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Data breaches seem to be happening every day now, from the NutriBullet cyber attack that installed a credit card stealing malware on their website to the recent attack on the US Defense Information Systems Agency that exposed data affecting more than 200,000 users. The FBI’s Internet Crime Report revealed that there were 467,361 cybercrime complaints resulting in more than $3.5 billion losses in 2019, and the cybercrime economy is showing no signs of slowing down. If you are a business owner, you need to move data security further up your list of priorities and start putting in place measures to protect your business from attacks like the recent NutriBullet situation.
Invest in cybersecurity systems
Preventing data breaches starts with setting up a strong cybersecurity system to make it as hard as possible for malicious actors to gain unauthorized entry into your system. You can start by ensuring that all computers and smartphones that you use during your business operations have up-to-date software and anti-virus systems. You must also enforce strong credentials and multifactor authentication to ensure that anyone who is allowed to log into your system is who they say they are. One of the reasons why hackers were able to attack NutriBullet’s website is the lack of multifactor authentication, a problem NutriBullet has now corrected. You can also use encryption software to protect sensitive data from hacks and ensure that USB sticks, hard drives, and memory cards with sensitive information cannot be accessed if they were misplaced or stolen.
Enhance your physical security
While most data breaches happen online or digitally as a result of hacks, system errors, and human errors, some happen as a result of vulnerabilities in physical security, for instance, if an unauthorized person gains physical access to your business premises and steals a laptop filled with sensitive information. Security experts at thinkDSC.com affirm business owners need to design and implement adaptive physical security solutions to ensure that their people, property, and assets are always safe and protected from both physical and virtual threats. For starters, you can install an access control system not only for the entrance to your business premises but also for various sensitive areas of the building, such as the archive room. Video surveillance systems can also help you keep an eye on your facility while intrusion alarms can discover unauthorized access in sensitive areas.
Teach your employees about data security
In many cases, data breaches happen as a result of employee carelessness, negligence, and the lack of proper training on how to prevent them. Employees can also fall victim to social engineering attacks, allowing criminals to gain access to sensitive data easily. To prevent this, you need to train your employees regularly on how to prevent potential breaches. For example, you can have a cybersecurity expert train your employees on how to set up strong passwords that are impossible to decipher, how to encrypt data before sharing it, how to avoid malware, and how to properly store data.
A data breach can have devastating effects on your business’s reputation and financial bottom line. While NutriBullet has already identified and removed the malicious code, the amount of money the hackers stole remains unclear and as a result of the attack, customers have been advised to avoid their website until investigations are complete. This could lead to a massive loss of revenue and customer confidence which could affect NutriBullet for many months to come. Luckily, it’s not too late for you. By putting in place strong measures to thwart cyber threats, you can keep your business safe from data breaches and prevent your confidential, sensitive, and protected information from being viewed or shared without permission.
