Cybersecurity

As technology advances and hackers get smarter, data breaches and cybersecurity threats are becoming more common. Having your network infiltrated by outside forces both threatens the security and privacy of your business, and puts you and your customers at risk. A cyber attack can result in stolen personal data from customers that can be used for identity or credit card theft. The more severe a security breach, the higher risk a business has of losing even more private information pertaining to the company.

Data breaches and cybersecurity threats can happen to any business at any time, if there aren’t systems in place. The good news is that protecting data is fairly straightforward, AND we are here to help! Not only do we have all of the systems in place to protect you, but we also have a handy list of best practices to protect your data and decrease the risk of cybersecurity threats.

Anti-malware, virus protection & security software

We advise our clients to keep all of their software, web browsers, and operating systems up to date to keep viruses and malware from finding its way into your computer, and jeopardizing the privacy of your business. In fact, our managed services clients automatically get this service so they don’t have to worry about a thing!

Here are a few options to consider for data security purposes:

• Anti-malware software to help combat phishing attacks.
• Network security software to scan and identify vulnerabilities prior to a data breach.
• Antivirus software which scans for viruses and malware after each computer update.
• Firewall software to keep cyber-attackers from entering a private network and accessing its data.
•  Computer security software for real-time protection against any incoming threats. This software also scans computers for existing threats and identifies, blocks, and deletes suspicious codes and software.
• We recommend doing an audit of your website regularly, as well as and turning on automatic updates on software programs.

Establish a privacy policy

One of the best cyber security practices is a privacy policy. A good privacy policy will inform staff and clients how the business will work to keep personal information safe.

Some businesses collect customer data, such as names, phone numbers, bank information and email addresses. The privacy policy should be able to detail what kind of data the business is collecting, what the company plans to do with it, and security measures that will help protect this data. Avoid collecting sensitive data, like social security numbers (SSNs) or other confidential information from customers unless absolutely necessary.

Train and educate employees

Human error is the cause of 90% of data breaches. Training and educating employees to protect sensitive information is critical, and it will help staff to understand the important role they play in helping protect customer data and other valuable business information.

Employee training for how to protect the privacy of a small business should prioritize the following areas:

• Create strong passwords and reset them every few months
• Keep abreast of the latest news and trends in fraud schemes so you know what to avoid
• Look for unsolicited or unknown emails and avoid opening attachments or clicking on suspicious links.

Implement multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication may seem arduous and annoying, but it is a critical step that adds an extra layer of security protection. 

What is multi-factor authentication? For example, an employee is logging into their work portal, and they type in their username and password, but must receive a text code that needs to be entered. Often times, you can opt for receiving a phone call or email to verify your identity – either way it adds an extra layer of security protection, and is a roadblock for anyone trying to hack you.

Use a secure Wi-Fi network

Most small businesses have a Wi-Fi network in place for employees and staff members. This network should be secure, encrypted and hidden.

Employees working from home or working remotely should utilize a virtual private network (VPN) to protect business data and other confidential information.

Protect the privacy of your small business by regularly backing up data

Remember to backup essential data regularly on computers! Some of this data might include Word processing documents, spreadsheets, financial files, accounts receivable and payable files, human resources files, and databases.

Turn on automatic settings to backup these files. Data stored in the cloud should also be backed up regularly, too. Our team at TCR Solutions has automated backups for our clients, so their data is ALWAYS safe, protected, and backed up off site.

Do you have print copies of important documents? Keep them stored in a safe, separate location from the business in the event of a natural disaster or any other issue that can potentially impact the business.

 

The IT technicians at TCR Solutions are happy to serve our Southern Arizona clients! For over two decades, we’ve been keeping Tucson, Phoenix, and Arizona businesses running smoothly, so they can work hard at what they do best.  Contact us today for a free network assessment!

As your business grows, so does the complexity of your IT infrastructure. You need a reliable IT support team who can handle any issue that comes up. We provide the best IT support Tucson has to offer. We currently service customers throughout the state of Arizona and beyond. Our team is experienced and ready to help with anything your business needs. From desktop support to network security, we have you covered. Call today to learn more about our professional and affordable IT services.

We are frequently asked if Cybersecurity should be one word or if it should be divided into two words. You will notice in the paragraph above, we spelled it both ways. This was intentional because it can be spelled either way. In England Cyber security is the proper spelling and in the United States Cybersecurity is considered the proper spelling although we have found most people prefer the two word spelling. SO on that note, either spelling will work, we will know what you are talking about and we know how to keep your systems safe! Contact us today for a consultation.