Marcus RichardsHaving a fully secured and hack-proof business is vital in the online world. It helps you keep your data safe and secure. In this article, we will talk about ways to make your online business fully secured and hack-proof.
Use a Trustworthy Website Builder
According to the survey data accumulated by Findbold.com, 71% of hackers choose website accounts as their target, while 68% start assaults to be challenged. Thus, choosing a good website platform is more crucial than you can imagine. It should be easy to use, reliable, and secure. It would help if you also chose an affordable platform with a good reputation in the market.
When choosing a platform, ensure that it has all the features that will help you build your website quickly without difficulty. If possible, try demoing different platforms before using one. This way, you’ll know what works best for you and where all of your favorite features are located on each one. So there won’t be any issues when building your site later down the road.
Use Genuine and Updated Software
There are a few precautions that you should take when selecting your software. The first is to use genuine and updated software. Most of the time, the pirated versions are loaded with viruses and malware, which can harm your business in many ways.
Secondly, it’s essential to consider the reputation of the supplier who provides this software package or application. It is crucial because if they do not have a good reputation, it may be wise for you not to buy from them. After all, there could be negative consequences for doing so.
SSL Certificate Is a Must
SSL certificate is a must for any website. It helps in protecting your website from hackers, cyber-attacks, and many other issues. SSL certificates can be used by both large organizations and small business owners.
To buy an SSL certificate, you need to talk with your hosting provider and ask them if they offer such services or not. You will have to look for an external company if they do not submit it. However, they might provide such services at reasonable prices, so you don’t have to pay too much.
Train Employees for Cybersecurity
Cybersecurity is vital for every business. But unfortunately, as compared to 2020, 50% more weekly cyberattacks on business networks happened in 2021. Thus, one of the best ways to prevent cyberattacks is by training your employees on proper data security. In addition, it would help if you ensured that all your staff members knew the dangers and risks associated with a breach and ways to keep themselves safe from these threats.
Conduct regular security awareness training for employees. These sessions should be held at least once every quarter so that everyone stays updated about the latest developments in this field.
Train supervisors on how to deal with security breaches and incidents. Make sure they know what needs to be done when an incident occurs. So you don’t lose valuable business secrets or sensitive customer data.
Set up monitoring tools that help detect any unusual activity occurring within the network. These could be unauthorized access attempts or suspicious network traffic patterns. Internal devices like laptops or smartphones can generate them.
Schedule Regular Data Backups
Backups are essential and should be scheduled to happen regularly. The frequency of your backups will depend on how much information you need to save and how long it takes for you to recover from them. It’s best to keep your data backed up as often as possible so that there are no losses if something happens. It would be best to store these backups securely, in the cloud, or on an external hard drive or USB flash drive.
Be Cautious When Downloading or Uploading on Unknown Sources
Using a secure browser is essential and avoid downloading from unknown sources. You should also ensure that the file transfer protocol you use is safe. Furthermore, when uploading files online, ensure you do it on a secured website. It should not be from any random one you find on Google or other search engines.
When using email services such as Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo Mail, Hotmail, etc., always check if they offer an option for encrypting your emails while sending them out. So they cannot be read by anyone else but the intended recipients.
Use Strong Passwords
Passwords are a must for any website or online business. For the uninitiated, a password is an access code used to log into your account. It would be best if you chose a strong password as it will protect your information from being accessed by anyone who knows how to crack codes.
To create strong passwords:
- Have at least 12 characters or more.
- Use uppercase, lowercase letters, and numbers.
- Avoid personal information such as birthdays, names of pets, etc.
Try a Renowned Third-Party Security Software
Installing third-party security software is one of the easiest ways to make your online business fully secured and hack-proof. You can find several reputable security software on the Internet, but choose one with a good reputation. Also, check the reviews and ratings of this software before installing it in your system. Furthermore, it is also crucial for your chosen third-party security software to be compatible with your system. In other words, it should be easy to use and protect your online business from cyber attacks. Hackers often take advantage of vulnerability points. For example, they access an account illegally through web browsers like Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
Avoid Human Errors as Much as Possible
Hackers usually have to guess based on probabilities, and that means trying to get inside your mind about your family, background, and upbringing. So to avoid human error as much as possible, you must:
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or opening attachments from unknown sources.
- Don’t download files or apps from unknown sources.
- Don’t leave your computer unattended.
- Don’t use public computers.
- And don’t use public Wi-Fi.
Do Not Forget the Web Application Firewall
A WAF is security software that detects and blocks any malicious activity on a website, protecting it from being hacked.
The primary purpose of this firewall is to detect and block malicious requests made by hackers. However, it can also see and block malicious traffic. It means it will know if an IP address is sending too many requests to your site or whether they are accessing pages they shouldn’t be accessing. It can also find out if there are suspicious codes on the page. These might be codes used by hackers to get inside your system.
Cybersecurity Is Essential
There is no denying the fact that cybersecurity is an essential aspect of any business. It has led many companies to invest in these services, becoming a mandatory requirement. However, this doesn’t mean you should wait until someone hacks your website or your data gets stolen before you take steps toward securing it. You can ensure that your business remains secure from all cyber attacks by following the tips mentioned above.
