Cyber security, antivirus, hackers and malware concepts with secure laptop at center
The increasing number of cyberattacks on SMBs is a serious matter of concern. Businesses, including large organizations, are constantly grappling with new cybersecurity threats, and malware remains one of the serious ones. Worms, viruses, adware, trojans, ransomware, spyware – these are all different types of malware that have been associated with countless security breaches. Malware protection, surprisingly, is not complicated. In this post, we are sharing some of the basic ideas and steps that can prevent malware attacks, ensure security, and reduce data theft incidents.
- Secure networked devices and networks. Every device that’s connected to the internet has the potential to be hacked. Ensure that networked devices are placed behind firewalls, and also, there are varied ways to secure your in-house networks. Focus on network segmentation, so that compromise on a subnetwork doesn’t become a major concern.
- Backups, penetration testing, and network scanning. Taking regular backups of data ensures that you can restore your system, in case of a breach, especially ransomware attacks. Penetration testing allows you to find the possible issues and malicious files that are not visible otherwise, while network scanning helps in finding suspicious activities.
- Malware protection at the basic level. Ensure that your teams are using password managers, and where needed, consider using multifactor authentication. Onetime passwords, pins, and security questions can add added layers of security. Also, watch out for antimalware software, and there are quite a few in the market, of which some have been developed for SMBs.
- Update your software and firmware. The importance of updating operating systems, software and firmware, cannot be overstated. These updates help you fix the security flaws, bugs, and concerns that can be misused or rather exploited by hackers. Get rid of old software, legacy programs that are not in use anymore.
- Employee training is a must. Employees on the frontline of ensuring security of your networks, devices, hardware, and emails, and they need to know their roles and responsibilities in ensuring protection against malware. Make people accountable for what they have access to, and spend on cybersecurity workshops and training programs.
Not to forget, find the best way to handle a malware concern. An incident response plan is critical in this regard and can help your business in handling mitigating the risks and further consequences, in case a breach occurs. With a few steps, your business can be protected against malware, and it doesn’t take a whole lot of spending either.
