Cyberattacks are a serious threat that many large and small businesses face. Without proper protection, hackers can easily infiltrate your system and wreak havoc.
However, you don’t need to worry because there are tools you can use to protect your business. Continue reading the information below to find out how to improve your cybersecurity.
1. Invest in Network Topology Mapping
Network topology shows the paths that devices use to communicate with each other through a networking system.
Investing in the proper network topology mapping and visualization tools lets you easily see each device connected to your network.
But how can this capability help with cybersecurity?
It permits you to monitor and track all devices, readily identifying suspicious devices that do not belong there. Imagine how much more secure your network will be with this invaluable tool!
You can spot an intruder much faster before extensive damage is done to your business.
2. Educate Your Employees
According to Verizon’s 2022 Data Breach Investigations Report, 82% of data breaches were a human fault, including malicious attacks, errors, or misuse.
It’s common for hackers to gain access to sensitive and private information through phishing emails and texts, where an employee will mistake it for a message from a legitimate source.
In these cases, when an individual opens the message and clicks on the link, hackers will gain access to all sorts of private information.
Once the link is opened, it’ll sometimes deploy malicious ransomware that will hold your information for ransom, forcing a business to pay a specific price to get it back.
Because of sneaky tricks like these, educating your employees on the potential dangers and risks and how to spot suspicious-looking messages and activity is vital.
3. Use Reliable and Up-to-Date Firewall Protection
Investing in reliable and up-to-date firewall protection is also essential to improving cybersecurity.
It seems like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised how many business owners fail to install or update firewall protection. It’s a costly mistake and could lead to the end of your business.
According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, about 60 percent of small to medium-sized businesses that were hacked go out of business within six months.
4. Use Multi-factor Authentication
Many businesses are gravitating to incorporating multi-factor authentication (MFA) because of the extra protection it can provide against cyber attackers.
As its name suggests, MFA requires more than one piece of information to access a program, limiting the possibility that an unauthorized user will gain access to the system.
There are different types of MFA, including:
OTP (one-time password)
This form of MFA requires a code number to log in (in addition to the typical password and username).
Typically, a code number is sent as an SMS notification to a cellular device. The code is usually time sensitive and will expire shortly.
Authenticator Apps
Authenticator Apps (also known as Software tokens) are similar to OTP but demand two types of authentication. This form of MFA adds extra protection by prohibiting hackers from intercepting SMS messages.
Push-based
This type of MFA uses both OTP and authenticator applications because you must download an authentication app that uses messaging to identify users.
When users attempt to log in, they must go to the app and confirm that they are genuinely who they say they are (usually by pressing a button in the app agreeing to the login attempt).
Conclusion
Utilize the above methods of protection to increase your business’s cybersecurity.
It’ll make it much more challenging for hackers to intrude and ruin your business. You’ll also feel safer and more secure once you implement these tools!
