Every business opportunity that arises will always have problems that they face on a day to day basis. From a small-to-medium-sized business (SMB) to a Fortune 500 company; certain issues affect both companies.
Data theft, online fraud, or cybercrime, these are some of the factors that threaten the privacy of businesses. According to the (FSB)Federation of Small Businesses, approximately 4,000 small businesses have been affected, and almost a third of them fall victim to online crimes like security breaches due to malware infections.
SMBs are the ones that are significantly affected because cybercrime can compromise private customer data, making it nearly impossible to reduce customer churn and in the end affect the finances of the company. Though these can happen at any time, some measures can help make your business secure.
Steps To Secure the Longevity of Your Business
Create a cybersecurity culture
It is imperative that all the members of your company know and understand the importance of the company’s security policy.
You can include it in the staff-induction process. You can have six-monthly refreshers to make sure the employees are updated on any changes that have occurred, as well as threats that they should look out for.
All it takes is an hour. Sit down with your employee and go through the security details that affect their position and answer any questions they might have. Communication and education go hand-in-hand when dealing with cybercrime as computer technology is the only means by which you can protect your data.
For this to be effective, you need the entire hierarchy of the business to be on board with the security policy. Training should be done according to the roles each employee plays in the company.
Be prepared
Prepare a document that contains details on the steps you will take to protect your data, and the actions you will take if anything goes wrong.
Small business owners should make sure that IT security policy is essential for them because implementing an IT policy can make a huge difference to their company.
IT security should be considered a dynamic device that will aid you as a business owner in understanding what data security means for your business. All you have to do is build a structured response that is suitable for your needs.
The best IT policy will protect your data and provide you with the necessary steps to initiate when things go wrong. An incident-response plan will make it easier for you to handle the stress if anything goes wrong compared to trying to come up with solutions spontaneously.
Act today
The most crucial piece of security advice is to be responsible for your data, and you need to do it now.
Whether you have educated your employees on security policy or not, you still need to ensure that you have a security policy regardless of the precautions you have taken. IT security is ever-changing as new threats arise each time, and ensuring your data is secure is a priority for your company.
Implement a mobile device policy
Numerous security vulnerabilities accompany mobile devices. A recent study has revealed that 67% of organizations allow employees to download non-vetted apps when using their work devices.
Hackers can get a hold of sensitive files, personal data or hijack a camera and spy on meetings because of non-vetted apps. As a business owner, you need to have a detailed mobile security plan that will defend your company network from breaches when such vulnerabilities occur.
A mobile security plan needs to be broader than managing the mobile device. The risks associated with unverified apps increase the need for the practice of assessing the kind of information that is accessible by employees via their mobile phones.
Share your information
IT and security professionals hardly share information with other groups. According to a survey, only 36% do share, while about 52% do not share any information.
The IT sector in your business needs to share expertise and data effectively with your employees so that they can be aware of the tricks cyber-criminals use.
As a company you need to be part of a well-built cyber threat intelligence sharing platform; your IT team needs to connect with other industries and companies to learn how to stop and protect themselves from cyber threats.
Conclusion
Cybercriminals are smart people who will always be ahead of the curve; it is imperative that you stay prepared. Do not allow your business to become a victim due to your lack of improving IT security. Be prepared, plan and implement an IT security plan to reduce customer churn.