Technology has shaped the world in which we live and work in, changing the way we conduct practices and complete tasks. No longer is tech just a want in the business world, but a need and something we all depend heavily on. This is why keeping your data, website and business secure has never been so important. With everything you need to know about your company and the data you use all being stored digitally, there could be nothing worse than it falling into the wrong hands. We take a look at the importance of cyber security at work in today’s world and just how you can improve the security of your systems.
With the increase of data that we use and process digitally, it’s no surprise that there have been some big data breaches in the past decade or so. It’s important your company protects against these to keep your reputation intact, stop sensitive information being stolen, and to prevent your data or site being held for ransom.
Some examples of cyber breaches include:
Yahoo 2013 data hacked
The 2013 attack on Yahoo where over three billion accounts were impacted. In this, hackers managed to steal account information such as security questions and answers, but luckily no payment or bank data was stolen.
January 2021 Microsoft
In January 2021, Microsoft experienced one of the largest cyberattacks in US history. Over 30,000 US businesses had their email servers hacked into where the hackers ultimately took over the servers. They luckily ended up able to patch their vulnerabilities up, but this took a while and could have been done much quicker with better cybersecurity.
Facebook/ Cambridge Analytica April 2018
One of the most high-profile cases of data being stolen and sold was in 2018 when Cambridge Analytica in the UK obtained Facebook data from between 50-90 million accounts.
The above shows that data breaches can happen to businesses both large and small and can be extremely damaging to both the companies and their users. When you run a business, you want clients to have trust and faith in you and to know you take their data seriously. Not only will this help you to retain loyal customers, but get recommendations and avoid losing large amounts of money. While no-one wants a data breach and many of us think it will never happen, these things are all too easy to occur and you need to have the right steps in place.
How can you improve your cyber security?
While there have been advancements in the skills and capabilities of hackers, there have also been advancements in the skills of cyber security firms too. So although hackers are still out there, if you have the right steps in place, you can avoid an attack happening and if one were to happen, you can mitigate the risk of anything serious coming from it. Some of the ways you can (and should) improve the cyber security at work in today’s world includes:
Implementing SASE to keep your systems protected
SASE (Secure Access Service Edge) architecture combines networking and security solutions and functionality into a single cloud-delivered service model. In essence, it provides much better protection for organizations and is something that’s only growing in popularity. Since the concept was first penned back in 2019, it’s become one of the most common architecture supported by cybersecurity industry leaders. It’s a particularly useful security tool for businesses that enable their workers to work remotely and it ensures security is not compromised.
Providing adequate cyber security training to your employees
Cyber Security is only as good as its weakest link, so you want to make sure that everyone in your company is aware of good practices. It’s a good idea to send everyone on training days where they can learn things such as how to identify phishing emails, suspicious links and what to do if they suspect their data has been hacked. You could do this training in-house or remotely, but ensure it’s adopted by those that have been in the company a while as well as all newcomers. If everyone knows what to do, the chances of cyber breaches are a lot lower.
Keep software up to date
Software updates might feel annoying and something you click away or select “update later” however they’re there for a reason. It could be that the company has identified a potential weakness, or threat that hackers could take advantage of, and as such, have released an update that stops any breaches. By keeping software up to date straight away, your business is safe from this potential threat. Ensure everyone in your company knows to run updates as soon as they come in rather than always delaying them to a more convenient time.
Adopt rules for people working remotely
More people than ever work remotely now and this makes it harder for companies to ensure the correct cyber security is being followed. To avoid this from being an issue, ensure there’s adequate training and rules in place for remote work. You could advise them to use privacy screens (or provide these) so others can’t see confidential information on their screens. You can also teach them about using unsecured networks and Wifi connections such as in public spaces like coffee shops.
Why is good cyber security so important?
As mentioned previously, there are a plethora of reasons why good cyber security is so important. Having the right cyber protections for your customers data means you can:
Retain the trust and loyalty of your clients
Clients want to know you take them (and their data) seriously. By showcasing your commitment to their data and security it means they know they can trust and remain loyal to you. If they receive news you’ve suffered a breach and their information’s been sold it can seriously harm their perception of your business and stop them wanting to shop with or work with you going forward.
Prevent financial loss
Data breaches can be extremely expensive. Not only might you have to shell out for highly experienced tech teams to get your data and access back, but hackers can also hold your information to ransom. This might mean you need to pay them in order to get your information and credentials back.
Stop data breaches
Data breaches are seriously harmful for a business both for workers, the business itself and the clients. Having good cyber security means you’re safe and protected against potential data breaches.
Keep your business compliant
There are rules and regulations in place for when you’re looking after a user’s sensitive data, so it’s vital you adhere to these and keep your business compliant. Not doing so can have severe repercussions, both financially and in terms of penalizing or even potentially having a lawsuit against your business.
Maintain a competitive advantage
Customers and clients are going to prioritize businesses they know and trust to keep their data safe over those that don’t. That means you’ll put yourself at a competitive advantage over others that aren’t perhaps as careful.
These are just a few things that highlight the importance of good cyber security in today’s world and why your employees all need to be aware of the risks. With the proper training and good security software in place, you can minimize the chances of damage to your company and help keep confidential data secure. What are some things you do in your business to keep it secure? Let us know in the comments below, we’d love to hear from you.
