And yet, there are simple yet effective ways to prevent a cybersecurity breach from happening to your business. The most common attacks to avoid:

• Phishing or Social Engineering
• Identity theft 
• Data Hacking 

You can’t leave the door wide open for potential cybercriminals to compromise your network systems over lack of best practices and employee training. It can put the company at financial risk, or worse, a loss of trust and reputation with clients. 

Need help with creating a comprehensive security breach prevention plan for your small business? Let Us Help you. 

We share six ways to help you prevent a security breach with your company (some you can implement today). Let’s get started.

Six Steps On How to Prevent a Security Breach in the Workplace

1. Phishing Training

Close to 90% of organizations from around the world have experienced phishing attempts in 2019. Setting up proper Phishing Training with employees once a year is a good practice to prevent a security breach in the workplace. Remind employees to stay vigilant about unfamiliar email addresses, check the spelling, and avoid opening attachments with a suspicious headline of urgency. 

2. Complex Password Policy 

Training employees on how to create complex passwords should be a standard practice to avoid a security breach. Passwords should have at least eight characters consisting of upper, lower case, numbers, and characters. 

Example: “H01ly$Wood” for Hollywood. 

Pro-Tip: Add a two or multi-factor authentication. It offers an additional layer of security by sending a code or asking to answer a pre-set question to access data.

3. Strictly Business Use

Implementing employee training on “business only use” for laptops and smartphones will help keep your company’s data and sensitive client information protected. The training should also include a policy for USB flash drives or external drives not provided by the company. With the use of an unauthorized external drive, it could have a virus that could potentially infect computers and the network. 

4. Protect Wi-Fi Routers 

A password should protect the company’s routers, and people with specific credentials should only access it. The routers should be set to highly secure encryption settings and on a different IP scheme from the network. Most routers have this capability; if not, it’s time to upgrade your router. 

5. Security Starts at the Front Door

Every company should have standard procedures and policies that keep the office safe. These practices should also include best cybersecurity practices like:

• Passwords should not be available in plain sight.

• Do not leave your computer/server unattended and easily accessible. 

• Every computer should have a screensaver.   

6. Patch Management

Like how your smartphone needs an update of the latest version, applies the same practice to the computer operating systems and software. It is crucial to have the latest antivirus and anti-malware with the latest definitions protecting your data. And every node in your system should be updated with the latest updates.

Employee Training to Avoid a Security Breach is Just the Start

We listed the six steps to prevent a cybersecurity breach at the most basic (and fastest) level. 

Cybercriminals are becoming more sophisticated, using bots to crawl networks to look for vulnerabilities or utilizing the Dark Web to purchase passwords and credentials-posing as you or an employee to hack into your system.     

The best recommendation we provide to clients who have been victims of a cyberattack is implementing a multi-layered security plan. 

A multi-layered plan proactively secures the data at every possible entry point in the system. We explain the three main elements of what a multi-layered security strategy should entail. To learn more about the elements, click on the link below. 

Want help with your cyber security strategy? Contact us for a free consultation.

The post 6 Tips to Prevent a Security Breach appeared first on CEO Computers.

But the cost of a cybersecurity attack isn’t just damaging to the balance sheet of the company, it can have a negative impact later down the road.  

A business owner may think they have mitigated the situation, but there be hidden issues beneath the surface of a cybersecurity attack. Consider these potential issues a security breach or attack can cause over time.

The Hidden Cost of a Cybersecurity Attack

Image via Deloitte Risk Beneath the Surface Report

• A loss of trust from your clients to keep their information private and safe.

• Damage to your business’s reputation in the community or industry.

• A pending lawsuit. 

• Ransomware payment

• Clients and victim compensation – The victims can ask for payment. 

• Compliance violation fees – You may have to deal with the government regarding jeopardizing your clients’ information.

• Potential loss of  talented employees

For over two decades, we have paid attention to the changing landscape of cyber security. And we have noticed how most business owners aren’t adapting to the changes—allowing the possibility of a security breach in the company’s network.  

We share 14 informational data points and warning signs to help you safeguard your organization’s most valuable assets from a cyberattack.

Need help protecting sensitive data and information for your small business? Let Us Help you. 

Cybersecurity Attacks: 14 Warning Signs Every Business Owner Shouldn’t Ignore 

1. Your Business is Not Too Small for a Cybersecurity Attack  

54% of small business owners think their business is too small for a possible security breach, but unfortunately, 43% of small businesses have been a target of cybercrimes.  

2. Cybercrime is in the Billions  

According to the FBI, in 2020, a $4.1 billion loss was due to cybercrimes (IC3 2020 Report).

3. Six Days to Resolve a Ransomeware Incident

6.2 days is the average time it takes to address and fix a ransomware incident, according to the Coveware Ransomeware Marketplace report. 

4. Public Wi-FI are Threats

Public Wi-Fi can be an opportunity to have your network compromised by local hackers. A VPN (virtual private network) is a safe way to connect to your internal network.

5. Cybercrime is on the Rise

75% of the world’s businesses experienced some time of phishing attack in 2020. More false emails attempting to extort information or money have risen since the beginning of the pandemic.

6. Cybercriminals Are Getting Sophisticated

To get their malicious software installed on business computers, criminals are mixing and matching adware, spyware, keyloggers, viruses, rootkits, information “scraped” from social networks, and purchase credentials from Dark Web.

7. Cybercriminals Run It Like a Business

Well-funded professional criminals plan, research, and organize automated attacks on individual companies and government entities.

8. Open Access to Everyone

Limit access and permission to your sensitive data. Not everyone in your office should have access to every file and folder. 

9. Business Email Schemes Cost 1.8 Billion in Losses in 2020

Up to 90% of email is spam, and email is the primary tool cybercriminals use to access your employee’s computer and network.

10. Ransomware Infections from Remote Desktops

84% of ransomware infections were initiated by remote desktop protocols (RDP) in Q4 2018, and it’s safe to say that figure has jumped due to the shift of workers working remotely. 

Image via Coveware Ransomeware Report (Q4 2018)

11. Data is Not Encrypted 

Encrypt your data that travels outside of your office. In case a laptop is lost or stolen your sensitive data is safe.

12. Employee Errors Can Cause Damage

48% of the breaches are caused by human factors/errors. Therefore, it is best to provide regular employee awareness training.

13. Weak Passwords Can Make a Network Vulnerable 

Take password policy seriously. The use of complex passwords and changing them on a quarterly basis is standard password practice. Using a two-factor authentication system can add another layer of security. 

14. Employees Use Work Laptop Like their Personal 

As a result, over 80% of breaches are caused by employees. Set up training and policies for employees to understand the proper protocols of using a company laptop.

So there you have it, 14 tips and warning signs that shed some light on how to safeguard you from a cyberattack. 

But a few tips aren’t enough to protect your company. If you want to learn more about thoroughly safeguarding your business’s network, we published an article on three essential elements of building a comprehensive cyber security plan. Continue to read “What is a Multi-layered Security Plan? And Why your Business Needs It’.   

Want help with your cyber security strategy? Contact us for a free consultation.

The post The Cost of a Cybersecurity Attack: 14 Warning Signs Every Business Shouldn’t Ignore appeared first on CEO Computers.