According to ransomware research conducted by Group-IB there’s been an increase of 45% in the average ransom demand over the last year. This demonstrates the need for strong cyber security practices, especially for small businesses. Often, hackers see small businesses as an easy target as they simply don’t have the big budgets that major corporations do. However, this doesn’t mean that small businesses have to accept the risks. There are numerous steps that can be taken to safeguard data and improve cyber security in the wake of rising ransomware attacks, increased phishing, DDos attacks, and other threats.
You want to err on the side of caution with web security and privacy and make sure that you think of your own welfare each time you engage with the internet from any device. Utilizing a web app vulnerability service can help bolster your defenses and ensure that your online activities remain secure and protected.
Spring Cleaning Data
One of the best practices that a small company can implement to strengthen its web security and make themselves less attractive targets for hackers and cybercriminals is to spring clean their data. What this means is that the company must sift through the data that they keep on file, fish out fake user data, identify phishing accounts, and increase data transparency for both users and employees within the business. The best way to know whether a backdoor to your data is being created is to ensure that all the data stored within the company database is known to developers so that any suspicious entries can be examined and removed. Transparency within the database is a key factor in having a strong web security profile.
Prepping For An Attack
Not only will the process of database spring cleaning improve the knowledge of potential security threats within the company, but it will also help employees and security professionals to create a plan should some sort of cyber attack happen. The biggest issue currently in web security is that most small companies do not adequately prepare and equip themselves for potential attacks on their data. Studies show that after a cyberattack, around 60% of small companies have had to close their business. This demonstrates the importance of being prepared, especially for smaller companies that might not be able to recover following an attack.
Incorporate Cyber Security Into Web Design
Cyber security and the protection of private data should be one of the main considerations at every stage of the web design process for small companies. It is not a factor that should be taken lightly, and that’s why small companies are encouraged to factor in cyber security measures and practices at the development and design stages. This is why it is also considered best for small companies to make use of professional web design services when developing a website for their company. A professional web designer will know all about the threats that exist in the online sphere and will be able to mitigate them when creating a site. This is just one of the benefits of making use of professional web design services for small companies.
Safe Web Design Practices
Practices such as making sure that your online presence complies with the state regulations and policies, establishing strict password requirements for all users who access and create profiles on the site, and enforcing multi-factor authentication processes for anyone who wishes to log in are essential. The same goes for implementing SSL encryption. These are all cyber security measures that can be implemented in the design and development stages of website creation for small companies. According to experts at lightninghtml.com, these measures will undoubtedly make the company a less attractive target for hackers looking to make a quick and easy buck.
Implement Security Awareness Training
One of the major downfalls for many small companies is the fact that the average person does not think about cyber security, especially when they have many other tasks and deadlines on their plate. The best way to improve cyber security within a small business is to ensure that all employees are well versed in the issues that may arise. Hosting seminars, bringing in web security experts, and generally speaking about these matters in the workplace will help to create a culture of security within the company. This will ensure that UX designers and software developers in the workplace become more cautious and aware of the problems that may arise in the future.
Companies Can Make The Difference
There are now regular occurrences of cyber intrusions for both mega-corporations and small companies around the world and the number of threats continues to rise year on year. But this does not mean that there is no light at the end of the tunnel when it comes to cyber security. As illustrated, there are many practices and measures that can be observed and implemented to fight these threats head-on.
The more that web security is spoken about and practiced within companies around the world, the less attractive and confident cybercriminals will become. This will eventually lead to a downturn in occurrences of cyberattacks. The future is in the hands of every business – big or small.