Regardless of size or experience, all IT services providers in Southern California should offer cybersecurity to their customers. It has become too big of an issue to ignore as cybercriminals continue to learn new ways to breach even the most sophisticated security solutions. Luckily, there are actionable steps IT can take to improve internet safety.
Why Businesses Must Prioritize Cyber Security
No business is completely shielded from a cyber attack regardless of how new or complex the security software is. Every IT services provider in Southern California must take a proactive stance to defend their customers. Preventing cyber attacks should be a top priority of any business because all it takes is one breach to ruin a company’s reputation.
Businesses that implement a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy must take extra precautions since it can involve multiple types of devices and operating systems. Remote employees must be careful about public WiFi hotspots at establishments such as restaurants, hotels, and airports since not all of them have sufficient security. At one time, businesses could get away with minimal security, but that era is becoming ancient internet history.
Raising Cyber Security Awareness
The solution to preventing attacks is a mix of software, training, and planning with well-envisioned company policies. Modern machine learning software can monitor networks and detect intruders. IT teams can train employees on how to steer clear of malware. Developing a data backup and recovery plan completes the equation to build strong layers of protection around your assets.
With a virtual private network (VPN), you will be able to encrypt data, which adds another layer of production. Backing up data to a virtual cloud server diminishes the threats posed by ransomware, which is a malware with a ransom demand attached. You won’t have to worry about your data getting lost or damaged if it’s backed up in multiple places.
October is a National Cyber Security Awareness Month, which is an excellent time for businesses and their IT teams to review cybersecurity threats and strategies to counter them. This is especially important as many cybersecurity breaches are caused by employee error.
When employees are not trained on cybersecurity, it opens the door to vulnerabilities, such as using the same passwords for different accounts. It’s also better to use hard-to-read passwords. By using complex alpha-numeric passwords combined with PIN numbers, you will slow down hackers to the point they may give up. Employees must also be advised to be careful clicking anything that is unfamiliar or triggers even the slightest suspicion.
Steps to Enhance Security
- Change passwords throughout the year
- Establish two-factor authentication (TFA)
- Avoid posting private information on social media
- Train staff to be selective of applications and websites
- Use modern security solutions, such as 24/7 monitoring
Every IT support team needs to demonstrate expertise in protecting an infrastructure. Make sure the provider you choose has a deep concern for managing and staying up to date on cybersecurity. Businesses looking for a reliable IT services provider in Southern California should ask for a consultation from ecasys. Contact us to learn more.
