Businesses Urged to Takes Cyber Security Seriously

Before you take flight on any airplane to anywhere, there is always a video or live presentation on aircraft safety followed by procedures you should take in case of an emergency. Now we all know that statistically speaking, the chances of a plan crash is very low– in fact, it is one in five million, yet we still proceed with those demonstrations. Why? Because of something called prevention.

If it is something that we can all relate to as human beings, it is that we learn our lessons most from our deepest failures. We can also testify that there are far too many situations we could have prevented if we had invested more attention in that area. Likewise, the way that many successful businesses face failure is not because they cannot manage themselves well, but because of outsource parties– cyber attacks and data hacks.

Now that your attention is captured, there are a series of basic cyber security procedures to ensure the safety of your data. Although you may have already have a security system set up, it may not be up to date. Cyber criminals are constantly discovering new ways to hack into systems. As they continuously find new tactics to breach our data, it also means that we must build stronger defense systems against them. In other words, we must be flexible at all times in order to prevent our most classified files from being hacked.

This checklist below abbreviates basic solutions all businesses should incorporate to prevent their data against hackers, including anti- virus software, firewalls, two- factor authentication, backup software/ services, drive encryption, and virtual private network.

Anti- Virus Software

This software scans computer files or memory for patterns of malware. This is done by looking for patterns based on the signatures or definitions of known malware from cyber criminals. Anti- virus vendors find new issues and update malware daily, so it is important that people have the latest updates installed on their computer. When selecting an anti- virus package, users should learn about its features, so they know what to expect. Keep security software set to automatically receive the latest updates so that it is always current.

Firewalls

These provide protection against outside attackers by shielding your computer or network from malicious or unnecessary web traffic and preventing malicious software from accessing your systems. Firewalls can be configured to block data from certain suspicious locations or applications while allowing relevant and necessary data through. Firewalls do not guarantee that a computer will not be attacked. Firewalls protect the device if the user accidentally installs malware. However, using a firewall in conjunction with other protective measures (such as anti-virus software and safe computing practices) will strengthen resistance to attacks.

Two- Factor Authentication

Two- factor authentication helps by adding an extra layer of protection beyond a password. Often two- factor authentication means the returning user must enter credentials (username and password) plus another step, such as entering a security code sent via text to a mobile phone. The idea is a thief may be able to steal the username and password but it’s highly unlikely they also would have a user’s mobile phone to receive a security code and complete the process. Businesses should use this option to prevent their accounts from being taken over by cyber criminals and putting their clients and colleagues at risk.

Backup Software/ Services

Critical files on computers should routinely be backed up to external sources. This means a copy of the file is made and stored either online as part of a cloud storage service or similar product. Or, a copy of the file is made to an external disk, such as an external hard drive that comes with multiple terabytes of storage capacity. Businesses should ensure that taxpayer data that is backed up also is encrypted.

Drive Encryption

Given the sensitive client data maintained on tax practitioners’ computer. users should consider drive encryption software for full- disk encryption. Drive encryption, or disk encryption, transforms data on the computer into unreadable files for an unauthorized person accessing the computer to obtain data. Drive encryption may come as a stand- alone security software product. It may also include encryption for removable media, such as a thumb drive and its data.

Virtual Private Network

If businesses must occasionally connect to unknown networks or work from home, establish an encrypted Virtual Private Network (VPN) to allow for a more secure connection. A VPN provides a secure, encrypted tunnel to transmit data between a remote user via the Internet and the company network. Search for “Best VPNs” to find a legitimate vendor; major technology sites often provide lists of top services.

This is only a brief summary of the basic ways you can prevent your most vital information and files for your business from getting breached. To find out information and in depth procedures on how you can protect your business’s safety, contact DDKinfotech’s most advanced and knowledgeable team at hello@ddkinfotech.com or 212-997-0600!