Cybersecurity is becoming a more pressing issue every year as digital technologies become accessible to the global consumer base. However, it’s important to note that cybersecurity is not only a pressing issue in the consumer sector, but also in the business realm, as companies continue to leverage more advanced tech for growth and financial stability.
In 2022 and the years to come, we can expect businesses to double down on their cybersecurity investments in order to keep sensitive business and customer data safe. To do this, business leaders will need to decide on data centers or cloud computing, network monitoring and better password management, and other cybersecurity measures.
What’s more, regular security checkups and continuous optimization are a must in a world where cyber-attacks are becoming more prevalent. With all of that in mind, here are the five cybersecurity tips small businesses should use in 2022 and beyond.
Start with a cybersecurity audit
Rigorous testing is the only way to build sustainable cybersecurity strategies and implement the solutions that work for your business. Cybersecurity is not a set-it-and-forget-it type of deal, and it requires continuous optimization throughout the year in order for your business, employees, and customers to stay safe.
Whether your employees use dedicated software to send large files every day and collaborate on important projects, or if your business handles sensitive customer information like payment data, you need to check if these systems and processes are at risk. Naturally, you can do this in-house with a dedicated team of cybersecurity experts, or you can outsource your security audit to an external partner.
Both are valid options, but small businesses may be able to reduce financial expenses by outsourcing cybersecurity audits on a regular basis. If you choose to run your business on the cloud, however, you can get cybersecurity check-ups automatically as a part of your cloud hosting plan.
Focus on G Suite security
G Suite, also known as Google Workspace, is Google’s comprehensive toolkit for productivity and business management in the digital world. The toolkit has all the software you know and love, such as Gmail, Drive, Docs and Sheets, and many more, all of which can be a security risk if you don’t manage access properly.
It’s important for admins to pay special attention to G Suite security in 2022 and beyond, as companies continue to leverage Google’s tools and software for collaboration, communication, and storing sensitive user data. Your objectives here are to improve password strength on all G suite accounts in your company, enable two-factor authentication, limit access for insecure third-party apps and integrations, limit sharing options for non-essential users, and remote outdated accounts from past employees.
These simple security measures will help you protect your employees within the G Suite space and beyond, but it will also help you boost productivity and efficiency in your team. After all, a productive employee is one who knows that their information is safe.
Use a single encrypted chat app
Speaking of keeping all information safe and secure in your business, it’s important to double down on communication security in 2022. Nowadays, there are many business chat apps on the digital marketplace, all of which offer some form of security - but yours should be end-to-end encrypted.
The most secure chat app out there should offer end-to-end encryption, meaning that the only people that can read the messages are the registered users in your network. The app should also boast two-factor authentication and allow password protection. What’s more, make sure that the app doesn’t store any data on its servers to completely eliminate the risk of data leaks.
Some of the most popular encrypted apps include WhatsApp, Viber, Telegram, and Brosix, all of which are excellent for business communication. These apps are also scalable to fit any team size or business needs, so you can use them seamlessly as you continue to grow.
Minimize data leaks via email
Email communication remains one of the most popular forms of business communication, and that should come as no surprise. Email is an efficient and effective tool for vertical and horizontal communication in a small business, but it’s also one of the best marketing tools at your disposal. That said, given the fact that you’re using email for internal and external communication alike, it’s important to minimize the security risks as much as possible.
From phishing scams to malware-infused emails, your employees need to know how to stay clear of these threats. What’s more, it’s important for your staff to know how to retract an email in Gmail, Yahoo, and other email clients in order to prevent data leaks. The reality is that mistakes happen, and one of your employees might accidentally send sensitive information to the wrong person.
When that happens, they need to be able to retract an email quickly in order to keep that information from reaching the public domain. Make sure to educate your employees on email communication safety, and not to download any files from untrustworthy sources. What’s more, train them to spot phishing scams.
You can also use a dedicated email monitoring tool that will automatically flag these and other suspicious emails. With a dedicated security system and an educated employee collective, you should have no problem securing all email communication in your business.
Elevate cybersecurity for remote employees
Lastly, you need to pay special attention to work from home cybersecurity in this day and age when remote work has become the norm. Now that companies are increasingly embracing the remote work concept, and now that employees are working from home and various other locations, it’s more important than ever before to implement stringent security measures.
Firstly, make sure that all employees are accessing a secure business network when logging on. It’s also important that their devices are secured and protected by strong passwords, so be sure to use a dedicated password manager instead of letting your employees come up with their own.
You can also consider implementing a secure web gateway that will monitor all network traffic and inspect all network activity in real time, allowing your employees to work safely. This is also where proper cybersecurity training will prove invaluable, as it’s important for remote employees to understand the cybersecurity basics in order to keep all sensitive data safe.
Wrapping up
Investing in cybersecurity is more important now than ever before, as consumers and businesses around the world are increasingly exchanging their sensitive data online. Don’t let a cyber-attack ruin your brand’s reputation or jeopardize your financial standing, instead, implement these cybersecurity tips to keep your employees and your customers safe in the digital realm.
Cryptology is perfect for information security.
Your birth date and social security numbers are examples of valuable information that should be encrypted.
Encrypting information will also provide confidentiality when doing business.
To maintain very accurate data, it is important to encrypt data.
If you encrypt the data, then only you or whoever else you give access to the data can affect it.
An encryption process will help you determine that the right people are using these computers.
