Online Business Security Issues: Common Mistakes That Can Leave You Open To Attack

The Internet is a fantastic tool that every business owner on the planet would struggle without. It has taken something as difficult and complex as business and simplified it to make succeeding a whole lot much easier. Though success might not be a guarantee, but it is more likely than before.

However, for all its benefits, there are a lot of weaknesses also. The main one is hacking and cybercrime. Businesses have never been more vulnerable because hackers can access every piece of information. This means you cannot afford to make a mistake which could result in you losing your valuable business information and, possibly, cash.

So, how do you avoid this happening?

Of course, there are a lot you can do. One of such is learning about the most common mistakes that can expose your business to cyber criminals. Knowing these mistakes and what to do should enhance your security for the future. That being said, in this post you will learn some of these common mistakes and what to do about it.

But first,

What is Internet Business Security?

This can be simply defined as the protection of business data from theft, loss or unauthorized access, use or modification. Over the years, reports of cyber attacks on some big companies like Yahoo! and Ebay have made major headlines at one time or the other. Ironically, many small business owners lose sight of the fact that while attacks on big companies are quick to make the headlines there are many attacks on small businesses that are not being reported.

Besides, while many of these large companies are now getting the services of full-time security experts to maintain their business network security, the opposite is the same for small business owners. This is because they can hardly afford that luxury. For the small business owner it is therefore imperative that they know what to do to secure that business online.

Top 5 Cyber Security Mistakes Every Business Should Know/Avoid

1. Not Securing The Wi-Fi Router

The Wi-Fi is connected to your entire server. That might not mean much, but in reality it is a massive deal. It means that hackers can bypass your security protocols by going through your Wi-Fi connection. Ultimately, they go through the back door. Something as seemingly insignificant as your Wi-Fi connection could cripple your entire business.

2. Not Securing Your Email Accounts

Just like your Wi-Fi router, work email accounts are also often connected to the server, so the same rule applies. The problem you have in many respects is that you cannot trust your employees to use secure passwords. Most employees don’t use their usual password because it is only a work account. What difference does it make? They don’t have sensitive information stored on their work account. You, on the other hand, take a lot of interest in their work email account. It is best to create a random password for them, so you know that everything is safe and secure.

3. Using Free Or Poor Quality Antivirus Software

The free version of antivirus software is not up to scratch. For your laptop or tablet at home, it works fine because the threat is lower. But, for your business, you need a comprehensive package that will cover every possible threat. Quality software is a must, and it is worth spending that little bit extra just for a piece of mind. How do you know what is the best antivirus software on the market? Simply do a bit of research. Forums and product reviews are always a good choice because they are impartial.

4. Being Too Trusting

Attacks don’t just come from outside of the business. There are people that will take advantage if you do show any signs of weakness. It might be cynical to say so, but it is naïve to think you can trust everyone in your business. For that reason, only divulge information to a select few people so that you don’t leave yourself exposed.

5. Not Backing Up Offsite

Finally, get hold of an external hard drive and backup all of your files. Then, take the hard drive and put it somewhere secure. It doesn’t matter where you put it, as long as it is secure and not on the business premises. If you are attacked, you will need to rebuild. If, however, you only back everything up on your server, you won’t have any files to help you restore the business.

Conclusion

As you can see from the above, while online security can pose great threat to small businesses, it is not entirely hopeless. Simply knowing what the risks are, how vulnerable your business is, how cyber attacks could potentially affect your business and what you can do to prevent such attacks can all add up to help you prevent such attacks. You don’t have to be a security expert to do this. Empowering yourself with the right information, like the above, is sure to help you protect yourself and your business.