Cybersecurity is one of the biggest concerns for any business or organization in this day and age. You can’t afford to not be on the internet, but there’s always a risk involved. Perhaps you need to use cloud storage to organize your data, or perhaps you use the internet to coordinate with teams all over the world. Odds are, you don’t have the luxury of only staying in spaces where hackers can’t get you. So what can you do to keep your company safe and your software secure?
Build Computer Literacy
Build computer literacy in your company with training seminars. After all, your employees can’t know what the best practices are without some training. Empower them to help you protect your systems by giving them the tools to spot breaches and holes quickly. You can also build your own computer literacy with an online computer engineering masters degree to ensure that you understand these things yourself. If you have an IT department, they may be able to help with training the rest of the company on how to use your software safely and prevent hackers from getting in.
Exercise Best Password Practices
Passwords are the keys that lock the doors on your software, and whether you’re using them for business or personal reasons, you should be careful with your passwords. Longer passwords are almost always better, and they should include a mix of letters, symbols, and numbers. They should also be changed regularly, and shouldn’t be the same across more than one account. Many of these practices are common sense, but passwords are the first line of defense and they shouldn’t be underestimated or undervalued. Make sure that everyone in your company is using the best password practices to ensure that your software is as secure as possible.
Install Safeguards
There are many practical safeguards that you can use to ensure that your software isn’t compromised. Install firewalls on your network to keep intruders and keep your employees off websites that could compromise your security. Keep good antivirus software on your computers to help guard against breaches from malware and other attacks. Safeguards aren’t just about making sure that hackers stay out of your software, they’re also about making sure that you’re prepared for if and when they do get into your network. For example, there are software packages that can automatically back up your data in separate locations so that you’re less vulnerable to ransomware attacks that hold your data hostage.
Stay on Top of Updates
That said, security software is only good if it’s up to date. Make sure that your firewall and antivirus is up to date, and keep your operating systems updated as well. Whatever irritation you might feel about an OS overhaul that changes the way you use your computer, software updates often include important security patches. A little irritation is worth the peace of mind knowing that you’ve done everything you can to stop hackers. Remember: while you are always doing your best to stay ahead of hackers, hackers are always doing their best to stay ahead of you. You have to up your security game before they catch up with you.
Be Prepared for the Worst
Last but not least, accept that there is no way to be absolutely certain that you can keep hackers out. You must be prepared for the worst-case scenario, with systems like the one we mentioned earlier to protect against data loss. The sad truth is that there is no way to be 100% certain that your system will be safe from hackers, but you can be 100% certain that you’re prepared for a breach with a data recovery program, and backup systems. Being prepared for hackers is a bit like having a plan for your family in case of fire. Of course, you hope that you’ll never need it, but if you do need it and you don’t have it, you’ll regret it forever.