If you take a look at the surveys and reports from the last decade, you'll certainly see a growing trend. Almost all companies, regardless of industry, are very worried about their digital security. That's no surprise once you learn that U.S. companies experienced 1,244 data breaches that exposed 446.5 million records in 2018 alone. The danger of being attacked is always there: It's estimated that a hacker tries to break into a computer every 39 seconds on average.
\r\nThat's why businesses have security at the top of their concerns, and why you should too. Considering the issue seriously is the first step in implementing a strong security strategy that keeps you protected.
\r\nInstalling firewalls and antivirus software and hiring QA services to identify bugs in your systems isn't enough anymore. When it comes to cybersecurity, you need to bring your A-game. Here are five ways you can improve your business's cybersecurity.
\r\nOne of the most basic things you can do to limit the risks of an attack is to always use the latest versions of the software you have installed on your systems. That includes every application you use on desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices, as well as the operating system each one of them is running.
\r\nThis seems like a simple task, yet things can get tricky if you have tailor-made software and/or the size of your digital environment is considerable. On one hand, customized software needs a specific development team to take care of it. That team needs to include QA development services in what it offers, as you'll need not just to add new features but also to patch up any bugs that might have been ignored or the ones that might appear when you develop an update.
\r\nOn the other hand, the size of your digital environment matters because it might take considerable time to deploy updates for a large number of devices. Imagine that you have hundreds of devices with several applications each waiting to be updated. Your IT department needs to find the right time to apply the updates while staying on top of their other responsibilities.
\r\nAll digital systems manage some sort of sensitive data. It might be information about your customers, your employees or your own business plans. That's why you need to take every measure you can to ensure that information is protected against malicious agents. That means that, aside from QA development, you'll also need help from cybersecurity experts to make sure all data is encrypted.
\r\nWhy should you get specialized help if you can simply use one of the full-encryption tools already available in many operating systems? While it can't hurt for you to activate it, these solutions are broader and depend on a third-party provider to be updated. Thus, your data won't be as protected as if you decide to develop your own solution to fit the specific needs that arise from your workflow.
\r\nYou can even consider using blockchain for your internal network since the digital ledger uses hash codes to encrypt every transaction that happens within its blocks.
\r\nSince we're talking about secure networks, there's already a proven model that can help you increase the security of yours. We're talking about zero trust networks. These identify every network user and verify each device before granting any kind of access. The great thing about this kind of network is that it applies its security protocols regardless of the location the user is trying to access the system from.
\r\nZero trust networks only allow authorized users to access the specific areas of the system that system administrators have granted them permission to use. This reduces the number of potential attacks while also giving you control to track and trace all attempts from unauthorized users, as well as all unusual activities and patterns that can help you identify malicious actions.
\r\n\"Bring your own device\" (BYOD) is a common practice that allows employees to use their personal devices for work. The goal behind this is to allow workers to do their daily tasks with devices they feel comfortable with. However, BYOD can end up being disastrous for companies, as those devices can contain login information, business documents and other sensitive data that could fall into the wrong hands if the device is lost, misplaced or stolen.
\r\nIf you have a BYOD policy, it's up to you to keep an eye on that practice and ensure that any employee using it does so responsibly. You can increase your cybersecurity by moving your services to the cloud, so all the information is stored online and not kept in those devices. That way, you'd only have to worry about securing the login information rather than the whole ecosystem.
\r\nAll of the above steps aren't enough to secure your system. You can't expect cybersecurity software to take care of everything, especially because up to 90% of breaches are caused by human error. To ensure that your business is as protected as possible, you must train your employees in everything security-related.
\r\nYour training program has to be as comprehensive as possible. Don't assume that basic security tips and topics are common sense. Start with the essentials and build up from there. Also, be sure that all the people that use your company systems participate in the training, regardless of the positions they hold within your organization. It takes just one wrong habit to open a door that lets hackers into your system.
\r\nFinally, remember that this sort of training can't ever be considered finished. As new security features, tools and threats appear, you'll have to teach them to your staff. Of course, the first stages of the training will be the most thorough while the following stages will be more about updating your staff on specific topics and tasks.
\r\nYou can't take the cybersecurity of your business lightly. One mistake can cost you dearly, both in terms of money and reputation. Fortunately, there are things you can do right now to improve the way you protect your systems. From working with a QA development firm to patch up your custom-made applications to adhering to new security practices for all your staff, you can improve your defenses.
\r\nAll of the suggestions above might feel basic for security experts, but that's the whole point. These are the starting blocks for building better cybersecurity measures for your company. Once you've got these points covered, you should meet with an IT team to devise more sophisticated ways to increase your protection.
