Before the global pandemic started, Interpol detected around 907,000 spam messages and 737 malware-related incidents around the world between January 2020 to April 2020. Similarly, the intergovernmental organization detected 48,000 malicious URLs related to the virus. The shift to remote working arrangements saw cybercriminals taking advantage of the situation to steal data and generate profits while causing disruptions in business operations.
Protecting your business information is more critical than ever in today’s digital world. With hackers and cybercriminals constantly targeting businesses of all sizes, it’s essential to have a plan in place to safeguard your data. Fortunately, you can use technology to protect your business information in several ways. Here are just a few:
Encrypt Your Data
One of the best ways to protect your business information is to encrypt it. Encryption allows you to send data in code. It takes a message and scrambles it so that only the recipient with the correct key can unscramble and read it.
Encryption is an essential tool for protecting your business if you are sending sensitive information over email or need to store crucial data on your computer. Adding an extra layer of security to your data can prevent would-be hackers from accessing your sensitive information and causing damage to your business.
At the core of encryption is a cryptographic key, which is required to decrypt and read the encrypted data. Without this key, anyone trying to access or use your data will only see random characters instead of meaningful content.
You can encrypt your data in several ways, so be sure to talk to your IT team about the best option for your business.
Dispose of Physical Files Properly
With the increased digitization of information, businesses are now relying more on computers and digital storage than they did in the past. However, even as paper documents continue to diminish in importance, many businesses still have a large volume of files that need to be disposed of periodically. This only adds to their increasing reliance on electronic information systems.
For an organization’s computer system and accompanying data backups to remain secure, files and paper documents must be disposed of properly.
Use of Paper Shredders
Using a paper shredder to destroy sensitive documents is a quick and convenient way to dispose of files. Shredders come in several types, including strip-cut shredders, cross-cut shredders, and Department of Defense (DOD)-certified shredders.
Small job document disposal tools
Another option is to provide employees with tools to properly dispose of paper documents. These may include multi-cut scissors, trash can shredders, and identity protection stamps.
Regardless of your chosen disposal method, it’s essential to ensure that confidential information is not exposed or compromised during the disposal process. Businesses can help protect themselves from data breaches and security threats by taking these steps.
Professional paper shredding service
Businesses can also work with a reputable, secure shredding service. The service provider will collect your documents, shred them onsite, and then haul off the shredded material for proper destruction.
Whether you use a paper shredding service or decide to handle it yourself, sensitive data must be disposed of properly so that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Another great way to protect your business information is using two-factor authentication (2FA). This requires the verification of the user’s identity using two different factors, like a password and a security code.
The 2FA makes it far more difficult to hack or phish a user’s credentials. The hacker would need to access the account from two different devices — something many of them won’t be able to do. The tool provides an extra layer of security for your business and your passwords.
However, it’s important to remember that 2FA is just one piece of a larger security strategy. To be safe from cyber threats and hackers, you must protect all aspects of your business information — including your passwords and 2FA codes!
And, of course, make sure you have robust backup solutions to protect your data against cyberattacks. With the right security tools and approach, your business can continue to thrive in a post-password world!
Invest in a Cybersecurity Solution
Investing in a cybersecurity solution is another great way to protect your business information. These solutions can help detect and prevent attacks and provide you with the ability to quickly recover from an attack if one does occur. There are several different cybersecurity solutions on the market, so work with your IT team about which would be best for your business.
As you can see, there are several ways to use technology to protect your business information. Taking these steps can significantly reduce the chances of being hacked. And if you do suffer a breach, investing in a cybersecurity solution can help you minimize the damage and get back up and running quickly. So don’t wait – take action today and start protecting your business information from criminals.
