With 5 tips on IT security for companies, you can protect your data from attacks. Even if you think that your company cannot be a target for hackers, you should protect your company, because every company is a target for hackers.
Tip 1: Make IT security a top priority
Many companies believe that IT security is not important enough to take care of it themselves. Yet cyber attacks are the biggest threat to modern companies.
Of course, you should not take it upon yourself to implement the security measures in your company. But you should make it a matter for the boss to ensure that the measures are implemented as well as possible.
IT security in companies is a strategic issue and should be managed accordingly by top management. Implementation, on the other hand, is of course subject to experts who should be sought out and engaged by you or your high-ranking managers.
It is important that the key people in the company are aware of what is being implemented, how it is being implemented and, above all, what will happen if an attack does occur.
Tip 2: Create a well-structured emergency plan
No matter how good the security measures in a company may be, you can never achieve one hundred percent. It’s no different in any other area of security. No matter how many surveillance cameras and alarm systems you install, someone can still break down a door.
This is also the case in IT security. Cyber criminals are not idle. They are constantly finding new ways to circumvent security measures and find loopholes in the system.
So it cannot be ruled out that you will fall victim to a hacker attack despite the best and most modern measures. In this case, there should be a fixed plan that everyone is aware of. If a virus suddenly tampers with the system or data is lost, everyone needs to know how to behave and what to do – and above all, what not to do. If you simply carry on as if nothing has happened, in the worst-case scenario you open up further loopholes and make life particularly easy for the attackers.
Tip 3: Get everyone on board
From the managing director to the janitor, every person in the company must be informed about the importance of IT security in the company.
A hierarchy is not wrong here, so that in the worst-case scenario, action can be taken quickly, even if you or the top management are not available at the moment. Let’s put it this way: hackers don’t wait until everyone is in the office to launch an attack. If you are on vacation or an attack takes place in the middle of the night, someone has to be in charge.
So clarify who can make which decisions when the going gets tough. And also who has to be available and when in the event of an emergency.
Tip 4: Train yourself and your employees
Of course, it is not enough if you and the management are fully aware of cyber security in the company, but the employees are all in the dark. After all, even a simple laptop in the secretary’s office can become the target of a cyberattack.
It is therefore extremely important that all employees receive regular training and are made aware of the issues of IT security, cyber security and cyber safety.
You can also run through scenarios in the company from time to time to better prepare yourself and your employees for a real attack. This way, everyone internalizes what they have to do in the event of an emergency.
Networking is also helpful for keeping up to date with cyber threats.
Tip 5: Pay attention to the small details
If you now think that you are well protected with the best security system and the most modern cyber security defense methods in the company, we have to disappoint you.
In fact, most attacks get through because the small details are ignored:
- Secure passwords
- Encryption
- Regular software updates
- Patches
- Back-ups
It’s often the little things that are so simple but still get neglected. So remember to always use strong passwords and not 12345, and always install a second security prompt. Two-factor authentication is a must to protect data.
Always apply all updates and patches to your software. No matter how small a program may be, if it is not secure, it is a security risk. And hackers will exploit any gap in cyber security, no matter how small.
Also create regular backups of all data. If your data is stolen, your company can hardly be blackmailed if you still have an external copy of the data. This way, you take the wind out of the sails of attackers and are always on the safe side.
We hope these IT security tips will help you to protect your company from hackers.
