Several tools and benefits are used by companies, especially small and medium, to increase their productivity and have become more competitive in the market. But there is always one in the spotlight: along with all this technology and services available, there are the safety risks that the internet "offers", which requires companies to take action to protect information from their business and customers, as well as avoid incidents and costs with equipment and software.
Even with the arrival of LGPD , the general data protection law, only 4% of small and medium -sized companies are already prepared to adapt the law . Allied to this, Brazilian companies pay 3 times more than the global average in ransomware attacks because it does not have efficient protection systems and do not have the correct awareness of internet security.
It is virtually impossible to be totally protected from the risks and digital attacks, but some measures can keep your business considerably protected and not part of the statistics mentioned above.
Prevention is the key word. Protection goes through various levels, from simple guidance actions and technology use practices to employees to investments in servers and robust corporate solutions.
In the coming lines, we have listed 11 practical prevention measures to keep your business protected from the risk of information security attacks and incidents.
Antivirus
Basic yes, but still very necessary. Antivirus is crucial in all equipment, and can be free versions such as Avast and AVG or paid like McAfee , Bitdefender or Kaspersky .
Some say that using antivirus is no longer necessary. However, several tests show that it is still important to use this protective tool on the devices, especially on computers in business environments. In the video below, you can see some of these tests:
In addition, it is essential that antivirus is always up to date and configured according to the company's security policy. An outdated antivirus loses much of its efficiency and makes computers vulnerable to attacks.
Keep software updated
Updates are not just for interface improvements, layout modernization or new features. Along with the change package, there are improvements in the safety part of all software, so all software used in the company's computers and equipment must be up to date.
The operating system and browsers should be more careful as they are usually the most used.
Protect your Wi-Fi network
If your business has some Wi-Fi network available, it is important to protect access from strangers and intruders. To do this use a strong password and data encryption connection. Also change the default router settings used by changing the access panel access password.
An additional security configuration is to activate filters by MAC (Media Access Control) address, stating a list of the addresses of devices that are authorized to connect to your network, so you can restrict access from other equipment that is not on this list.
Establish a policy for the use of technology resources
The creation of guidelines regarding the use of technology is very important in the corporate environment. Employees need to know the rules on the use of the internet, installation of software on computers, use of smarthphones and personal equipment. In this policy it is necessary to define all rules and punishments in case of non -compliance with what was established.
The rules that make up the company's policy must be widely disclosed and employees must be aware of what they may or may not do, in addition to the established punishments.
You can create a technology usage policy document for business so that all employees are aware of the rules and can sign, proving their science and commitment to the established guidelines.
Training for employees
Most safety problems have the gateway to professionals, who by carelessness and lack of attention provide important data or allow the installation of viruses and malware on computers.
Guiding employees about care to be taken regarding the company's internet security is of utmost importance.
The vast majority of security problems can be avoided with care and precaution by professionals, so training can be part of the company's ambiance process for example, and to be constantly reinforced and perfected according to hacker attacks and strategies are changing.
Have backup of all the relevant data of your business
Define copies of copies of all important data from your company. For more relevant information, such as financial data or customer information, products and services, it is recommended to make daily backup, carried out automatically. In addition, keep the copies safe and stored in at least two different locations.
Computer data and other information, a weekly and properly stored copy ensures the recovery of this data in the case of losses.
A good alternative is the use of cloud services for file storage such as Google Drive or Drop box . Services like these are automatic backup, as well as providing access to files widely from any location or device connected to the internet.
Limit physical access to computers
Do not allow intruders to have physical access to their computers or internal servers. Avoid leaving portable computers to access strangers and set access passwords on all company computers and systems. This identification is important to track any activity performed, both strangers and employees themselves, who can often perform improper operations that will cause inconvenience and even damage to the company.
Protect financial systems information
This is an item that should pay extra attention from managers because this is where most internet attacks are directed. Keep access restricted to the company's data and financial systems, such as bank passwords, allowing only trusted and trained people to operate this information.
It is common for social engineering actions as connections by simulating contacts from financial institutions or fake emails that direct to access to fake bank sites. In these cases it is essential to always have the maximum precaution.
Be rigorous in the definition of passwords
Using weak passwords is another factor that contributes a lot to safety failures. According to a survey , in 2020 the most widely used password on the internet was “123456”. Alarming.
Have as a rule the definition of long passwords, which combine alphanumeric characters, uppercase and lowercase, numbers and symbols. Also, do not store passwords in places that anyone has access.
To make it easier for this process, we create a guide for the creation and management of secure accounts and passwords that you can download for free.
Blocking access to harmful websites and internet control
It is recommended to use tools that avoid access to harmful websites that may install viruses or malware. It is common for employees to receive fake link messages that direct to these sites, as well as access to sites of some types of content, such as games, downloads or adult content.
Most attacks start from access to a harmful or malicious website, after that malware installs a virus hiddenly on the equipment and thus opens a door to the network so that ransomware attacks occur, for example.
A good alternative solution for internet access control in small and medium enterprises is Lumiun Box , which filters access to malicious websites and can protect your network from integrated firewall. In addition, the solution is easy to implement and management and demand low investment compared to other market solutions.
Control Programs Access and Software Installation
Employees should have access only to programs used to carry out their activities in the company. Do not release access to all programs for all employees. In addition, it is necessary to restrict the installation of any application on equipment, without authorization of the IT area.
In the absence of restrictions, it is common to install unknown, often pirate that can make computers vulnerable and create a gateway to viruses, attacks and safety failures.
As we mentioned, it is very difficult to keep the company 100% protected from risk on the internet, but certainly implementing these 11 security measures, it is possible to significantly increase protection in your business and avoid security problems. In addition, you can deepen the subject more by following internet security guide tips, articles and materials for companies .
Most of these tips require only involvement and dedication of managers and guardians, without the need for great investment, so start with simple actions and gradually advances for more complete solutions that will make your business increasingly protected.
Investing in information security solutions is critical, do not expect any incident to occur to implement protection measures, as damage caused by attacks and data loss are immeasurable, can for activities for days, generate confidential data loss and even, in some cases, compromise the future of the business.
I hope at least one of these tips was useful for you.
Until later!
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