While technology provides many advantages for storing and accessing your data from anywhere, these capabilities are also exploitable entryways into your confidential matters. An unauthorized user or a virus could turn your income-generating business into a liability and a money pit.
It’s a necessity to maintain current information and network security. Here are a few ways to do it.
UNDERSTAND NETWORK SECURITY
A robust networking security strategy involves more than local adware and pop-up blockers. An adequate defense requires a comprehensive system that increases the safety and reliability of the data on your network and enhances the entire system’s operation. Just as your physical home or business has various locks, alarms, and possibly a barrier like a fence or a gate to keep out unwanted and uninvited intruders, your virtual security system protects you from existing and budding threats on the internet.
Your network security should require some form of authentication to allow access only to authorized users. This may come through the use of usernames with passwords and passphrases, but multifactor options are more popular as more hackers gain access to methods for brute force attacks. A user can be required to confirm login with a unique one-time passcode, a response to an email or instant message, or a USB security key.
IMPROVE NETWORK PERFORMANCE
A clean system always runs better than one bogged down with unnecessary extras attached to it. You might have inessential apps and malware operating in the background, which chews up your system’s resources. Solid security removes these unnecessary pieces that slow down your system and may steal vital details.
MAINTAIN GOVERNMENTAL COMPLIANCE
If you do any international business, you will likely come under the jurisdiction of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the European Union’s privacy and security regulation. The GDPR applies to anyone offering goods or services to residents of the area, even if you don’t live within its boundaries. The fines are incredibly punitive to protect EU residents’ data privacy.
If your organization handles any level of medical data, you’ll be bound to local laws governing such information, such as HIPAA.
PROTECT YOUR REPUTATION
A data breach can severely harm your brand’s reputation. A mistake could cost you valuable partnerships and loyal clientele. Some institutions never recover from the damage to their brand name and have had to merge with a competitor or switch industries to stay solvent.
PROTECT YOUR CLIENTS’ INFORMATION
Exposing customers’ sensitive information, like credit card numbers, banking account information, email addresses, and Social Security numbers, makes your business look inept. You also have a legal and social responsibility to guard clients’ trust by protecting their private data.
PROTECT COMPANY DATA
Your virtual network has vital details about the company’s financials and strategy. If private information about employees and contractors were leaked, you could lose valuable team members who no longer trust you to guard their interests.
SAVE MONEY
The best protections are not simple, nor are they cheap. Of course, you recognize as a provider of quality products and services that no item that does excellent work comes at bargain basement prices. While you’ll save an initial cost from not investing in a high-tier network security option, the cost of repairing the damage of a cyber attack can be immeasurable.
Ransomware is one form of attack where you’re requested to pay for the release of your data. The price can reach the millions. After your system is compromised, you’ll have to pay for technical fixes, an upgraded network security system, and possibly a marketing campaign to weather the storm of restoring your reputation.
Online attacks will only advance in sophistication, so your security solution needs to stay current against the threats. A lack of adequate network security leaves you and anyone connected to your system vulnerable, so keep your company safe with up-to-date technology security.
