Small to medium-sized enterprises have become a top target for cybercriminals. They are just as vulnerable as large global organisations to cyber-attacks. SMEs find themselves in the cybercrime spotlight because they have simple networks and systems. Those committing Internet fraud use the smaller players to get to larger enterprises.
SMEs should be spending big money on cybersecurity and protect themselves from ransomware, phishing, and zero-day attacks. Small and mid-sized businesses need to understand once and for all that cyber-attacks are a real threat to their business and that they need to go the extra mile to improve security. Do you want to secure yourself from cybersecurity, then AI is the best option for you. Learn AI from beginning to high level then Intellipaat is best for you to complete your Artificial Intelligence course certification.
Is your business at risk of being hacked? Since your company is such an attractive target to cyber-attacks, become proactive in protecting yourself. By the time the bad guys come knocking at the door, it’s too late, so follow these tips to protect your business and become a less attractive target.
1. Create an action plan for mobile devices
Mobile threats are growing day by day. In terms of hacking, the focus is no longer on computers, laptops or security cameras. Attackers have their eyes set on mobile devices. Smartphones and smart watches have uncontrolled security problems, giving cybercriminals the chance to infiltrate insecure apps. Make a plan for the mobile devices. To protect yourself from attacks, you can:
- Activate multi-factor authentication: Access is granted only after you present the code that was sent via SMS, in addition to the user name and password. This process prevents attackers from gaining access to sensitive information.
- Install security software: No matter what software you use on your mobile devices, it is essential to have an antivirus or a security app installed. This ensures protection against viruses, malware, and loss of information.
2. Use Strong Passwords and Change Them Often
Passwords are used to gain access to multiple sites, leaving systems vulnerable to hacking. It is estimated that 80 per cent of company data breaches are due to weak passwords like “123456” or “qwerty”. If someone were to access your company credentials, the content, as well as important information would be compromised. Cybercriminals can use malware to look for documents containing passwords or log passwords keystrokes. This information is then sent to the command and control server.
Using strong passwords lowers the risk of a data breach. The password becomes stronger if it has more characters. The longer it is, the harder it will be for the person to obtain the correct password. Make sure all the company passwords are at least 10 digits long. It is advisable to use a combination of special characters, numbers, and letters. Regularly changing the login credentials is important. Password changes are recommended between 30 and 180 days.
Ensure your company has a strong password policy to protect the online and offline accounts. This will become part of the organisation’s official regulations and will be taught as part of security awareness training.
3. Take Advantage of Artificial Intelligence
Cyber-attacks are growing in volume and complexity but, thanks to artificial intelligence, it is possible to identify attempts in real time and stay ahead of threats. AI cybersecurity enables your business to detect malware outbreaks and respond to attacks and breaches. Unpleasant situations can be avoided by deploying this cutting-edge technology. AI for cybersecurity solutions have more than 90 per cent success rate. What motivates specialists to develop defensive cyber AI? Enthusiasm is driven by the important gains artificial intelligence has the potential to bring.
There are various approaches when it comes to using AI for cybersecurity. Implementation of AI for cybersecurity includes:
- Using biometric logins
- Detecting threats and malicious activities
- Learning with natural language processing
- Securing conditional access
Figure out what approach is best for the organisation. You must adapt your security strategies to accommodate artificial intelligence and innovation. Automate the detection of threat and combat. Human security analysts cannot handle this task alone and need some extent of automation. Artificial intelligence is machine language driven, which means that it does not cause any errors. Think about using AI for the detection of human characteristics like retina scans, fingerprints, and so on and so forth. This will make your systems more safe and secure.
Cybercriminals might anticipate this move. Therefore, if you use AI for defence, keep up to date with AI development and its application in cybersecurity. Collaborate with others. An attack can be very costly for the business, not to mention that it will make employees and customers doubt you.
4. Think about using a VPN
Virtual private networks offer privacy and security to businesses from all over the world. VPNs allow users to access a private network. Basically, they can share data from and to public networks remotely. Since the data is encrypted, your employees can work securely from public Wi-Fi spots like coffee shops, regardless of their geographical location. A virtual private network enables you to enhance the security of web sessions, transmitted data, and financial transactions. Given the emergence of Wi-Fi spoofing attacks and hijacks using firesheep, it is better to be safe than sorry.
Finding a great VPN service is a rather challenging task. Numerous apps promise to deliver excellent results, but very few actually provide the layer of security that you need. Some virtual private networks even contain malware, so you need to be careful. A free VPN is not a good idea. Research the application before starting to use it. Learn as much as possible. Reading reviews can come in handy. Most importantly, make sure the developer is trustworthy.
5. Control information access
The aim of controlling information access is to minimise the risk of unauthorised access to the physical and logical systems. Physical access control refers to limiting people’s access to buildings, rooms, and technical equipment. To secure a facility, you can deploy key cards and video surveillance systems. Logical access control refers to limiting access to computer networks, systems files, and data. This can be embedded in the systems within the infrastructure. Individuals with the appropriate security levels are the only ones who can gain entry.
When it comes to protecting your data, keep in mind the following:
- In the off-chance that you do not restrict the access to information based on who actually needs it, you risk being attacked.
- Wireless access is very popular, yet this convenience comes at a cost. Cybercriminals can gain access without even stepping inside the building.
Almost everything in your business is tied to an online network of some sort. With this in mind, it is a good idea to manage who is going in and out of the building. Access control is not all about preventing outsiders from coming in. it involves protecting the information you already have. It is recommendable to monitor and audit to identify weak spots. If your company chooses to implement access control, it must be monitored all the time. In today’s complex IT environment, access control must be regarded as a priority.