\n","docType":"article","guid":"articles_f7de8e5ed0bed3dd239a24c9a5fbbeac","lastModified":"2019-10-31T13:00:00.000Z","published":"2019-10-31T13:00:00.000Z","structuredData":null,"subtitle":"Here are five tips to help you improve the cybersecurity of your company.","template":"v1","title":"How to Improve the Cybersecurity of Your Business","type":"article","author":{"avatar":null,"bio":"I am the Founder and Chief Executive Officer at BairesDev. I am responsible for implementing and ensuring the successful management of the business and setting future strategies aimed at positioning my company as the #1 software company in the region.\r\n\r\nI hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Systems Engineering as well as a Master of Business Administration. \r\n\r\nI was born and raised in Argentina and I am an eager traveler who has visited over 50 countries. I speak 4 languages and I'm currently a resident of San Francisco, CA.","name":"Nacho De Marco","image":null,"slug":null,"social":{"facebook":"","linkedin":"https://www.linkedin.com/in/idemarco","twitter":"https://twitter.com/demarconacho","website":"https://www.bairesdev.com"},"status":"enabled","title":null,"type":"New BDC Member","user":{"imagePath":"https://staging.business.com/images/uploads/user/profile/4f930e245db0ab617865e77303d604773c18c.jpg","profile":{"company":"BairesDev","jobTitle":"Founder and Chief Executive Officer","website":"https://www.bairesdev.com"}}},"breadcrumbs":null,"channels":{"primary":{"name":"Technology","slug":"technology"},"sub":{"name":"Security","slug":"security"}},"meta":{"robots":"index, follow","description":"Hackers are relentless, and you may need more than antivirus software to protect your network. Here are five ways you can increase your digital security.","title":"5 Tips for Better Cybersecurity - business.com"},"parsedContent":{"toc":[{"id":"1-update-and-patch-everything-in-your-systems","title":"1. Update and patch everything in your systems."},{"id":"2-encrypt-the-data-you-handle","title":"2. Encrypt the data you handle."},{"id":"3-mount-zero-trust-networks","title":"3. Mount zero trust networks."},{"id":"4-keep-tight-control-over-your-information-transfer","title":"4. Keep tight control over your information transfer."},{"id":"5-teach-your-employees-about-secure-practices","title":"5. Teach your employees about secure practices."},{"id":"final-words","title":"Final words"}],"json":[{"component":"p","children":["If you take a look at the surveys and reports from the last decade, you'll certainly see a growing trend. Almost all companies, regardless of industry, are very worried about their digital security. That's no surprise once you learn that U.S. companies experienced ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.statista.com/statistics/273550/data-breaches-recorded-in-the-united-states-by-number-of-breaches-and-records-exposed/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["1,244 data breaches"]}," that exposed 446.5 million records in 2018 alone. The danger of being attacked is always there: It's estimated that a hacker tries to break into a computer ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://eng.umd.edu/news/story/study-hackers-attack-every-39-seconds","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["every 39 seconds"]}," on average."]},{"component":"p","children":["That's why businesses have security at the top of their concerns, and why you should too. Considering the issue seriously is the first step in implementing a strong security strategy that keeps you protected."]},{"component":"p","children":["Installing firewalls and ",{"component":"Link","props":{"href":"https://www.business.com/categories/best-antivirus-and-internet-security/"},"children":["antivirus software"]}," and hiring ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.bairesdev.com/expertise/software-testing-qa/","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow noopener external"},"children":["QA services"]}," to identify bugs in your systems isn't enough anymore. When it comes to cybersecurity, you need to bring your A-game. Here are five ways you can improve your business's cybersecurity."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"1-update-and-patch-everything-in-your-systems"},"children":["1. Update and patch everything in your systems."]},{"component":"p","children":["One of the most basic things you can do to limit the risks of an attack is to always use the latest versions of the software you have installed on your systems. That includes every application you use on desktop computers, laptops and mobile devices, as well as the operating system each one of them is running."]},{"component":"p","children":["This seems like a simple task, yet things can get tricky if you have tailor-made software and/or the size of your digital environment is considerable. On one hand, customized software needs a specific development team to take care of it. That team needs to include QA development services in what it offers, as you'll need not just to add new features but also to patch up any bugs that might have been ignored or the ones that might appear when you develop an update."]},{"component":"p","children":["On the other hand, the size of your digital environment matters because it might take considerable time to deploy updates for a large number of devices. Imagine that you have hundreds of devices with several applications each waiting to be updated. Your IT department needs to find the right time to apply the updates while staying on top of their other responsibilities."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"2-encrypt-the-data-you-handle"},"children":["2. Encrypt the data you handle."]