You can protect your business from a cyber attack

Think your small business is safe from cyber criminals? Rethink it. Most small businesses are remarkably vulnerable to hackers. It’s relatively easy for savvy cyber criminals to hack into your business’ Wi-Fi account, for instance. After that, it’s easy for cyber criminals to steal your company’s data and funds. Thankfully, Entrepreneur Magazine recently ran an article providing tips for small business owners who wish to shield their companies from hackers. The good news? Combating cyber crimes sometimes needs the easiest of steps.

Encrypt your Data

The best defense against hackers? Encrypt your data. This makes it harder for cyber criminals to access your company’s bank accounts, employee information and credit-card data. Hackers can crack encryption if they are talented enough. Most will see encrypted data and simply proceed to an easier target. Best of all, it’s simple to encrypt your data. Simply turn on the full-disk encryption tool that is included with your computers’ operating systems. This tool is known as FileVault on Macintosh computers and BitLocker on those powered by Windows. Once these tools are turned on, it will encrypt every file or program on your computers’ drives.

Lockdown

Most computers have a Kensington lock port, a small metal loop that users can run a cable through to lock them to their desks. If you wish to truly protect your business, require that employees take this protection measure. It might sound silly, but the Entrepreneur story said that businesses are often hacked after burglars break in and steal laptops along with other devices. A cable strapping a laptop to a desk won’t stop all thieves. But it might scare away those who want to strike especially quickly.

Wi-Fi Vulnerability

Often the simplest way for cyber criminals to get into your company accounts is through your business’ Wi-Fi network. That’s why Entrepreneur Magazine suggests that you do away with Wi-Fi altogether and instead install a wired network. If you can’t do that, as a minimum protect your Wi-Fi accounts with passwords that are difficult to crack. A good bet? Long passwords consisting of a combination of letters, numbers and symbols.