IT Tips for How to Protect Your Business

Security is of the utmost importance in the IT world. Antivirus, file permission, and updates all play a part in the security of your environment. As they say, "A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” 

To help ensure your business remains protected from online threats, below are a few IT tips to help protect your business’s technology infrastructure, some of which are free and can be easily implemented today!
 

Passwords, Passwords, Passwords. Strong, complex passwords are a must in today’s online world. It is important that you have more than just one as well, in case of a data breach. Passwords should contain more than 8 characters, have Upper case, lower case, $pecial characters, AND numb3rs. Examples of both include: 

•         - Good Password: Myd@ughter$n@me!sRuBy​, K9kYCqJ*c4#5 

•         - Bad Passwords: 123456, qwerty, password, etc., 

Additionally, the use of two-factor authentication is highly advisable, as it adds a layer of complexity. You can download a free one through Google on both the Android and Apple App Store. 

 
Computer Updates and Backups. Make sure you download and install those updates. Whether on your phone, tablet or computer. It might seem like you just updated your system, but trust us, update it again. You should plan to update your phones, tablets and computers monthly.  

Ensure security patches and updates are installed as soon as business conditions permit. It is highly advisable to download and install patches during non-business hours to mitigate downtime. Additionally, make sure you regularly backups your data, including off-site backup and on-premises backup server. 

 
Don’t Be “Click Happy.” Do not click on links in emails, text messages and direct messages (DMs) unless you know exactly who the sender is and were expecting something from them. If you’re not sure, give the sender a call and ask them if they sent you something.  

Spam filtering for email, either hardware on premises or hosted in a datacenter, can help keep harmful emails getting through also, and managed antivirus software, such as MalwareBytes, Symantec Endpoint Protection, or another enterprise-level antivirus, can help catch anything harmful you potentially click on.