How To Keep Your Business Safe From Security Treats

Tech based businesses are prone to security treats, with new treat still coming out. Small businesses are  more exposed to these treats. What can a small business owner do to protect her business from a security breach? Your company’s security precautions should stop any unauthorised use of your IT, protect valuable data and keep your computers virus-free and running optimally. There are proven steps you can take to protect your company from cyber thieves who have the ability to exploit system weaknesses and access sensitive data with just a few clicks of a mouse.  protecting your business from a data security threat is easier than you think. It's also much cheaper than the physical, financial and emotional cost you can incure while repairing one. Follow these simple steps to secure your business. [See Also: 5 Most Weird Gadgets You Didn't Know]

1)  Isolate sensitive data

Isolate sensitive data  by keeping them on  fewest number of computers or servers, and make sure you keep it away  from the rest of your data and network. "The fewer copies of data you have, the easier it is to protect," said Jon Heimerl, the director of strategic security for Solutionary, a security services company that helps companies of all sizes design and manage better security programs and detect and prevent security events.

2) In-house threat

Most of these these comes from within, its easier for someone who knows how your system works to hack into it.  To tackel this, once in a while you will need to conduct a background check on all your employees, and for the ones yet to be employed, make sure you ask for two refrences from previous employer and make sure you call them and train your employees on security primciples and the use of strong passwords for security purposes.

3) Deal with changing threats

It can be hard to stay up-to-date with and respond to ever-evolving IT security threats. Regular, scheduled vulnerability scanning on your computers can help ensure you deal with new threats before they affect your company.  The same software can often instantly fix problems, isolate security threats before they cause harm, and may make patching and plugging security holes simpler.

4)  Always update your anti-virus and anti-spy ware software 

Its not just enough to have anti-virus and anti-spy ware software, make sure they have the latest versions or the latest updates by updating them once in a while.  Most small businesses have anti-virus and anti-spy ware software in place, but they forget or maybe dont see the need to update them, this can open them up to all sorts security threats.

5) Have Backups in Place 

Regularly backup data on all computers at least weekly. Store information offsite or in the cloud, which is becoming increasingly popular with businesses. The most critical data includes human resources files, accounts payable, and other financial files. 

6) Download applications only from reliable sources

Most of the applications contains spy wares, viruses, trojan horses and several other threats, and it will be in your own interest to make sure you are downloading from a secure source, also let your employees know bout this

7) Encrypt sensitive data. 

Assume cyber thieves will hack into your business system. These type of thieves can expertly determine your system’s weaknesses. Protect information, computers and networks with firewall software that is updated and tested on a regular basis. Having the latest security software, web browser and operating system can be the best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats. Ensure work-from-home employees are also protected by a firewal