Cyberattacks reportedly happen every 39 seconds worldwide, meaning 2,200 businesses and individuals experience a malicious attack daily. Companies of all sizes and in every industry are at risk, which can impact their operations, finances, and reputation.
Unfortunately, companies that fail to defend against cybercriminals are more likely to receive huge fines and experience business failure. Keep your brand safe by learning about the following four ways to protect your business from cyberattacks.
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Invest in a Managed IT Service
Managed IT services offer much more than break-fix support, as they are designed to support every aspect of your IT infrastructure. You never need to worry about cyberattacks again, as experienced Ottawa IT companies provide 24/7 monitoring, a managed firewall, cybersecurity protection, backup and disaster recovery, patch management, and much more. This ensures your network remains secure and compliant every day of the week, allowing you to focus on more important aspects of your business.
Provide Cybersecurity Training
Despite your best efforts, your employees could pose a risk to your company’s cybersecurity. For instance, a team member might not think twice about using their personal email at work or might find it easier to reuse passwords for various accounts. Unfortunately, small issues can pose a major risk, as intelligent hackers will look for vulnerabilities in your network.
For this reason, you must provide in-depth cybersecurity training covering:
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- What sensitive information is, and who can and cannot share it
- Steps to take following a cybersecurity incident
- How to report suspicious activity
- The most common online scams and how to avoid them
- Your company’s Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)
Backup Your Data
Companies that fail to routinely back up their data are more likely to experience business failure following a data breach.
After all, your data is your company’s most valuable asset, and a data loss incident could force it to shut down within a matter of months.
For instance, a ransomware attack will encrypt your company’s data. If you don’t have a backup, you will have no choice but to pay a huge ransom or lose the information.
If you fail to retrieve the data, a regulator may also impose a massive fine, and your business could experience reputational damage.
For the above reasons, you must create three copies of your data, which should include the original and two backups on the server and cloud. Also, it’s recommended to store one copy off-site to protect your company against a physical disaster, such as flooding or fire.
Consider Cyber Liability Insurance
The largest companies in the world have experienced major cyberattacks and data breaches that led to legal, financial, and reputational repercussions. In addition to taking every possible step to shield your network and data from hackers, it’s a smart idea to invest in a cyber liability insurance policy.
While you will hopefully never need it, it provides reassurance that your business can recover financially from a serious cybersecurity incident. It could be the difference between your company’s survival and filing for insolvency following a cyberattack.
