Cyber security has been a growing issue ever since the birth of the Internet, and in the ever-changing landscape of the business environment, it is more important than ever for business owners to take online security into serious consideration when operating their businesses. With so much to consider, however, effective cyber security can be very confusing and this can lead businesses vulnerable to hackers and cyber attacks.
Cyber security is not something to be left to chance, and so if you are one of the many business owners who are concerned about their levels of protection, we have got you covered. This article is a guide to 4 tools that can help you secure your online business and protect your sensitive information from cyber criminals.
1. Virtual Data Rooms
While the huge number of data breaches has shown no signs of slowing down any time soon, digital businesses need to be more careful about their approach to online data – and virtual data rooms (VDRs) have made it possible for businesses to stay connected globally while keeping their data protected.
Simply put, virtual data rooms are secure online locations for you to store your confidential data, and they are often utilized in complex corporate processes like financial transactions, board meetings, and communication. A quality virtual data room, unlike regular file-sharing options like Dropbox or Google Drive, will give users added confidentiality with basic principles of information security. Here are some of the key advantages of virtual data rooms that helps them to stand out from other data-sharing choices:
– The highest levels of website security and personal data security standards
– Easy to use and access
– Give users the ability to fully control and manage the data to fit their needs
– Help businesses increase their efficiency and streamline their processes
These advantages show why VDRs are trusted for the following procedures:
– M&A due diligence
– Audit
– Fundraising
– Regulatory compliance
– Litigation
– Initial Public Offering (IPO)
– Procurement projects
– Strategic partnership
– Reporting
– Board meetings
– Intellectual property management
2. Firewall
The rise of digital information and technology has provided innumerable benefits to businesses but has also come with definite drawbacks, as it has given online hackers a platform to attack your systems and steal important data. If you are unaware of your vulnerabilities and so don’t take the necessary security measures, the results can be so devastating to your business and will take a significant amount of time and money to resolve. A next generation firewall is your business’s first line of defense against malware and other common tactics used by cyber criminals. It is so important that you don’t overlook it and do the right thing by investing in a solid firewall.
Nowadays, the importance of being able to monitor the traffic coming in and out of your online business can not be stressed enough, and a firewall will do just that, along with filtering out specific threats and eliminating certain sites altogether. If the firewall detects activity that has not been authorized by the appropriate personnel, it will shut down the process. Although firewalls alone will not protect you from all the threats of the online world, it is an important layer of protection that you must have.
3. VPNs
Data encryption is a technique that is often included in the operating processes of online businesses to protect customers who use their credit cards for online payment, and it has remained a standard for online transactions ever since its birth. Therefore, it is vital for your business to follow the right procedures to keep your online operations secure.
Businesses of all types and sizes can take advantage of data encryption to comply with these procedures through the use of a virtual private network (VPN) – and the best thing about this tool is you do not have to have the resources or the security expertise of larger operations to implement a VPN and prevent outside forces from spying on your business activities. It will also protect your internal online information such as your personnel files, financial accounts and product specifications.
Nowadays, all it takes is a single network vulnerability for cybercriminals to gain access to all your data – but having a good VPN that can be used on multiple devices by all the users within your organization will eliminate that risk and take your online business’s security to the next level.
4. Password Tools
Another major point of vulnerability for your online business is your passwords and usernames; and most of the time, these are the biggest source that leads to cyber attacks. The majority of usernames and passwords on the Internet are not strong enough, and more importantly, are often left unchanged for a long time. These two facts alone have already made it much easier for cyber criminals to exploit those vulnerabilities and hack into your online business – and that is exactly why you should change default usernames and passwords on your network as quickly as possible, and upgrade them regularly to ensure that your online business is protected against harmful threats that can exploit those weaknesses.
However, having to change and manage your usernames and passwords periodically (ideally every 90 days, maybe even more often) is a tough task on its own – and will not be effective if you do not find a way to keep everything organized. That is where password tools are so important – and by giving you a centralized, secured location to manage all your passwords and automatically update them to ensure the maximum level of security, password tools enable you to focus on other aspects of your business, without having to constantly worry about preventing cyber crimes.
Protecting your valuable information and keeping your business secured should be one of your top priorities; because once cyber attacks have happened, there is really no effective way to recover what has already been lost. As a business owner, you cannot let your business run that risk, and the right protection for your organization initially comes from having the right security tools for the job. Implementing the tools laid out in this guide will enable you to protect your online business and guarantee your success.