Protect Your Business From Hacking Attacks
Cybercriminals are always trying new ways to gain access to your company’s private financial information, and sometimes just being careful to avoid phishing or suspicious links isn’t enough to stay protected. That’s why it’s important to use the latest tools available to prevent hacking attacks that could jeopardize your business and its future. Below are a few options available to help you beef up your defenses.
Keep your software up-to-date
First and foremost, it’s important to update your software and systems regularly. Software updates often include security patches that address weaknesses discovered during testing. Hackers will use these known vulnerabilities to try and break into your company’s systems, so updating to resolve known issues as soon as possible is imperative.
Updates not only protect you from issues that are currently present, but also potentially guard against new exploits created by cybercriminals. Cybersecurity researchers are constantly on the lookout for new forms of malware and work alongside software developers to create defenses against them. By updating software regularly, you can take advantage of these efforts to keep your business one step ahead of cybercriminals.
Applications and plug-ins installed on your system, or even physical appliances connected to the internet, could also serve as back doors into your infrastructure if they aren’t routinely updated. Take stock of everything your company uses electronically to ensure that nothing is outdated or at potential risk.
Back up your data and keep it encrypted
Backing up your data regularly is an essential practice to protect your information from potential data breaches. Even if your information becomes compromised, having backups, whether electronic or physical, can ensure that your company can continue working and not experience lost or inaccessible data.
To further protect the data itself, consider encryption, which involves encoding data in a way that makes it unreadable to anyone without approved access. By encrypting sensitive company information like passwords or financial information, you can make it more difficult for cybercriminals to try to access data.
Make sure your Wi-Fi is secure
One way to ensure that your information is encrypted is to utilize a secure Wi-Fi network that only those at your business can access. These networks require a password and are protected by encryption protocols like Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2). Public networks are not secure and can be used by anyone within range of the signal, leaving your company’s systems wide open to malicious activity.
Maintain a strong detection infrastructure
Even with protections in place, your business can still be on the receiving end of a hacking attack. That’s why having controls in place to detect and remedy any unwanted intrusions is an important part of any security plan. In particular, make sure your company has at least one system in place to defend against intrusion, such as:
- Security Information and Event Management, or SIEM (pronounced “sim”), which is a solution that can collect event log data from a range of sources to identify activity that strays from the norm and allow security operators to take appropriate action.1
- Security Operations and Analytics Platform Architecture, or SOAPA, which is a growing technology that can dynamically harness multiple tools, including SIEM, to collect even more analytics as security demands grow ever higher.2
- Security Orchestration, Automation and Response, or SOAR - a set of services that automates cyberattack prevention and response. With SOAR, security teams can task the system with repetitive and time-consuming issues, freeing up their time to handle more complex problems.3
By having at least one of these protections, along with several other services and systems, your company can be better equipped to handle attacks that may break through your initial defenses.
Make data security a top priority
Acquiring the tools and knowledge to keep your company’s sensitive information out of the wrong hands is one of the best investments you can make for long-term growth. At Trustmark, we believe the privacy and security of our customers’ information is of utmost importance. That’s why we offer products like myTrustmark® BUSINESS, that allow you to make secure online transactions while also providing features to help protect against fraudulent activity. Click here to learn more or contact our Corporate Treasury Services team at 855.731.0234.
