Every Entrepreneur’s Need-to-Know About Cybersecurity

As an aspiring entrepreneur, you already know about the dangers of theft and fraud. You may be surprised to learn, though, that these crimes are more often perpetrated online nowadays: a phenomenon that’s called cybercrime. Indeed, according to research, 59% of people in the U.S. report that they have experienced cybercrime, and businesses are becoming increasingly common targets. Find out from CIO Landing what you need to know in order to keep your company safe.

How to Prevent a Cyberattack

There are several ways that businesses can be vigilant about preventing a cyberattack. First, you should familiarize yourself with the most common cyberattack methods. Online fraudsters frequently target businesses by using phishing schemes, computer hacking, and other nefarious tactics. You should train your staff on these types of attacks so that they know what to look for.

You can also invest in cybersecurity solutions that protect your tech from being compromised. The right solution can be used to secure a USB drive, server, hard drive, or network so that you don’t have to worry about potential interception. You can also secure individual documents by creating password-protected PDFs. This can minimize the risk of sensitive information being exploited, and it’s easy to create one using a PDF merging tool. This tool allows you to keep every document in a single file and combine the pages you want to use.

How to Respond to a Cyberattack

Unfortunately, even if you are exceedingly careful, the risk of a cyberattack cannot be eliminated. If your business has fallen prey, it’s important that you have a plan in place to respond and mitigate the damage. This plan may include investing in an insurance policy that’s specifically designed to cover the liability of a cyberattack.

You should also have a plan for identifying the signs that a cyberattack has taken place. Not every attack will manifest with your website suddenly becoming inaccessible. Sometimes attacks are not immediately obvious, and they unfold gradually over time.

There are several telltale signs that your business may be under attack, though, including a slower-than-usual internet connection and login credentials that suddenly stop working. If signs like these emerge, it’s time to investigate further.

Understanding the Effects of a Cyberattack

You might still be wondering why a cyberattack is such a disastrous possibility. The level of risk depends on the kind of business you run. If you operate a healthcare business, for example, a cyberattack could be a matter of life and death, as it was for a series of cyberattacks on hospitals. In addition to the ramifications of a compromised computer system, you can likely expect legal action to follow if the cyberattack results in the exposure of customers’ sensitive information. A cyberattack can also result in compromised banking credentials, which may leave accounts vulnerable to theft.

Protect Your Business Against Cyber Threats

Cyberattacks are a huge liability facing businesses, and online criminals are developing new attack methods every day. If your business becomes a victim, you could face legal liability. It’s vital that you minimize this risk by implementing a prevention plan and investing in solutions to cybersecurity problems. With tools like an online PDF merger, it’s simple to prevent sensitive documents from falling into the wrong hands. Invest in this and other solutions to ensure that your new business isn’t harmed by cybercriminals.

CIO Landing is here to help put technology to work for your business. Reach out today to get started!