Hackers aren’t shy about assaulting small businesses. They know that most of these businesses are vulnerable to cyber crimes. It’s not overly difficult for smart hackers to break into the credit-card accounts or bank accounts of small businesses. Many have no trouble accessing employee information such as their Social Security numbers. Fortunately, small business owners have a tool to use against cyber criminals: common sense. Entrepreneur Magazine recently ran a feature story providing tips for small business owners who want to protect their businesses from hackers. Below are a few suggestions from the story.
Encrypt your Data
Make certain the full-disk encryption tools on your company’s computers are switched on. When they are, these tools encrypt every file or program stored on your computers’ drives. This is significant because hackers would rather go after easy targets. Once they discover that your company’s key data are encrypted, they might move on in search of one of these easier targets. On Macintosh computers, the encryption tool is labeled FileVault. On Windows-based machines, the tool is known as BitLocker.
The Lockdown Approach
Here’s a surprising fact from the Entrepreneur story: Many businesses become the target of cyber crimes only after burglars physically break into their offices and steal their laptops or other devices. Once armed with your equipment, cyber criminals can easily access important company accounts and information. That’s why employees should, before leaving for the day, run a cable through the Kensington locks – the small metal loops attached to most computers and laptops – on their electronic devices and lock them to their desks. This may prevent some criminals, interested in completing their theft quickly, from bothering with the devices.
Wi-Fi Protection
Often the easiest way for cyber criminals to get into your company accounts is through your business’ Wi-Fi network. That’s why we suggest you utilize business-class WiFi solutions from vendors such as Ruckus or Cisco, and that you hire an experienced IT security expert (like The Fulcrum Group) to make sure your WiFi environment is secure.