a reality. Data loss can be due to hardware failures or ransomware attacks among many other unforeseen disasters.
Embrace the 3-2-1 rule. Have at least three copies of your data, stored on two different media types. With one copy stored securely offsite. Regularly test your backups to ensure they are functional and reliable.
No Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): The Ghoulish Gamble
Using only a password to protect your accounts is asking for trouble. It’s like having nothing but a screen door at the entrance of your business. Heads up, that was NOT just the cat banging the screen door. . .
Adding MFA provides an extra layer of protection. It requires users to provide extra authentication factors like a one-time code or passkey sent to text or email messages. This makes it much harder for cyber attackers to breach your accounts.
Disregarding Mobile Security: The Haunted Phones
Mobile devices have become office workhorses. But they can also be haunted by security risks. Ensure that all company-issued devices have passcodes or biometric locks enabled. Consider implementing mobile device management (MDM) solutions to enable you to enforce security policies. MDM solutions can also remotely wipe data and ensure devices stay up to date.
Shadow IT: The Spooky Surprise
Shadow IT refers to the use of unauthorized applications within your business. It might seem harmless when employees use convenient tools they find online, but these unvetted applications can pose serious security risks. In addition, it’ll generally make your IT team contemplate going full Pennywise.
Put in place a clear policy for the use of software and services within your business. Regularly audit your systems to uncover any shadow IT lurking under cover.
Incident Response Plan: The Horror Unleashed
Even with all precautions in place, security incidents still happen. Without an incident response plan, an attack can leave your business scrambling. Think of it like your plan to get out when you find out the phone call is coming from inside the house.
Develop a comprehensive incident response plan. It should outline key items such as how your team will detect, respond to, and recover from security incidents. Regularly test and update the plan to ensure its effectiveness.
Why Is This Published By A Business Phone Company?
Here at NoContractVoIP, we believe that your success creates our success. And, since we specialize in business communication, we work to help you communicate better while staying safe. We create the cutting edge communication systems that modern companies need. And we geek out on tech stuff, so we study it for you.
To talk to a business phone system specialist and never worry about any of this again, call 866-550-0005 or contact us today.
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