Many businesses have been affected by online cyber-attacks. It doesn’t matter if they are small businesses or big corporations. Most small and large businesses have been heavily affected by cyber-attacks, making them leak sensitive information.
Most Canadian companies haven’t been able to deal with cyberattacks even after investing a lot in an attempt to end them. In 2017, most Canadian businesses spent $14 billion on cybersecurity. It was a huge investment, but sadly the same year, one in five Canadian businesses reported that they had experienced cyberattacks.
This article will discuss the cybersecurity strategies that Ottawa businesses should adopt in 2022. But first, let's understand what cybersecurity is.
What is Cybersecurity? Why do you need to understand this concept, and how can you protect yourself and your business from an unfortunate incident? Today we are focusing on protecting critical systems and sensitive business information from digital attacks.
You can protect your business or startup in Ottawa by using trustworthy VPNs for cybersecurity in Canada. Only a VPN can prevent anyone from accessing sensitive information about your business. Below are some of the ways to combat cyber-attacks.
Use Trustworthy VPNs
To improve cyber security, many big companies are investing in VPNs. However, before jumping in, you need to understand first what a VPN is. A VPN is a virtual private network protecting your online activity from hackers, ISP, and governments. It masks your original IP address making it impossible to be detected.
There are many VPNs available, but only a few will work well. So make sure to search for the best VPNs available in the market.
Using a VPN in your business, all the information shared between workers is kept private, making it hard for one who isn’t your employee to access important information. Therefore, you don’t have to worry about important information leaking out. Or any digital attacks, for there is no way hackers will detect you.
Train your Employees to learn about Security
To keep your business safe, you need to start training your employee's basic security practices. Such practices include making sure that they have a strong password and letting them know that there is a penalty for violating its cyber security policies.
Rules of behaviour are important in a business, so make sure to describe how to handle and protect your customer's data information to your employees. Ensuring that your employees are aware of the risks ahead is the main way to enhance cybersecurity.
Secure your Wi-Fi networks
If you are using Wi-Fi in your workplace, ensure it is hidden and encrypted. To hide it, you need to set up your router not to display the network's name known as the SSID service set identifier.
Only your employees will have access to your Wi-Fi network. Make sure that one will be required to enter a password to access it. Changing your wi-fi passwords will only make your network secure.
Backup Data in the Cloud
Backing up your important data in the cloud, you can access it anytime you want as long as you have a reliable provider. The good thing about backing up in the cloud is that it enables you to send a copy of your data to another region. Therefore, if your data is compromised, you will be able to restore important information leading to the continuity of your business.
The information stored in the cloud can be accessed remotely, and it is easy to access the information on any device as long as you have permission to do so. You don’t have to worry about the data stored in the cloud, for it is safe and secure.
If you want high security for the information you want to store in the cloud, you have the option of using a private cloud storage provider. The good thing about using private cloud storage is that it has an improved level of security than the public cloud. All your data is saved and kept safe in a way that no other company can be able to access it.
Use file sharing with caution
If you want to maintain cybersecurity in Ottawa, ensure that file sharing is disabled, especially when not needed. Always make sure to remind your employees that file sharing is only safe to use while using home or work networks but never on public networks.
Make sure to use a password on anything that you want to share. And never make your hard drive available for sharing.
Install a firewall
If you are a business owner in Ottawa, you should consider installing a firewall directly on your wireless devices' home network. Using a host firewall will prevent any cyber-attacks, for it will add a layer of protection to the data in your computer.
Update your Antivirus Software
Always make sure that your anti-virus is up to date. Many antiviruses consist of additional features that detect spyware and block unnecessary sites that can cause your business to be hacked.
Conclusion
Many businesses in Canada precisely in Ottawa have been affected by cyber-attacks. As a result, many have seen important information leak about their company. To make sure that your business data is kept safe, use the above strategies, for they will help protect your business.
Photo: iStock