Businesses Need a Cybersecurity Strategy To Protect Against Growing Cybersecurity Threats

In a recently convened roundtable event, the FCC provided 10 cybersecurity tips for businesses to follow to help keep their information technology secure.  Businesses need a cybersecurity strategy to protect their own business, their data, their reputation, and their customers from growing cybersecurity threats.

With the services and solutions of Creative Associates, combined with products from WatchGuard Technologies, all 10 points can be effectively addressed.

Here are the 10 key cybersecurity tips for businesses to protect themselves:

1. Train employees in security principles

Establish rules of behavior describing how to handle and protect customer information and other vital data. Clearly spell out the penalties for violating business policies. Creative Associates can assist in establishing security practices to protect sensitive business information and communicate them to all employees on a regular basis and implementing solutions to enforce these policies..

2. Protect information, computers and networks from viruses, spyware and other malicious code

Install, use and regularly update antivirus and antispyware software on every computer used in your business. Solutions from Creative Associates can help in protecting your business information assets from malicious intent. Including WatchGuard XCS and XTM appliances is an important part of the solution.

3. Provide firewall security for your Internet connection

A firewall is a set of related programs that prevent outsiders from accessing data on a private network. Install and maintain firewalls between your internal network and the Internet. If employees work from home, ensure that their home systems are protected by firewalls. Install firewalls on all computers – including laptops – used in conducting your business.

Creative Associates, in partnership with WatchGuard, can provide solutions for secure remote VPN and  Next Generation Firewalls. These solutions will empower you with advances in the state of the art in security, manageability and compatibility with real world business.

4. Download and install software updates for your operating systems and applications as they become available

All operating system vendors regularly provide patches and updates to their products to correct security problems and improve functionality. Configure all software to install such updates automatically.

5. Make backup copies of important business data and information.

Regularly backup the data on every computer used in your business. Critical data includes word processing documents, electronic spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resources files and accounts receivable/payable files. Backup data automatically if possible, or at least weekly.

6. Control physical access to your computers and network components

Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Laptops can be particularly easy targets for theft, so make sure they are stored and locked up when unattended.

7. Secure your Wi-Fi networks If you have a Wi-Fi network for your workplace make sure it is secure and hidden.

If you have a Wi-Fi network for your workplace make sure it is secure and hidden. To hide your Wi-Fi network, set-up your wireless access point or router so it does not broadcast the network name, known as the Service Set Identifier (SSID). In addition, make sure to turn on the encryption so that passwords are required for access. Lastly, it is critical to change the administrative password that was on the device when it was first purchased.

8. Require individual user accounts for each employee

Setup a separate account for each individual and require that strong passwords be used for each account. Administrative privileges should only be given to trusted IT staff and key personnel.

9. Limit employee access to data and information, and limit authority to install software

Do not provide any one employee with access to all data systems. Employees should only be given access to the specific data systems that they need for their jobs, and should not be able to install any software without permission.

10. Regularly change passwords

Passwords that stay the same, will, over time, be shared and become common knowledge to coworkers and can be easily hacked. Passwords should be changed at least every three months.