The Rise of Hacking: 4 Upsetting Ways Your Company is at Risk

Technically, anything you connect to the internet is at risk of being hacked. People are hacked every day and personal information suddenly becomes no longer personal. However, many businesses believe they aren’t big enough to be on a hacker’s radar, but that simply is not true. Although cyber-attacks on businesses might not be super common, being aware of a few of the most common ways a company’s security is breached is useful.

You should always want to make sure that you are doing all that you can to keep your company safe and secure and staying on top of information security is a huge part of that. Here are just a few tips for recognizing if your company is in danger to help you get started.

Not Having Rules for Employees Online Behavior

Whether you have ten employees or 200, it is crucial that you create and enforce a set of rules for employees online. Make sure that they are changing their passwords regularly and are not leaving their information in areas that are easy to access. You want to make sure they know to avoid risky links and email files, how to surf smart, and how to keep your confidential information secure.

All it takes is one slip up to cause a security breach, but with educated employees, the chances of that happening are greatly reduced. That is why it is essential for you to set strict rules and train your employees on things like this.

Having Weak Login Methods

One of the easiest ways for a breach to happen is a hacker exploiting a weak password. Having your employees create strong passwords and changing them frequently is a simple but important defense to your company’s data. Not only should you make sure your passwords are strong, but you should also be changing your password regularly.

Furthermore, having a two-step login authentication process will make it even more secure. This feature would require anyone logging on to your company’s network to provide two methods of verification, such as their password and birthday.

Not Encrypting or Backing up your Data Properly

The last thing you want to happen is your company’s data falling into the wrong hands. This is why encrypting your data is so important. Even if a hacker gains access to your network, they won’t be able to do anything with the data if you encrypt it. Backing up your data properly is just as important. Be wary of the cloud and other online services. It is in their best interest to keep your data secure, but remember that anything published online is at risk of being attacked.

Not having a Support System

Even if you take all possible precautions, there is a small, but very possible, chance that a security breach can happen. You need to have an information technology support system that you can reach out to. Companies such as Ottawa IT Support specialize in minimizing your network’s downtime and can be there to answer any questions or concerns you have. Having someone to contact who specializes in these things can save your company’s data, and save you time and money in the long run.

Although there is no way to completely prevent a cyber-attack, there are many things you can do as prevention to minimize the damage if they do happen. Being educated about the most common security risks is one of the greatest defenses against a cyber-attack. It is definitely essential for you to take the time to learn about it and teach your employees. It can really help save you a lot of stress down the road.