By admin, April 24, 2017
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Cyber attacks are an increasingly common threat faced by many businesses, both large and small. According to PwC Canada’s 2016 Global State of Information Security Survey, cyber security incidents in Canada have been increasing by 160% year over year. The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) stated in their annual report that the country is dealing with cyber attacks on a daily basis.
With the growing range of tools and techniques, hackers target a business’ intellectual property, money and valuable information that can be beneficial for competitors. With cyber attack being such a major concern in the country, it is important for every entrepreneur to be ready for such attacks on their security systems.
Is your company at risk? If so, then here are the ways to protect your business from cyber attack.
A firewall is a security system for your computer. It is designed to prevent unauthorized access to or from a private network. It comes in two forms, hardware (external) and software (internal). Consider putting a firewall on your computer and reduce the chances of a cyber attack.
Create a security policy and educate your employees to ensure that your company’s system is not at risk. Your employees are the gatekeepers of your business’s information, so define the necessary protocols and ask them to abide by it. Have your employees learn the warning signs, safe practices and how to react to a suspected attack.
Whether it be your company’s social media account or the Wi-Fi, protect it with a strong password. One of the avenues of a cyber security breach is a simple password. Use strong passwords that are difficult to hack, set one for the router and cease the broadcast of your wireless access point. In addition to this, use different passwords for different accesses, change them at regular intervals and encrypt all the customer data and digital assets.
Outdated web browser and anti-virus software are the invitations for cyber hackers. Keep all the software and browsers up to date to prevent any potential threats. Pay attention to the website’s URLs you visit and scan all the e-mail attachments with an anti-virus before downloading.
Keeping browsers and other software updated helps reduce known security weaknesses, but businesses should also consider how employees connect to the internet when working outside the office. A free VPN extension for Chrome can be useful when staff members need to access company accounts or handle sensitive information over public or unfamiliar networks, as it helps encrypt internet traffic between the browser and the VPN server. This can add another practical safeguard for remote work, particularly when employees are using shared Wi-Fi or connecting from places outside the usual workplace.
A Virtual Data Room (VDR) is an online repository of information. It is a virtual room where your business can store data and can be accessed by using a secure log-in which can be disabled at any time. They are mainly used for storing financial information, tax paperwork, legal documentation and intellectual property information.
If you’re an entrepreneur, then you need to prepare in advance for cyber security threats. Hackers can target you anytime and steal your valuable information. Prevent cyber attacks by taking the above measures. Remember, preventing sensitive information being leaked is much better than having to deal with the aftermath.
As businesses connect more applications and digital systems, security needs to remain part of the automation strategy. Automated workflows organize routine tasks, reduce manual handling, and keep information moving between different business functions. For companies managing customer records, financial documents, contracts, and internal communications, Click here to explore how AI-driven systems are being used to connect and automate these business processes. Secure and well-connected workflows create a more organized approach to managing everyday operations.
Automation can make everyday business tasks more orderly, but keeping those systems running smoothly is only one part of managing a company. Financial work still needs careful attention, particularly when sales, expenses, payroll, taxes, and other transactions are being recorded alongside everything else taking place behind the scenes.
Once financial information is kept up to date, it becomes easier for business owners to understand where money is going and make practical decisions about upcoming expenses or growth. This is where services such as Appletree Business can naturally enter the picture, since accounting and bookkeeping help turn day-to-day financial activity into records that a business can actually use. Keeping those details organized may not be as visible as an automated workflow, but it can make a significant difference when a company needs to review its finances, prepare for tax obligations, or understand how the business is performing over time.
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