It’s finally 2018 and it seems some people don’t want to make the same mistakes that companies did in 2017. This must be the reason why so many are taking cyber-security into their own hands. But is this a wise move? With major companies like HBO, Yahoo, Equifax (just to name a few) getting hacked last year, it feels as if there is very little guarantee that customers’ data can be 100% protected.
If you do want to take the risk of securing your own data, it’s recommended to start out with some basic steps. One of the easiest ways is by enabling a two-factor authentication (2FA) on your website and by installing an authenticator app. It’s not just the big fishes that need protection. Small business owners who don’t have IT pros on their payroll, will have to stay vigilant when it comes to cyber-security. After all, cyber-safety starts with you and you alone. Think about how often you use Facebook accounts or Google credentials to log into sites all across the internet day-in, day-out. We are exposing our identity and personal info each time, and we are now just starting to get wise about it.
It’s not just your laptop or your work desktop that is at risk. It’s all your mobile devices, or anything that has personal or company data. This year more than ever, you will see companies zero-in on securing mobile devices from suspicious behavior. Cell phone users should install Appthority on their phones. and scan their apps before installing or opening. Appthority is a cloud-based platform that grades mobile apps on risky behavior that can cause malware and intellectual property exposure.
With new year’s resolutions being held onto by a thread already, the idea of you taking on cyber-security all by yourself might be one resolution too many. Human error is a major factor in breaches, and your company’s infrastructure can go from a tiny mistake to a catastrophe in a “New York minute”. Human error from a trustworthy worker is the bright side of it. Imagine if you have disgruntled employee. Those individuals whose sole intent is to steal competitive information, sell the data or intelligence to the highest bidder.
No matter what your business, don’t be “penny wise and pound foolish”. You don’t have to break the bank to get the best cyber-security, but you also don’t have to go about it on your own.
