10 Cybersecurity guidelines for your business

In recent years the number and severity of digital security breaches suffered by businesses has significantly increased. Today, it’s essential to ensure that you have robust cybersecurity in place.

1. Improving access protection. Many security breaches have been found to originate with stolen access credentials. Multi-factor authorisation – using one or more authorisation methods (e.g. SMS) as well as a password for login – is a simple way to avoid this.
2. Employee training is key. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic the volume of coronavirus related phishing emails has shot up – training employees is essential to ensure that they are only clicking on links or opening attachments from sources they recognise.
3. Patch and update. Vulnerabilities in software and systems, when discovered, are often fixed in the next update – but only if you ensure that your systems and software are always up to date.
4. Use VPNs for remote working. Virtual Private Networks (VPN) increase security between a remote worker and your organisation’s server. It’s essential to ensure this is regularly updated, that you’re using multi-factor authorisation and that a VPN policy is in place so that employees know which applications aren’t suitable for it.
5. Introduce specific security for video conferencing. For example, always use meeting passwords and set a new password as close to the meeting as possible. Regularly change your Personal Meeting ID as cybercriminals compile and circulate lists of this information. You can also use the waiting room feature so that participants have to wait to be let onto a call and lock the call when all users are present.
6. Restrict the use of certain devices and to certain networks. For example it’s often worth preventing employees from using personal smarphones and devices to work from. If that device was used to access a public Wi-Fi network outside the home any business data on it could be vulnerable. Ensuring that only private Wi-Fi networks are being used for work purposes can significantly improve cybersecurity.
7. Cloud storage best practice. Choose one cloud storage platform and ensure that this is the only location where employees are storing files. Make sure that someone is responsible for the access permissions for files and folders and that you’re using encryption.
8. Take the time to communicate properly. Cybersecurity and use policies are essential to make clear to employees what is required of them, how they should be using digital resources and which platforms they can use.
9. Be prepared for a data breach. Hope for the best but prepare for the worst and have a contingency in place should something go wrong. In particular it’s essential to make sure employees know who to tell if they think there’s an issue, as they can be the first line of defence in any business.

10. Encourage awareness. The risks your business faces will change all the time – it’s essential for everyone in the organisation to remain aware of where the threats could come from.

Cybersecurity should be a top priority for any business today – these tips will help your organisation to improve existing measures.