},{"component":"p","children":["All digital systems manage some sort of sensitive data. It might be information about your customers, your employees or your own business plans. That's why you need to take every measure you can to ensure that information is protected against malicious agents. That means that, aside from QA development, you'll also need help from cybersecurity experts to make sure all data is encrypted."]},{"component":"p","children":["Why should you get specialized help if you can simply use one of the full-encryption tools already available in many operating systems? While it can't hurt for you to activate it, these solutions are broader and depend on a third-party provider to be updated. Thus, your data won't be as protected as if you decide to develop your own solution to fit the specific needs that arise from your workflow."]},{"component":"p","children":["You can even consider using blockchain for your internal network since the digital ledger uses hash codes to encrypt every transaction that happens within its blocks. "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"3-mount-zero-trust-networks"},"children":["3. Mount zero trust networks."]},{"component":"p","children":["Since we're talking about secure networks, there's already a proven model that can help you increase the security of yours. We're talking about zero trust networks. These identify every network user and verify each device before granting any kind of access. The great thing about this kind of network is that it applies its security protocols regardless of the location the user is trying to access the system from."]},{"component":"p","children":["Zero trust networks only allow authorized users to access the specific areas of the system that system administrators have granted them permission to use. This reduces the number of potential attacks while also giving you control to track and trace all attempts from unauthorized users, as well as all unusual activities and patterns that can help you identify malicious actions."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"4-keep-tight-control-over-your-information-transfer"},"children":["4. Keep tight control over your information transfer."]},{"component":"p","children":["\"Bring your own device\" (BYOD) is a common practice that allows employees to use their personal devices for work. The goal behind this is to allow workers to do their daily tasks with devices they feel comfortable with. However, BYOD can end up being disastrous for companies, as those devices can contain login information, business documents and other sensitive data that could fall into the wrong hands if the device is lost, misplaced or stolen."]},{"component":"p","children":["If you have a BYOD policy, it's up to you to keep an eye on that practice and ensure that any employee using it does so responsibly. You can increase your cybersecurity by moving your services to the cloud, so all the information is stored online and not kept in those devices. That way, you'd only have to worry about securing the login information rather than the whole ecosystem."]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"5-teach-your-employees-about-secure-practices"},"children":["5. Teach your employees about secure practices."]},{"component":"p","children":["All of the above steps aren't enough to secure your system. You can't expect cybersecurity software to take care of everything, especially because up to ",{"component":"a","props":{"href":"https://www.techradar.com/news/90-percent-of-data-breaches-are-caused-by-human-error","target":"_blank","rel":"nofollow"},"children":["90% of breaches are caused by human error"]},". To ensure that your business is as protected as possible, you must train your employees in everything security-related. "]},{"component":"p","children":["Your training program has to be as comprehensive as possible. Don't assume that basic security tips and topics are common sense. Start with the essentials and build up from there. Also, be sure that all the people that use your company systems participate in the training, regardless of the positions they hold within your organization. It takes just one wrong habit to open a door that lets hackers into your system."]},{"component":"p","children":["Finally, remember that this sort of training can't ever be considered finished. As new security features, tools and threats appear, you'll have to teach them to your staff. Of course, the first stages of the training will be the most thorough while the following stages will be more about updating your staff on specific topics and tasks. "]},{"component":"h2","props":{"id":"final-words"},"children":["Final words"]},{"component":"p","children":["You can't take the cybersecurity of your business lightly. One mistake can cost you dearly, both in terms of money and reputation. Fortunately, there are things you can do right now to improve the way you protect your systems. From working with a QA development firm to patch up your custom-made applications to adhering to new security practices for all your staff, you can improve your defenses."]},{"component":"p","children":["All of the suggestions above might feel basic for security experts, but that's the whole point. These are the starting blocks for building better cybersecurity measures for your company. Once you've got these points covered, you should meet with an IT team to devise more sophisticated ways to increase your protection."]