5 Easy Ways to Protect your Business from Malware Attacks
Hackers and scammers are becoming increasingly clever and sophisticated at setting up emails and messages that contain malware. As a result, we have to be increasingly vigilant, although it is not always easy to spot them. Your business needs to ensure that all staff members are trained to identify these threats otherwise you risk being targeted.
The National Cyber Security Centre offers a multitude of advice to help protect your business. Here, we share five steps you can easily implement right now to guard against malicious software or web content that can infect your IT system and devices and cause major damage.
- Put up a Firewall
A firewall can act as a security barrier, flagging up any potential threats and blocking them before they can get into your system or staff inboxes. Easy to set up, firewalls are a must when it comes to cyber security protection. They can even pick up where there are weak areas in your defences.
- Use antivirus software
Research the options as there are many antivirus software packages out there but not all are created equal. Another sure-fire way to pick up and block malware before it gets onto your systems, antivirus software is essential. Don’t just install it. Make sure it’s switched on and operating too. Or engage an IT support company to do this for you.
- Limit data sharing
A data breach can happen when there is data stored on USB drives and memory cards being used by different people. If you can’t keep track of who’s using what, you’re leaving yourself vulnerable to an attack. Limit the use of USBs and memory cards in terms of who can use them and what they use. Along with the antivirus software, this should help protect the frequently used ports.
- Don’t just install and then forget
Have you noticed we’re always being asked to update our apps and devices? This is usually because of improvements and often these improvements include better malware detection and/or security. Therefore, it goes without saying that you should keep on top of updates. Don’t just install your antivirus software and firmware onto your network and devices and assume that’s enough. It isn’t. If you use an IT support company, they should take care of this so you don’t have to.
- Arm your staff with knowledge
It doesn’t matter how much software you’ve installed to help protect your network and devices if your employees don’t have a clue what to look out for when it comes to malware. Human error is the biggest cause of a breach, therefore, staff need thorough training on what to look out for and the procedures for handling anything suspicious that they happen upon.
We strongly recommend a cyber security health check of your IT network and devices. Ask your IT supplier to do this for you, many reputable Managed IT companies will do it for free. Again do your research an find out what a cyber security health check covers.
Check if your staff really know what to look out for and maybe even consider becoming Cyber Essential Certified.
If you have business cyber insurance, check the policy requirements, as insurance companies require you to mitigate your cyber risks for the policy to be valid.
Prevention is always cheaper for a business than acting after a breach, so have a review of your procedures today.
