In a time where small businesses are a culture and network adversity is at its peak, you as a small business starter are bound to address your businesses’ security just like other major stepping stones. Just think of the issue for a moment. With advanced internet every day, the online space is capturing more and more of the real world. Successful businesses all have their own online presences today and that exactly is the place where miscreants see opportunity. As a small business owner, you need to strategize your defense plan right from the beginning; because once you embark on the web with valuable data and less than standard security, you are as good as an open boat of gold in a sea of pirates. This means that you should start thinking of network security right away, right now! Hence, let us go through 7 key points to help shape a strong network defense for your small business.
Backup Your Data
Let’s get this one out of the way first. Every smart decision maker would primarily backup important data before they proceed. For a mildly started venture, consider updating backed up data every week no matter how insignificant the changes are. Remember that in times of unexpected mishaps, the small changes matter a great amount.
Write Your Own Security Manual
This is important; the security of your business is as distinct from your competitors as is your business. Although, at large, a small business security plan may resemble similar protocol, defining your businesses’ security is the key to a fool-proof defense. Hence, write-up your security plan as a document, so that it can be used by you and your employees as a go-to book for network security matters. Remember that this manual should not only include precautions but also data recovery plans according to your data recovery system.
Real Life Locks Matter
Whenever people come across articles on data security, they imagine just the virtual world of codes, digital fingerprints, passwords and encryptions; but no! We tend to forget that no matter how virtually secured your data is, if it is in a computer with an unauthorized or under-authorized access, you are as good as someone with no cyber security! I mean, think of the fallacy. The entire hardcore data defense is useless if the physical access to data is under prioritized. Hence, make sure your computer and computer rooms have strict policy of authorization. Moreover, create an access control list, so that an administrator can track who goes in and out of your system.
Empower Employees
In practice, your employees are going to handle a lot data than yourself alone. Hence, empowering your employees with the right ways to take care of data safety should be of high priority. To facilitate the process, have a written set of instructions in your security manual where employees can refer to in case of any security emergencies or help. Instruct them on best practices on email security while you employ spam filtering service. Hold meeting sessions if necessary to acknowledge and keep your employees up-to-date with the data security changes made continually.
Safety in Social Media
While social media is a friend to online businesses, it can very well be the reason for data theft. Make sure that your content manager or the person who manages your businesses’ social presence understands and applies ways to trim content before posting it online. Otherwise, a simple post can expose crucial information following a hack or theft.
Establish Program Installation Measures
Remember this as an important point. Majority of viruses in computers come from third party applications and software. Moreover, these so-called clean applications are hard to scan for virus before installation. Hence, keep a control on the installation of software. For instance, make the IT department the one and mandatory check post through which an application must pass in order for an employee to install it.
Firewall Management
This process presumes that you already have a firewall system installed for your small business. Firewall systems are a must when it comes to data security. It is the wall of defense that first encounters any malicious online activity. But having a great firewall system is just the beginning. The most important part is having it checked, assessed and up-to-date with the changing landscape of cyber crimes.
Above are 7 tips to guide your way towards improved data security. Remember, in business, particularly small businesses, the data gets tossed around people almost non-stop. Therefore, to make sure that the tossing doesn’t invite security threats, make sure you have a strong defense plan for your small business. Once you have checked all these steps from the security to-do list, make sure the maintenance is top-notch and you are set to rule the online world.
