Headlines regularly feature the latest cyber attacks affecting big, global enterprises, but hackers target all sizes of businesses. If you don’t have a solid policy for addressing vulnerabilities or handling an attack, it may be time to strengthen cyber security. While you may encounter endless lists of complicated disaster recovery tasks, you can begin with three items that will go a long way in protecting your business:

Implement Multi-Step Authentication: Your password protection plan should include requiring strong passwords as well as training employees on the importance of not sharing their passwords and updating them regularly. In addition, you need to take this further with multi-step authentication. You may require a special password from each different device a person uses or have them open an app to complete a second step such as providing a fingerprint. Even if a hacker gains access to a login and password, they’re not likely to also have the device or access to a fingerprint.

Transition to HTTPS: You may have wondered why there’s “HTTP” and there’s also “HTTPS.” HTTPS stands for “hypertext transfer protocol secure,” and the difference is that there’s an encryption of your web data. As websites increasingly include proprietary information or are integrated with other systems, you need the data to be completely protected. HTTPS does that through encryption. If someone is eavesdropping on either end of your network, encryption will prevent them from making sense of your data.

Invest in a Backup: If your data backup is still on-site, it may be time to consider a cloud option. When you use a cloud backup, you have the reassurance that whether it’s to strengthen cyber security against an outside hacker or simply an employee who makes a mistake, you can restore your business quickly and minimize downtime. 

There are other reasons besides cyber security to invest in your backup strategy. You may have a backup that goes awry or a natural disaster that wipes out not only your systems but also your backups stored only a few miles away. With a cloud data center, your backup will reside in a different geographical location and better protect your continuity. 

In a plan to strengthen cyber security, one of the most important things you can do is dedicate ample time for training. Many employees don’t understand the nature of cyber attacks or how they might impact the ability to continue business. Train employees to recognize a phishing email and how to report it and spend time talking about action plans for misplaced devices.

For more information about a plan to strengthen cyber security in your organization, or to learn about solutions designed to manage your security policy, contact us at Cloud Source. We look forward to helping you take meaningful action to secure your business’s future.