Common cyber security measures
Businesses should have a range of cyber security measures in place to keep their business data, their cashflow and their customers safe online. These measures should aim to prevent risks from a number of sources, including:
- internet-borne attacks, eg spyware or malware
- user generated weaknesses, eg easily guessed password or misplaced information
- inherent system or software flaws and vulnerabilities
- subvert system or software features
Essential cyber security measures
Use strong passwords
Strong passwords are vital to good online security. Make your password difficult to guess by:
Strong passwords are vital to good online security. Make your password difficult to guess by:
- using a combination of capital and lower-case letters, numbers and symbols
- making it between eight and 12 characters long
- avoiding the use of personal data
- changing it regularly
- never using it for multiple accounts
- using two factor authentication
Create a password policy for your business to help staff follow security best practice. Look into different technology solutions to enforce your password policy, eg scheduled password reset.
Control access
Make sure that individuals can only access data and services for which they are authorised. For example, you can:
Make sure that individuals can only access data and services for which they are authorised. For example, you can:
- control physical access to premises and computers network
- restrict access to unauthorised users
- limit access to data or services through application controls
- restrict what can be copied from the system and saved to storage devices
- limit sending and receiving of certain types of email attachments
Modern operating systems and network software will help you to achieve most of this, but you will need to manage the registration of users and user authentication systems - eg passwords.
Put up a firewall
Firewalls are effectively gatekeepers between your computer and the internet, and one of the major barriers to cyber threats such as viruses and malware. Make sure that you set up your firewall devices properly; otherwise they may not be fully effective. Read more about server security: measures to protect your network.
Firewalls are effectively gatekeepers between your computer and the internet, and one of the major barriers to cyber threats such as viruses and malware. Make sure that you set up your firewall devices properly; otherwise they may not be fully effective. Read more about server security: measures to protect your network.
Use security software
You should use security software, such as anti-spyware and anti-virus programs, to help detect and remove malicious code if it slips into your network. Discover how to detect spam, malware and virus attacks.
You should use security software, such as anti-spyware and anti-virus programs, to help detect and remove malicious code if it slips into your network. Discover how to detect spam, malware and virus attacks.
Update programs and systems regularly
Updates contain vital security upgrades that help protect against known bugs and vulnerabilities. Make sure that you keep your software and devices up-to-date to avoid falling prey to criminals.
Updates contain vital security upgrades that help protect against known bugs and vulnerabilities. Make sure that you keep your software and devices up-to-date to avoid falling prey to criminals.
Monitor for intrusion
You can use intrusion detectors to monitor system and network activity. If a detection system suspects a potential security breach, it can generate an alarm, such as an email alert, based upon the type of activity it has identified.
You can use intrusion detectors to monitor system and network activity. If a detection system suspects a potential security breach, it can generate an alarm, such as an email alert, based upon the type of activity it has identified.
Raise awareness
Your employees have a responsibility to help keep your business secure. Make sure that they understand their role and any relevant policies and procedures, and provide them with regular cyber security awareness and training. See how else you can increase cyber security in your workplace.
Your employees have a responsibility to help keep your business secure. Make sure that they understand their role and any relevant policies and procedures, and provide them with regular cyber security awareness and training. See how else you can increase cyber security in your workplace.
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