It often seems like not a day goes by without word of another cyberattack or data breach. From the United States government to major retailers, no one is immune from dedicated and talented hackers.
If you think your own business is safe from cyberattacks and data breaches, chances are you are mistaken. It is not a matter of if hackers will target your network. It is only a matter of when. If you have not yet taken steps to secure your network, you are living on borrowed time.
One of the easiest and most effective things you can do to protect your network is to install a quality spam filter. The majority of cyberattacks and phishing attempts come through email, and simply keeping spam out of your network can greatly reduce your risk.
Of course, even the best spam filter is not perfect, and it is impossible to keep every junk email out of your employees’ inboxes. That is why training is so important, and why you should be taking proactive steps to help your employees protect your network.
Recent examples have shown that humans are often the weakest link in the data security chain. Computers have always done exactly what they have been programed to do, and that is why human error climbs to the top of the list. Better employee training and more comprehensive policies can go a long way toward keeping your data secure and safe from hackers.
One of the best things you can do as a business owner is to train your workers to never click links in emails from unknown recipients. While emails and attachments from fellow employees are likely to be safe, the same cannot be said of attachments from other sources. Teaching your employees to be suspicious of unknown senders is one of the smartest things you can do to secure the company network.
“According to a public service announcement from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the CryptoWall variant of crypto-ransomware cost U.S. businesses and consumers at least $18 million between April 2014 and June 2015.”
Teaching employees to avoid clicking links and opening unknown attachments is one part of the process. Asking employees to report any suspicious emails or attachments is just as important.
This kind of reporting serves a number of different purposes. For one thing, it puts you on alert that hackers are targeting your system, thus prompting your security personnel and IT staff to be more vigilant. Reporting suspicious emails also allows the IT staff to tweak the spam filter and make it more effective. Those tweaks can keep even more suspicious emails out of employee inboxes and keep your network even more secure in the future.
Due to the rise in ransomware, where a hacker locks you out of your computer and data for ransom, becoming more prevalent these simple tips could save you from losing thousands of dollars from just one attack! According to a public service announcement from the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center, the CryptoWall variant of crypto-ransomware cost U.S. businesses and consumers at least $18 million between April 2014 and June 2015.
If you have any questions about taking the first steps in better protecting your network be reminded that not all information technology professionals are created equal. Ensure you contact a cybersecurity company with experience in IT security. It’s just like selecting a doctor, you wouldn’t go and see an optometrist for a foot problem would you?
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