Whether you want to believe it or not, your company is at risk of a cyber threat every single day. Most of the time even the smallest mistake or oversight can lead to a large data breach. You have to understand cyber criminals are extremely smart and can detect a vulnerability in your network easily. That’s why IT support for small businesses is critical to have so you will always be protected as much as possible. Here are some basic tips you can use to ensure you’re defending against cyber attacks the best you can.
1. Keep Software and Hardware Updated
Updates to software and hardware happen for a reason. These IT security services can detect possible vulnerabilities, which require a patch to get fixed. If you don’t update the service right away, you’re just leaving an opening for a potential hacker to compromise your data. It doesn’t do any good to have the best software if you don’t take the proper steps to keep them updated, so make it a point to check for updates frequently.
2. Encrypt Files and Networks
You can almost guarantee a hacker will be able to find his way into your network one way or another. But if you have all of your networks and files encrypted, he won’t be able to access anything once he gets in. Some of the best IT management solutions involve widespread encryption, since it’s extremely difficult or impossible to get into.
3. Use Firewalls
The basic IT security services include the use of firewalls. These help protect a company’s computer network against viruses, malware, spyware and any attempts at phishing attacks. Firewalls aren’t completely exempt from being broken into, but a potential hacker will have a much harder time getting in your files with one than without.
4. Educate Your Employees
Possibly the best tip we have is to educate your employees about working online. Many people don’t understand how cyber criminals work, which can lead to carelessness when it comes to checking emails or clicking on popup windows. Numerous cyber attacks could have been prevented if employees were conscious about what they were doing and understood the consequences. It’s worth your time to take an hour or two to train your employees on cyber security each year.
If your company is looking for comprehensive IT management solutions to help protect from a possible cyber attack, be sure to contact us at Single Point of Contact.