The growing number of cyber threats like phishing, hacking, and malware have made cybersecurity a necessity not only for large companies but small businesses as well. As such, small businesses need reliable internet service to protect their sensitive information and keep operations running smoothly. However, you can further protect your business by having a few security measures in place.

Do:

Educate employees.

A well-informed workforce can be your first line of defense against cyber-attacks. Keep them up-to-date with cybersecurity best practices and ongoing threats and teach them how to identify a phishing scheme or masked malware attack. Emphasize the importance of protecting their passwords and downloading files from safe sources only.

Use a firewall.

Firewalls are there to protect your network from suspicious inbound and outbound activities. Even with secure internet service, never dismiss the importance of firewalls in restricting unauthorized access from the outside. A good firewall can also be programmed to prevent confidential emails and sensitive information from getting out of your network.  

Enforce strong passwords.

Make your passwords as long and complicated as possible to prevent easy guessing. Have your employees create unique passwords that include numbers, symbols and a combination of lowercase and uppercase letters. Remind them to change passwords regularly—for example, every 60 to 90 days—to throw off any attempts.

Don't:

Neglect multifactor authentication.

In addition to passwords, a multi-step authentication process will come in handy for restricting access to sensitive company data and proprietary programs. A layered defense where another device or code is needed to complete the sign-in makes it harder for anyone to infiltrate the program, server or network. Consider giving individual logins with limited privileges to hold employees accountable for their access.

Skip on software updates.

Developers regularly release updates to enhance a program’s security against the latest threats. Check for new software versions and download to keep your network, desktops, laptops and other devices protected from malicious attacks.    

Forego data backup and recovery.

Backing up data should be a priority because it allows you to have a copy of lost or stolen information. Schedule automated backups on the computer or cloud storage, but ensure each copy is encrypted and password-protected. Similarly, have a secure data recovery strategy in place for when your systems are undermined.

When you need secure internet services for your small business, count on New Hope Telephone Co-Op. Providing effective telecommunication solutions since 1951, they offer high-speed broadband internet and telephone services. Call (256) 723-4211 or check out their internet service bundles online.