}]},"resource":null,"sponsorship":null,"thumbnail":{"path":"https://staging.business.com/images/content/5db/8c9b65a215e773e8b458d/1500-0-","caption":"scyther5 / Getty Images","isBlurred":false},"bestPicks":null},"related":{"relatedArticles":[{"title":"Your E-Commerce Data Security Checklist for 2020","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/ecommerce-data-security-checklist/","slug":"ecommerce-data-security-checklist","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5e8/22b9f7b4374651e8b456e/1500-0-","dek":"To protect your business from hackers and data theft – and to keep the customer trust you've worked hard to earn – make sure your company follows these 10 data security best practices.","lastModified":"2020-03-30T17:20:00Z","published":"2020-03-30T17:20:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Wireless Security In The Enterprise: Deploying WPA2-Enterprise","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/deploying-wpa2-enterprise-encryption/","slug":"deploying-wpa2-enterprise-encryption","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d0/1910b5a215e5d7d8b4580/1500-0-","dek":"The IEEE 802.11ax draft standard promises improved range, throughput and resiliency.","lastModified":"2018-07-11T14:26:00Z","published":"2018-07-11T14:26:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"Restaurant Security: A Guide to Getting Your Money's Worth","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/restaurant-security-guide/","slug":"restaurant-security-guide","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/58a/dced22f87b17e076bf981/1500-0-","dek":"It's hard to determine the ROI you will get from increasing your restaurant security.","lastModified":"2017-02-21T08:00:00Z","published":"2017-02-21T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"5 Tips and Tricks to Boost Small Business Security","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/smb-security-tips-and-tricks/","slug":"smb-security-tips-and-tricks","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d8/016785a215eb4428b4574/1500-0-","dek":"Keep your small business safe from hackers using these cybersecurity tips.","lastModified":"2019-09-19T15:00:00Z","published":"2019-09-19T15:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"7 Cybersecurity Strategies For Your Remote Workforce","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/remote-workforce-cybersecurity-strategies/","slug":"remote-workforce-cybersecurity-strategies","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ea/45d749c658aed5f8b458d/1500-0-","dek":"With remote work on the rise, making sure your employees' devices are protected from cybercriminals is crucial.","lastModified":"2020-04-25T18:00:00Z","published":"2020-04-25T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"5 Tips for Developing a More Secure IoT Policy for Your Organization","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/developing-a-more-secure-iot-policy/","slug":"developing-a-more-secure-iot-policy","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5a8/320ed51ee478b128b4568/1500-0-","dek":"Eliminate vulnerabilities, strengthen your data and protect your business.","lastModified":"2018-02-13T08:00:00Z","published":"2018-02-13T08:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"M-Commerce Is Booming. 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Security Tips to Protect Your Website From Hackers","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/tips-to-protect-your-website-from-hackers/","slug":"tips-to-protect-your-website-from-hackers","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ee/ba2b27b4374ed648b4572/1500-0-","dek":"Even as new and more effective security features and functions for websites emerge regularly, hackers are also always reinventing themselves to navigate around these security features.","lastModified":"2020-06-19T17:30:00Z","published":"2020-06-19T17:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"10 Common Social Engineering Tactics Used by Attackers","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/10-common-social-engineering-tactics-used-by-attackers/","slug":"10-common-social-engineering-tactics-used-by-attackers","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/technology.jpg","dek":"Learn What Social Engineering Is and How to Protect Your Business From Predators","lastModified":"2016-07-25T18:00:00Z","published":"2016-07-25T18:00:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Do a Cybersecurity Risk Assessment","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/cybersecurity-risk-assessment/","slug":"cybersecurity-risk-assessment","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5d2/2b53d5a215efd708b457a/1500-0-","dek":"Learn how to find the vulnerabilities and risks in your network before hackers do.","lastModified":"2019-08-09T13:30:00Z","published":"2019-08-09T13:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"How to Assess the Cybersecurity Risk of Your Small Business","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/assess-small-business-cybersecurity/","slug":"assess-small-business-cybersecurity","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/content/5ed/118db7b437422298b4576/1500-0-","dek":"Security risk profiles can help quantify cybersecurity risk.","lastModified":"2020-06-03T13:41:00Z","published":"2018-06-15T13:30:00Z","sponsored":false},{"title":"The Security Risks in Social Media: Interview with Joseph Steinberg","canonical":"https://www.business.com/articles/interview-with-joseph-steinberg-the-security-risks-in-social-media/","slug":"interview-with-joseph-steinberg-the-security-risks-in-social-media","thumbnail":"https://www.business.com/images/channel/technology.jpg","dek":"Cybersecurity Expert Shares How to Minimize Risks Related to Social Media","lastModified":"2016-01-05T19:00:00Z","published":"2016-01-05T19:00:00Z","sponsored":false}],"relatedReviews":[{"doc_type":"category","thumbnail":"https://staging.business.com/images/rz/5df908cc5a215e8c4a8b4568/conferencecall_Antonio_Diaz_Getty.jpg","canonical":"https://staging.business.com/categories/best-conference-call-services/","title":"The Best Conference Call Services of 2021","dek":"Which conference call service is right for your business in 2021? 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