From startups to small businesses, everyone is vulnerable to IT security risks. While most companies are aware of the importance of protecting their data and technology systems, they often fail to take the necessary steps to prevent malicious attacks or data breaches.
This blog post will discuss five key steps that you can take to minimise security risks on your IT infrastructure. Along with providing an overview of the types of threats facing businesses today, we will also provide practical tips and advice on how best to safeguard your business’s digital assets.
Rising security risks
The last thing any business wants is to fall victim to a security breach. In today’s digital age, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your IT infrastructure is secure and its equally important that you have the right IT experts that can manage this for you whether that’s in-house or outsourced. Here are some tips for minimising security risks:
1. Keep your software up to date
One of the best ways to minimise security risks is to keep your software up to date. Outdated software can be full of vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Be sure to set your software to update automatically so you’ll always have the latest security patches when they become available.
2. Use strong passwords
Another way to reduce your risk of being hacked is by using strong passwords. Avoid using easily guessed words or phrases like “password” or your company name. Instead, opt for a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. And don’t use the same password for all your accounts—if one gets compromised, all your other accounts are at risk as well. It is highly recommended that business go one step further than just using passwords and that they deploy two factor authentication for an extra layer of security.
3. Encrypt sensitive data
If you regularly handle sensitive data, encrypting it can help protect it from being accessed by unauthorised people. There are many different encryption methods available, so be sure to choose one that’s right for your needs.
4. Limit access to data and systems
Another way to reduce security risks is by limiting access to data and systems on a need-to-know basis. This means giving users only the level of authority they need to carryout the job. For example, don’t give everyone in the company administration access.
Identifying potential security risks
As your business grows, so does your IT infrastructure. And as your infrastructure becomes more complex, the potential for security risks increases.
There are a number of ways to identify potential risks to your IT infrastructure. One way is to conduct a risk assessment. This can be done internally or externally, and will involve identifying and evaluating the risks to your infrastructure.
Another way to identify potential risks is to keep up-to-date with the latest security threats. There are many resources available that can keep you informed of the latest security risks, such as the US-CERT website, The National Crime Agency, and Action Fraud.
Once you have identified potential risks to your IT infrastructure, you can then take steps to minimise these risks. This may involve implementing security controls, such as firewalls and intrusion detection systems. It may also involve establishing policies and procedures for dealing with security incidents.
Putting preventive measures in place
There are a number of things you can do to minimise security risks on your IT infrastructure. Here are some of the most important:
1. Keep your software up to date
One of the most important things you can do to reduce security risks is to keep your software up to date. Software updates often include security patches that address vulnerabilities that could be exploited by attackers. So, make sure you install all updates as soon as they’re released.
2. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication
Using strong passwords is one of the simplest and most effective ways to reduce your risk of being hacked. You should also enable two-factor authentication where possible, as this adds an extra layer of protection.
3. Use a VPN
When you connect to the internet, your traffic is normally sent over unsecured connections. This means that anyone who is monitoring your traffic could potentially see what you’re doing online. Using a VPN encrypts your traffic, making it much more difficult for someone to snoop on you.
4. Be careful what you click on
Another way to reduce your risk of being hacked is to be careful about what you click on online. Attackers can often embed malicious code in links or attachments, which can then infect your computer if you click on them. So, only click on links from trusted sources, and be wary of unsolicited attachments in emails. Part of ensuring your employees are aware of the types of scams and phishing emails is to embed cybersecurity as part of their ongoing training.
5. Use anti-virus protection software
Anti-virus software can scan your computer/laptop to detect any viruses, malware, potential threats and remove them. As part of having it installed, the program will alert you to any threats detected.
Qualified engineers
Having access to qualified engineers that can manage your IT infrastructure is important. Whether as a business you hire someone in-house or outsource to a Managed Service Provider (MSP) for their skills and expertise, businesses need access to qualified engineers that can manage and maintain the internal IT infrastructure.
Finding the right calibre of It engineers can be challenging, and it can be just as challenging finding the right IT provider.
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