Cybercrime, hacking, and other cyber-related incidents are very prevalent in today’s society. They can lead to data loss, business operations disruption, reputation damage, and even worse. 

Ironically, some of the more common tools that people use on a day-to-day basis can be used to lead to these issues. But companies must prevent and defend against these attacks with proper security measures to combat this problem. 

Below are some ways to prevent cyberattacks in the workplace.

1. Keep Your Software and Systems Fully Up to Date

Software and systems not up to date with the latest patches, updates, and security fixes can be subject to vulnerabilities. Updates are usually released when a vulnerability is found in the software. Keeping your systems and software up to date can prevent these vulnerabilities from being exploited. 

Your cybersecurity team should constantly monitor for relevant changes and release these updates across your company. All connected systems must also be updated to the latest software revision.

2. Beware of Phishing and Fake Emails

Cybercriminals have been known to send phishing emails in an attempt to gain access to sensitive information. This is often done to trick employees into giving away passwords or other essential data. While some employees may fall for this, the vast majority will realize that these emails are fake and not open them. 

Train your employees to follow their gut when it comes to these emails. This can be done through company policies and regular training and help from reputable cybersecurity services. Ensure that all employees know how to report phishing emails if they come across them.

3. Ensure That Your Data Is Properly Encrypted

Encryption prevents unauthorized access to sensitive data. This can be done using the correct password, username, or other authentication methods. Two-factor authentication, such as a biometric system, will also make it more difficult for hackers to get in. This can be done with an entire company’s data or through individual user accounts. 

Encryption software can also be used in addition to traditional methods. When transmitting data over a network, it should be done with encryption enabled. You can further protect data transferred in the cloud using VPN and other security measures.

4. Make Sure to Use Strong Passwords

Passwords are an essential aspect of cybersecurity. This is where most cybercrimes start, as it is the weakest link in the security chain. Any organization that has a large number of employees will require a complex password policy. This is critical to ensure that passwords are hard to guess. 

Passwords should include upper and lower-case letters, symbols, numbers, and other mixed characters. They should also be at least eight characters in length and changed periodically. You can further protect passwords by requiring them to be stored in a password vault, which is not accessible without authorization. Various password managers can store passwords in an encrypted form, then send them to the user who needs them.

5. Install Top Security Antivirus Software

Viruses are programs designed to infect and gain control over a computer. They can perform all sorts of malicious actions on the infected computer. If a virus is found, you risk losing data or having your systems completely shut down by the virus.

Antivirus software prevents viruses from being installed on your company’s networks and systems. Top-notch antivirus software will destroy viruses before they can infect and prevent them from reaching your systems. 

When shopping for antivirus software, ensure that the antimalware tools are included in the package. Most packages only have essential tools free of charge, which are limited in their ability to protect your computer from a virus attack entirely.

6. Use Offsite Data Storage Solutions

Data storage solutions are available as backup and cloud storage solutions. Backup software is designed to quickly and efficiently transfer data from the company’s systems to another organization, business, or cloud storage provider. Most companies have teams responsible for ensuring that their data is safe and stored appropriately in case of a failure or cybercriminal attack. 

Cloud solutions are meant to save data for the long term and are typically cheaper and more accessible than full backups. This can be particularly useful when the primary data storage system fails or becomes insecure. 

Ensure that cloud storage is well looked after by someone fully versed with the necessary protocols to ensure secure access and retrieval of this data.

Conclusion

Cybersecurity is a complex issue. Small companies may find implementing these security measures overwhelming or even impossible. Outsourced IT service providers can take over your network management and ensure that cybersecurity measures are in place.