It is difficult to do business these days without computers, mobile devices and cloud storage tools to help you keep inventory, market to your customers and even act as a point-of-sale unit. This means that your data, and that of your customers, is vulnerable to attack from hackers, malware and viruses, so it is important to have a good information technology team with the right tools to protect your business. You can even find many of these tools from the same solutions companies where you outsource your IT processes.
Encryption Tools
Not only will you want the right encryption tools to keep your data secure, you will want the right TLS and SSL decryption tools as well. These Transport Layer Security and Secure Socket Layer tools will allow you to decrypt information coming through your firewall and then encrypt it again once it has been found to be safe. These tools can slow down the traffic, so it is a delicate balance between decrypting enough information to keep the systems safe without slowing the traffic down too much for business to flow smoothly. Many IT teams will have the networks set up to automatically check for encryption, security threats and updates to help these tools function as well as possible.
Hardware
The hardware that your business uses should be as new and updated as possible to ensure that the latest security software will run well, but there are other security measures you should take with these items. It is important to make sure any default passwords and usernames are reset by your business to avoid any unauthorized personnel access to your files, it is also important to make sure that any servers and sensitive hardware are physically secure with camera systems and trained employees. Your hardware can include more than just the computers, servers and mobile devices you use, however, because your camera systems, card readers and alarms are also valuable hardware for security.
Password Tools
Passwords are powerful security tools, but they are not infallible. Forgetting your password, writing it down where someone else can find it or even not changing it on a regular basis can create vulnerabilities in the system, so can accessing data and software from mobile devices or from unsecured networks. This is where password tools come in handy. Not only can these tools offer features like two-part verifications and a secure place to store your passwords, but they can also help you fill out online forms and monitor which passwords are being used in various locations.
Software
Keeping your software updated is one of the best ways to keep it secure. Developers will release patches and enhanced security features for their software solutions and by keeping them updated, you can have access to the latest information. You should also make sure that your software is designed to communicate with each other effectively to streamline both day-to-day tasks and security warnings and updates between all your teams. Working with your IT team and software developers can help ensure that everything is up to date and secure.
Antivirus Tools
Along with your encryption and other security software, a good antivirus can help keep your systems and data safe from intrusion. These antivirus tools will have databases of the latest malware and viruses, detection tools and removal software. They can also warn you when another software solution is not performing as expected or when some passwords have been breached. Most computers and mobile devices will have an antivirus installed when you first get them, but it is a good idea to research these programs to see what kind of vulnerabilities they might have and how to compensate for them.
Training
Training and education for your employees is one of the best ways to keep your business safe. These courses can help teach personnel how to properly create and store passwords, how to use the various security tools you have and even how to report suspicious performance or activity on the network. The better you train your people to spot and defend against cyber-attacks, the more secure your company will be.
The right tools can help you keep your company secure from hackers and other attacks. You will want to give your IT team the best encryption, antivirus and password tools along with the right hardware, software and training to keep your systems running as well as possible for as long as possible. These tools can help keep your data, and that of your customers, secure as well as prevent network problems which can result in lost work and man hours.
