Have you ever thought about your online presence and security? Well, let’s divide into the world of cyber security and things you can do to protect yourself and your business.
With the world moving towards more online services and products. Four in ten businesses and a quarter of charities are reporting having more security breaches or attacks in the last 12 months (UK Government).
It’s important that your attitude towards cyber security is of vigilance.
With more students setting up their own businesses, smaller businesses tend to not address the security needs of their businesses. It’s important that as a small business owner you are aware of your obligations. For example, when handling and storing customer's data.
In the UK, the Information Commission Office (ICO) is responsible for ensuring and regulating businesses following the correct procedures under the Data Protection Act.
Here are some top tips you can follow to protect yourself and your business.
Installing a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can protect your network and electronic devices from risky websites or connections on a public network.
Be aware of phishing scams, when opening emails and attachments from unknown email addresses. Don’t click on the link or open an attachment that looks suspicious.
Ensure your devices are up to date with the latest software updates as these tend to correct security vulnerabilities.
Ensure you are using a strong password with at least 10 characters. With both uppercase and lowercase and any special characters including numbers.
See if you need to register with the ICO and decide whether you’ll need to pay a monthly fee.
Check out these useful links below to find out more information and how you can protect yourself and your business.
National Cyber Security Centre - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/
Metropolitan Police - https://www.met.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/fa/fraud/online-fraud/cyber-crime-fraud/
Cyber Essentials Scheme - https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/cyberessentials/overview
**Disclaimer: This blog is intended to highlight cyber security and ways you can protect yourself and your business. You do this at your own risk.**
(Image link: https://twitter.com/ncsc/status/1339620883623784448)