How Can You Protect Your Company Against Latest Cyber Attacks?

Taking your company online has obvious advantages, but it also increases the danger of scams and security threats. A single cyber-attack can wreak havoc on your company’s reputation and income. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting “work from home” reality that it has established throughout the world, cybersecurity risks have increased.

But how can you safeguard your company from cyber-attacks and networks from destruction? Here are simple steps you can follow.

1. Educate employees and have a solid incident response strategy

It is true that you need specialized technologies to combat many cyber security risks such as complex malware and even ransomware. However, employees are often your largest source of vulnerability on a daily basis.

Employees using their organization’s laptop to use public WiFi at insecure hotspots is still one of the biggest hazards to cyber security, which may seem hard to accept. Alternatively, employees using passwords that are weak and simple to guess, clicking on links that appear to come from reputable sources but are really produced by bad actors seeking ways to enter your organization’s network are all instances where we see employee mistakes putting your company at risk.

So, you must ensure that your IT security strategy is intelligent and broad enough to address all potential attack vectors. Before someone or something damages your systems, data, reputation, or even livelihood, it’s critical that you adopt a proactive, continuing approach to educate your whole staff about cyber security dangers and responses.

2. Implement a static IP address VPN to your network

One of the most used cyber security practices is a VPN. Some VPN vendors provide you with a static IP to protect your company from cybersecurity risks. Websites see your local IP address when you use the Internet without a VPN. When you connect to a VPN, the server you’re connecting to hides your public IP address with one of its own.

A fixed, static, or dedicated IP address is a VPN service add-on that provides you with a unique IP address. That implies you are the only one who can use that particular IP address. With a static IP address, your IP will remain the same no matter how many times you log on and off. 

Simply put, a static IP address for your company is an internet address that does not change. A static IP address, like a physical street address, can inform other computers or servers on the internet where a particular device is situated or connected to the internet.

But how will having a static IP with VPN help your company’s cybersecurity system? For starters, a static IP address can make it considerably easier for employees to work remotely. Also, having a static IP address provides you with a dedicated server over which you have complete control. This means that your employees will be reaching company files safely wherever they are with improved verification methods. 

Additionally, with a static IP address, your company will be the only one that operates on this IP address. So, your IP reputation will be free from the activities of other domain owners.

3. Back up your data

If your company’s data and website are backed up, you’ll be able to restore any information lost in the event of a cyberattack or computer problems. It’s critical that you periodically back up your most crucial files and data. Fortunately, backing up doesn’t have to be expensive and is simple to operate.

To secure the protection of your sensitive data, it’s a good idea to employ different backup solutions. Daily incremental backups to cloud storage and end-of-week, quarterly, and yearly server backups are critical factors of a decent backup solution. An ideal cloud storage solution will employ encryption and allow multi-factor authentication for access when sending and storing your data.

4. Conduct scheduled penetration tests

Cybersecurity specialists frequently conduct vulnerability assessments and penetration tests to ensure that systems and data are secure. Penetration testing is the process of simulating a cyber-attack on a computer system, application, or network in order to identify vulnerabilities. 

Penetration tests are particularly useful for uncovering any security flaws that you would otherwise overlook. As a result, penetration testing is an important aspect of any cybersecurity plan. It is highly advisable for your company to have a capable pen-test team that employs regular penetration tests for maximum security.

5. Keep your software updated

If you want to make sure that your cybersecurity system is reliable, you need to ensure that your operating system and security applications are set to update automatically. Significant security improvements for recent viruses and attacks can be included in updates. 

Especially if your company employs a “bring your own device” system, you need to make sure that your IT team constantly reminds employees to update their systems and keep an update calendar to prevent employees from using outdated applications. You should keep in mind that outdated systems give hackers an excellent ground to work on. 

Most updates enable you to schedule them for after business hours or at a later time that is more convenient for you. Since updates solve significant security problems, it’s critical not to disregard update prompts.

Conserving your cybersecurity is a demanding process

With the steady influx of people in and out of companies, particularly in the form of new and leaving employees, training each employee on cybersecurity practices is an ongoing process. 

Both new and existing employees require daily reminders and updates on the measures they must take to defend your company from an ever-changing set of cyber threats.

You should make sure that you are informed about the latest events and updates in the cybersecurity field and work with a cybersecurity vendor that provides you with a static IP address if you need that extra security.