Every business needs to prioritize online security in 2024. Attacks are on the rise and can cause significant damage in many different ways, so companies must invest in cybersecurity and determine ways to protect their business, data, and customers. So, what are some of the best ways to do this in 2024? It’s not easy, as cybercrime is evolving at a rapid rate, but there are a few steps you can take that will help you develop strong online security. This should offer sufficient protection and provide peace of mind knowing that you have strong protection in place.
Provide Employee Training
Perhaps the most important tip is to provide cybersecurity training for your employees. 95% of attacks succeed due to human error, so you need to train your team on how they can work safely and protect important data. Social engineering attacks are on the rise and becoming increasingly sophisticated, so training is key for prevention and giving employees the confidence to carry out their roles.
Keep Software Up To Date
It’s easy to delay software updates when they become available, but you’re putting the business at risk each time you do this. Software updates regularly contain security patches that will offer protection against the latest threats, so you’re vulnerable until this update has been completed. This is why it needs to be company policy to complete software updates as soon as possible once they become available.
Use Access Controls
It’s also wise to use access controls implementing the principle of least privilege. Essentially, this means that employees only have access to the data that they need for their jobs. This reduces the attack on the surface as well as the risk of internal threats. Access controls can also streamline work for employees as they can easily find exactly what they need for their work.
Consider Passwordless Authentication
Password protection has been the foundation of online security even since the start of cybersecurity. While passwords can offer good protection, they can create vulnerabilities, as this is often how hackers gain access. In recent times, there has been a shift toward passwordless authentication as an alternative. This mainly involves utilizing biometrics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, and voice recognition.
Biometrics enhances online security as the user must be physically present to gain access. In addition to increasing online security, this can also enhance the user experience. Instead of having to remember a password (which is difficult when people need to have so many these days), they can enjoy a seamless login experience. Biometrics are more user-friendly, so they can be a smart tool to implement that can help keep your customers happy.
Use MFA
While you might want to move away from traditional password protection, you should still be using multi-factor authentication. This involves adding another layer of protection on user accounts, which offers protection if a hacker manages to get through the first layer. Typically, this involves password protection and biometrics, but you could opt for biometrics and a code sent to a linked email address or phone number.
Encrypt Sensitive Data
Every business has sensitive data these days. To protect this data, you’ll want to have it encrypted both in transit and at rest. This means that in the event of a security breach, the data will remain confidential, and it won’t be able to be used without the decryption key.
Conduct Security Audits
It’s also important to conduct regular security audits. The cybersecurity issue is that it’s an ongoing process, particularly as criminals are constantly developing new tactics and strategies. Therefore, you must adopt a long-term approach and conduct audits to help identify any vulnerabilities that you have. You can hire third-party companies for this who will be able to conduct rigorous testing and suggest solutions to any issues that arise.
Create An Incident Response Plan
Hopefully, you’ll never have to use it, but it’s important to have an incident response plan. With attacks on the rise and becoming more sophisticated, more and more companies are finding themselves victims of a security breach. In these situations, time is of the essence. This means you and your team need to know exactly what steps need to be taken to mitigate the impact of the breach. You should also conduct drills to make sure that staff are fully prepared.
These tips will help you improve online security and protect your business, data, and customers from cybercrime. It’s a worrying time with cyber-attacks becoming more prevalent and advanced, but cybersecurity is evolving at a rapid rate. This means that you need to make an effort to keep up with the latest threats, trends, and developments so you can create a secure online environment. In addition to protecting your business, data, and customers, this can provide peace of mind for everyone.
