These days, companies cannot afford to be careless with their cybersecurity. As the average cost of a data breach hovers around $4.35 million, do you think that your business can successfully navigate that financial loss? With threats continuing to rise and cyber criminals becoming increasingly sneaky, how will your business protect itself?
The answer lies in effective cybersecurity protocols. In this article, we will discuss three solutions companies can implement regarding how to keep data safe and secure.
1. Password Management
Let’s talk about the importance of passwords and their role in answering the question, “how to keep data safe and secure?” Passwords are a critical factor when it comes to cybersecurity. Not only do they help secure sensitive data, but they also protect your business from intrusion and theft. That’s why it is essential to implement strong passwords that are changed regularly, as well as two-factor authentication (2FA) for added security.
Because weak passwords make businesses vulnerable to outside threats, you need to ensure that all employee accounts have strong passwords that can’t be easily guessed and infiltrated. Strong passwords include:
- Combining upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols
- Avoiding common words or phrases
- Being at least twelve characters in length
2. Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication (2FA) is the process of confirming a user’s identity using two different factors — something that only they know (a password), combined with something they have (phone/laptop). 2FA ensures that even if an attacker was able to get hold of someone’s password, they would still need access to the physical device associated with the account to be able to log in successfully.
There are many different kinds of 2FA software out there, from free SMS-based authentication, to more secure and expensive models. No matter which one you choose, by implementing this additional layer of security for all employee accounts, businesses can significantly reduce their risk of cyber attacks.
3. Security Assessments
The final piece of the cybersecurity puzzle for how to keep data safe and secure is security assessments. As businesses grow, their online presence becomes increasingly complex, making it difficult to keep track of all the moving parts. That’s why performing a security assessment is so important for companies that want to protect their data.
A thorough assessment can help identify any potential vulnerabilities in your system and provide recommendations on how to address them before they become a real problem. Being proactive with these assessments can save your company time, money, and resources that would otherwise have been spent dealing with cyber attacks after they’ve already occurred.
Consequences of Not Keeping Your Data Secure
The risks associated with not taking proper precautions when it comes to cybersecurity are too great for any business to ignore. Poor password management, lack of 2FA, and insufficient security assessments can leave your company exposed to data breaches. This could result in the theft of sensitive customer information, financial losses, lost time and resources, as well as reputational damage that could take years to recover from.
How Axiom Can Help You
At Axiom, we understand how vital it is for businesses to keep their data safe and secure. That’s why we offer comprehensive cybersecurity solutions tailored specifically for small- and medium-sized businesses.
We are dedicated to helping our clients mitigate risks by providing an array of services such as vulnerability scanning, penetration testing, and incident response planning. Our team of experts will work closely with you to ensure that all of your security needs are met. Contact us today to find out how we can help you protect your data from cyber threats.