As of October 2021, this year’s data breach figures surpassed 2020 numbers by 17%. Hackers are using everything from ransomware to phishing tools to steal confidential data. Even a single data breach can cost your business millions, according to Statista.
With 2022 quickly approaching, it’s important to begin thinking of what you can do within your organization to start the new year off on the right foot in regards to cybersecurity. With so much at stake, our experts wanted to outline some of the top tips that you can use to protect your digital infrastructure in the upcoming year. By leveraging these proven strategies, you can eliminate many vulnerabilities and make it more difficult for hackers to access your data.
Perform Regular Data Backups
Regularly maintain encrypted backups of your data offline, testing your p
Many companies, and individual users for that matter, fail to perform regular data backups. If you are unfortunate enough to become the victim of a data breach, backup files can help you resume normal operations fast. Backing up your data will also come in handy if your primary files are damaged or lost.
Ideally, you should have at least three different copies of essential data. We recommend storing one of those copies in the cloud. This approach offers optimal protection in the event of a breach. Making multiple backups is one of the basic cybersecurity trends that never goes out of style.
Use VPNs
Whenever possible, you and your staff should only access the internet from your secure network. If you have to browse the web using public WiFi, make sure to use VPN technology.
VPN or Virtual Private Network software encrypts data that is being relayed between your device and the server. The encrypted information is much harder to intercept, which means that you can reduce the risk of experiencing a data breach.
Educate Staff on Common Scams
Hackers often perpetrate their crimes by capitalizing on human errors. Therefore, you must educate your staff on common scams, such as phishing schemes, which are one of the growing cybersecurity trends.
During a phishing scheme, the hacker will attempt to deceive one of your employees so that they give up confidential information or click on a malicious link. If the staff member falls prey to this tactic, your system could be infected with ransomware or another type of computer virus.
Require Regular Password Updates
You and your staff should regularly update all accounts with strong passwords. Remind your team to avoid using information such as birthdays or the names of their children as passwords.
Instead, they should use a password that contains at least one symbol, number, lowercase letter, and uppercase letter. At a minimum, you should update passwords annually.
Deploy Anti-Virus Software
Anti-virus software and firewalls are excellent ways of preventing malware from invading your network. When combined, these technologies will eliminate many of the vulnerabilities that hackers like to exploit.
Make sure that you only use programs from reputable vendors, as subpar software can provide a false sense of security while leaving your systems vulnerable.
Keep Your Systems Up-to-Date
Vendors regularly release software updates to address bugs and glitches within their programs. These updates are also designed to resolve any critical vulnerabilities within the software. We suggest turning on automatic updates for all of your devices and programs. This approach is the easiest way to ensure that you never miss an update.
IT Solutions from JMA Consulting
If you want to ensure that your core infrastructure is protected from hackers and other cybercriminals, JMA Consulting can help. Our experts will assess your infrastructure from the top down. We will then design, develop, and deploy cutting-edge solutions to eliminate vulnerabilities within your network.
Contact us today to learn more about our secure IT solutions.