Because of the changing workplace, cybersecurity is a hot topic for 2022. Companies are increasingly looking for more efficient ways to ensure their enterprise systems and resources remain secure from hackers. This article will go over some of the top tips for protecting your company from hackers in 2022 and beyond.
Tips for Protecting Your Business From Hackers
1. Use a cloud VPN
An enterprise VPN grants employees secure access to only the cloud-based company resources that they need to do their jobs. By operating on zero-trust principles, cloud-based VPNs greatly reduce the potential risk surface for cyber attacks. This is more important than ever in 2022 because of the number of people who continue to work from home and other remote locations.
With so many people connecting to enterprise systems from different devices, locations, and internet networks, instead of all connecting from within an office, there is more potential for hackers to gain access to enterprise networks.
Traditional self-hosted VPNs are no longer able to provide the levels of enterprise cybersecurity needed to reduce the risks of cyberattacks, and that’s why using a cloud-based enterprise VPN is one of the top ways to protect your company from hackers in 2022.
Cloud VPNs give enterprise IT teams much more granular control over who has access to what, making it far less likely that a hacker can access your company’s entire network of cloud-based company resources if they hack a specific user’s login. Total end-to-end encryption ensures that only authorized users and devices can connect to certain company systems.
Besides the added cybersecurity benefits provided by cloud VPNs, they can also boost productivity and efficiency by integrating seamlessly with other popular cloud-based enterprise programs, such as Salesforce and Amazon Web Services. Additionally, there are no geographic restrictions, so your employees can enjoy low-latency remote work connectivity from anywhere.
2. Change your password policy
To further decrease the likelihood that hackers obtain employee passwords and use them to hack into your systems, ensure that everyone is using a unique password that is sufficiently complex.
You can do this by requiring all passwords for company systems to contain a mix of upper case letters, lower case letters, numbers, and special symbols. This makes passwords much harder for hackers to guess through password hacking programs.
You should also require that everyone’s password be updated regularly, such as every quarter. Finally, make sure that no employees are sharing passwords with each other or using the same passwords for their enterprise logins and personal logins.
3. Provide cybersecurity awareness training
A large portion of successful hacking attempts against businesses gains access to company systems and data by targeting individuals who work at the company. They employ tactics like phishing and malware attacks to steal employee passwords or other sensitive information.
One of the best ways to reduce these risks is to train your employees on cybersecurity matters. Cybersecurity awareness training teaches people about the latest types of cyberattacks and how they can spot them. After such training, employees are much less likely to open phishing emails or click on malicious links.
4. Keep all software updated
Many cyber attacks occur because of security loopholes in outdated versions of software and platforms. Software updates are designed to fix bugs and security issues that can leave you vulnerable to hacking attempts, so make sure all software that employees use at your company is frequently updated to the latest version.
An easy way to do this is to check program settings for an auto-update option and turn it on, so the software automatically stays up to date without having to manually run updates.
5. Use multi-factor authentication
Multi-factor authentication is a more secure way for employees to log in to programs and systems. Whenever someone attempts a new login, multi-factor authentication requires a unique code in addition to their password.
These codes can be sent via text, email, or phone call, so only the person who should have access to a certain account will be able to receive them on a secondary device that they own.
6. Provide antivirus software
Antivirus and antimalware software is an essential cyber security solution for preventing hacking attempts against your employees.
If you provide computers to your workers, install antivirus software on all of the devices in use. If employees use their own devices, provide enterprise antivirus subscriptions to everyone so they can download and install the software themselves. Lastly, don’t forget to make sure everyone updates their antivirus software regularly, as these programs frequently update the types of attacks and malware that they catch and protect against.
Nowadays much antivirus software comes with prebuild antimalware tools that allow you to remove malware from your computer as well. Try scanning your computer frequently using antivirus software to avoid any spyware or viruses affecting your computer.
7. Be aware of Phishing emails
Hackers sometimes try to hack your computer or your password using phishing emails. They send you to a page that looks like the original web page but when you enter your ID and password there, is stored in the hacker’s database instead of logging you on the original website.
Phishing emails are not only limited to social media like Facebook, Google, Twitter. Hackers clone any webpage that you use frequently and host it on their own server to make it an identical site and when you log in to it, your password will be sent to them. Now they can access your login anytime they want.
So it’s better you always check the website you are visiting. E.g. If you are login to Facebook, make sure you type https:// followed by facebook.com to avoid getting your password hacked.
8. Use Licenced software
This is the most common way to invite viruses and hackers to access your computer when you install or use any pirated software on your computer.
They hack the system library and insert their own spyware tools that automatically scan, diagnose your personal data and send it to the hacker’s computer without letting you know.
The best possible way to avoid such an issue is using genuine software, even if you are paying for what it is worth. As your personal and sensitive data are more valuable than getting your own data hacked. In the worst case, you may be blackmailed by someone asking for money as well, as they have your personal sensitive information, data, photographs, or videos.
Genuine software costs you a few bucks but it’s official software that provides you regular updates and respects your privacy as well.
9. Backups
Back up your system frequently and the most essential thing you can do you prevent your business data from hackers.
When your system gets down, you can simply restore your data from your previously-stored backups. This way, your system will always be online and any malicious data you get in your system can be kicked out very easily by restoring a backup.
10. Hide Admin Pages
Hire a system developer to hide admin pages or sensitive pages from your network system. The hackers try breaching your system using the most common pages like /admin or /administrator or something similar.
The best way to prevent hackers from accessing your admin pages is simply by hiding them or blocking access using passwords. So that you can only have access to the admin page using your own security and the hacker’s bot is no longer be able to access your sensitive pages.
11. Install Safe Apps
When you are on the system, make sure you install the apps that you need. Downloading apps and software from unknown sources may be dangerous to your system’s health, because the apps may contain malicious files that breach your system security easily.
The best thing you can do is keep records of software you are installing to your computer or allow only admins to install a new app on the device. This will prevent employees from installing unnecessary files and apps without admin permission.
12. Use a Firewall
Firewalls can be very useful and must-have tools for any business network. Your system is fully secured and safe as it prevents your system from a lot of unwanted clutter attacking your system from all directions.
A firewall can reduce hacking attempts significantly but not stop them. But still, it’s useful in many cases as you are safe from the majority of hacking attempts and you only have to worry when there is a big issue.
13. Routine Maintenance
You can do routine system maintenance from a skilled technical person that checks all your security loopholes and if there are any, he can easily fix them.
The Bottom Line
In order to efficiently protect your company from hackers in 2022, you should employ all the solutions discussed above to create a comprehensive cybersecurity strategy.
With the right combination of cybersecurity tools and best practices, you can be confident that your company’s attack surface will be minimized and that your individual employees can securely work from anywhere.
The sooner you update your business’s cybersecurity practices, the safer your company’s sensitive systems and data will be. So, get started with the above tips today!