There are a myriad of security threats to their information that can cause harm to their business. These include however, they are not restricted to:
Attacks using phishing:
This type of cyber attack occurs by hackers sending fake URLs that appear as if they came from a trusted source. They use this technique to trick people into sharing personal data such as login information or financial information.
Malware infections:
Malware is software created to cause harm to the computer or network. The effects of infection can be anything from annoying pop-ups, to more serious issues, such as the theft of data or system crashes.
Passwords that are weak:
Weak passwords can be easily discovered from hackers, and can allow access to sensitive information. Hackers can find passwords using a variety of methods, such as the use of brute force, social engineering strategies and even through obtaining passwords via leaks or data breaches.
Wi-Fi networks that are not secured:
Hackers have the capability to steal information that is sent over unsecure Wi-Fi networks. This information can contain sensitive data such as login credentials financial data, as well as other private data. Hackers can utilize this information for malicious purposes including financial fraud or identity theft.
Security of mobile devices:
It is essential to secure mobile devices like tablets and smartphones. Common security threats include the loss or theft of devices, leading to unauthorised access to sensitive data, the absence of encryption which can allow hackers to steal information, weak passwords or PINs, apps that are not secure and can be attacked by hackers, and obsolete software or firmware with security flaws.
Information Security 101 for companies
Businesses must take proactive steps to reduce risks and safeguard the sensitive information they store. Here are the 8 most important and easy-to-implement tips to protect information security for companies:
1. Implement strict password policies and multi-factor authentication whenever you can.
A secure password must contain more than 12 characters, and comprise a mixture of lower and uppercase characters, numbers and symbols. It shouldn’t contain any personal information like birth dates, names or addresses. It must be unique for each account to stop hackers from gaining access to several accounts that share identical passwords.
Multi-factor authentication, for example using a code via a mobile device can be a great way to add an additional layer of security for passwords. Google Authenticator, Microsoft Authenticator and Authy are some of the most popular multi-factor authentication applications. They are free for each of Android as well as iOS devices These applications can provide an additional layer of security for online accounts.
2. Every month make sure to update security software and systems regularly..
It is essential to update your security and software to guard against threats such as malware and viruses. The updates typically contain security patches to address known vulnerabilities and assist in preventing cyberattacks. If security systems and software aren’t regularly updated companies could be exposed to cyberattacks which can result in massive financial losses, reputational harm and legal liability.
3. Conduct regular data backups.
The regular backup of data is among the most essential steps companies can undertake to ensure security and stability of their business. Data loss can be caused by various reasons, such as system failures or human mistakes, as well as cyber-attacks. If businesses do not have adequate backups, they are at risk of losing important data, which can cause major disruptions to their operations or revenue loss, as well as reputational harm. When they regularly backup critical information, companies can be sure that they can quickly and efficiently recover from data loss and resume normal business activities.
It is recommended to develop the backup schedule in accordance with your company’s needs and to save backups in areas which are safe and accessible in the event there is an emergency. It is important to check backups frequently to ensure that the data can be immediately and efficiently restored when there is loss of data. In addition, it is suggested to create an emergency plan for recovery that specifies the steps that must be followed in the event of a significant loss of data that includes the responsibilities and roles of the key players and the steps that must be taken to limit the damage and to restore operations as fast as quickly as possible.
4. Help employees recognize and avoid attacks using social engineering such as pretexting or phishing.
Employees can be taught to identify and avoid social engineering threats by offering them regular training sessions covering the most recent threats and strategies employed by attackers. These training sessions can include simulated scams as well as other techniques for social engineering and directions on how to recognize and identify suspicious messages or emails. It is vital to emphasize that it is crucial to verify the authenticity of any requests to provide sensitive data, like login information or financial details before deciding whether to respond.
Employees must also be taught to be aware of the dangers of clicking on URLs or downloading attachments that come from unknown sources and to immediately report suspicious activity or request with their department’s IT or security staff. As in the event of security breaches it is essential to establish and implement specific security policies and procedures which outline the steps that must be followed in the case of a security breach that include the role and responsibilities of the major players and the steps that must follow to reduce the damage and to restore operations as fast as quickly as possible.
5. Implement security guidelines on mobile phones in order to make sure that confidential information is not saved on these devices.
The most commonly used security guidelines that are applicable to mobile phones basically similar to other kinds of devices. It is only necessary to know that smartphones must be considered in these policies. In addition to the implementation of password policies, routine software updates, and the other previously mentioned suggestions mobile devices should come with remote wipe features to wipe out data from stolen or lost devices, and device tracking and geolocation services to locate stolen or lost devices.
It is essential to make sure that the devices that are employed for business use such as employee-owned devices or “bring your own device” (BYOD) devices are secure as well as that staff are properly trained to abide by established security policies and guidelines.
6. Be aware of threats from insiders and put in place appropriate security measures to avoid accidental or intentional attacks on sensitive data.
To detect insider threats, businesses can implement security measures, such as access control or monitoring software. These security measures can stop accidental or intentional data leaks. By monitoring the behavior of employees businesses can spot unusual behaviors which could signal the existence of a security threat.
To guard your company’s data from outside threats You can utilize anti-detection browsers for multi-accounts. This software lets you share access to your company’s accounts across multiple platforms and social media accounts. It also lets you set roles that are flexible and keep track of the details of your team members’ log of their interactions.
Octo Browser is a professional application that lets you manage your accounts within a shared workspace across multiple computers and IP addresses, without being subject to checkspoints or bans on multi-accounting. This is that in addition, that your accounts will not be restricted by a platform that allows multiple accounts on a small range of devices. You can also monitor the online activities of your employees and assign roles to limit access to private profiles.
7. Conduct due diligence with vendors of third party to make sure they have safety measures.
To ensure that you are doing your proper due diligence you could be required to read their security procedures and policies, check their security certifications and conformity against industry standard, or request references from former customers or clients.
8. Encrypt your sensitive data while in transit as well as at rest.
To secure sensitive data companies should employ encryption. The process of encryption involves encoding data in a way that data can only read by authorized individuals with the right keys that allows them to read it. There are two main kinds of encryption which are symmetric encryption and an asymmetric encryption.
Symmetric encryption utilizes the same key to encode and decrypt data. The key has to remain hidden to protect the safety of the data. The symmetric encryption on other hand, utilizes two keys -two keys – a public key as well as private key to decrypt and encrypt data. A public key can be distributed to anyone whereas the private key needs to be kept private.
Common encryption protocols include Secure Sockets Layer (SSL), Transport Layer Security (TLS) as well as Pretty Good Privacy (PGP).
SSL as well as TLS are used extensively to secure data during transport, for instance when you send data via the Internet. To secure data using SSL you’ll need for the SSL certificate on the server. This certificate will contain the public key required to decrypt the data.
Conclusion
PGP is in contrast is widely used to secure data in still, like when you store information on the hard drive or any other storage device. To protect data using PGP you’ll need an PGP encryption software like Gpg4win, or Kleopatra. Once you’ve installed the program then you can utilize it to generate an PGP key pair consisting of a public and private key. You can give the public keys with any person that needs to send encrypted messages and keep your private key secure and safe.
