10 Tips to Improve Cybersecurity
A survey from Forrester found that 75% of respondents in the construction, engineering and infrastructure industries had suffered a cyberattack in the past year. Fortunately, you don’t need to be a computer scientist or software engineer to be able to take effective precautions against the most common types of attacks.
1) USE ANTI-VIRUS SOFTWARE
Antivirus software can block malicious files from harming your computer. Some antivirus software is free and can protect you from common internet threats, or paid software can offer more advanced protection.
2) INSTALL A FIREWALL
A firewall can protect your network by monitoring incoming and outgoing traffic and acting as a barrier to untrusted traffic that poses a security risk. Firewalls can be software or hardware installed at entry points to your network
3) EDUCATE EMPLOYEES ON BEST PRACTICES
Make sure employees use strong passwords and avoid clicking suspicious links. Be sure to only grant employees the minimum amount of access needed and disable accounts of former employees to prevent internal abuse of data.
4) SET UP STRONG EMAIL SPAM FILTERS
Your email service will already have a spam filter and should take care of most of the spam emails, but you can modify the settings to prevent phishing emails from getting into your inbox. You can mark any that do come through as spam or report them to the authorities to curb scam attempts.
5) USE TWO-FACTOR AUTHENTICATION
In addition to entering a password to access an account, use a second authentication step. It’s usually a text message or voice call that shares a code to your mobile device that you enter in as the second step to open the account. Check to see if your accounts offer this option.
6) BACK UP INFORMATION
Back up your information to a secure server or external hard drive so if you do encounter a security breach or other computer issue, you do not lose vital business documents such as photos of past projects, spec sheets, blueprints, invoices, receipts, or tax returns.
7) KEEP SOFTWARE UPDATED
Prevent lapses in security by keeping your software updated to the latest versions and remove any software you are no longer using. Experts advise using the native program or application pre-installed on your computer instead of third-party software if possible. Opt in for an automatic update option if the software or application offers it.
8) KEEP YOUR WEBSITE SECURE
Ensure your website uses Secure Socket Layer technology and has the SSL certificate. This technology protects information entered by users, such as contact and payment information, and encrypts it so it cannot be stolen by hackers. Websites available through Houzz Website Services use this technology
9) INVEST IN A SECURITY PROVIDER
Experts recommend outsourcing if your business has 20 or fewer employees and hiring someone in-house if your business is larger. Before you bring on a provider, be able to articulate your problem or goal, know where your assets reside, know what data you’re trying to secure, and be able to manage the relationship with your provider.
10) PREPARE AN INCIDENT RESPONSE PLAN
Data shows the faster you can identify and respond to a security breach, the less costly the breach is. Your incident response plan should include steps to gauge the size of the breach, determine the breach’s scope and risk, re-secure your network, communicate the risk to any party affected by the breach, and preventative measures against future breaches.
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