You probably know that hundreds of new cyber threats and risks are emerging every day. This is because hackers and cybercriminals are becoming faster and more creative. While Wi-Fi offers you the convenience and benefit of a seamless and untethered data connection, note that it comes with many security vulnerabilities that hackers like to exploit.

Hackers will probably continue to use malware and viruses, such as ransomware, because many companies and businesses would rather pay the hefty ransom and get access to their data and accounts than lose it all and start from scratch. Keep in mind that in the US alone, there were about 1001 data breaches in 2020, and more than 155.8 million people were affected.

Did you know that more than 60% of all data breaches were the result of hacking or malware? This is why American businesses are now more concerned about their cybersecurity than physical crimes.

Follow these tips and tricks to protect your business devices and laptops and safeguard your sensitive customer data:

Make Sure Your Data is Encrypted and Secure

Note that hackers and cybercriminals are focused on two things: creating panic and chaos and stealing money. This is why if your business data is unsecured, credit card accounts, bank routing digits, and employee social security numbers are all a gold mine for hackers.

It is vital to encrypt as well as password-protect mobile devices, such as tablets, laptops, and smartphones. You should set policies on who has access to these devices and who can remove them from your office.

If your data is not currently being transmitted or transferred over the internet, you would like it to be encrypted. You should also turn on full-disk encryption tools. You will be happy to know that these tools come standard on many operating systems.

Develop and Enforce Robust Cybersecurity Procedures and Policies

Keep in mind that cybersecurity can often be like a physical safety protocol. This is because once you establish it, it may start to degrade since employees become more familiar with it. They also start ignoring it, and as the threat profile changes, it may cause issues.

For instance, if your company developed cybersecurity policies and procedures three years ago and hasn’t updated them since, these procedures are most likely obsolete.

It is essential to develop incident response and cybersecurity policies and procedures in order to adequately respond to and help mitigate the cost of a potential data breach.

Backup Your Data

You probably know that backing up your systems and data is one of the essential steps to risk management; however, it is often overlooked. The primary purpose of the backup is creating a copy of data, such as customer email IDs, which can be recovered if there is a primary data failure.

If your data is corrupted by malware, virus, or a system crash, note that a secure archive of critical information will ensure that you still have access to that data. However, remember that creating a backup does not prevent unauthorized parties, including hackers, from accessing stolen information, and you should use it in tandem with various other security measures, such as encryption and firewalls.

Ignore Spam

Always beware of emails from unknown parties, and do not click on links or open files and attachments that accompany them. You will be happy to know that inbox spam filters have gotten quite good at catching the trickiest spam.

Block Potential Intruders

All company laptops and devices should have up-to-date anti-virus and spyware protection. Also, make sure that any employee who attempts to access data from a mobile device, such as a smartphone, should have firewall software. You should also run full scans for viruses and spam at least once a week.

Final Thoughts

There is no doubt that understanding the cyber terminology, complex threats, and opportunities is crucial for every person and business owner in every business across every industry. Keep in mind that by providing advanced and relevant cyber training and education solutions to all departments of your company or small business, from sales and marketing to IT, you’re investing in your company’s protection against hackers and cyber threats.

The expert IT professionals at Prescient are available 24/7 to assist and guide your company if you need protection against hackers and other cybercriminals. If you’re searching for a reliable and affordable service that can secure your business against hackers, contact Prescient.