It’s easy for people who are running a business from home to think that they are relatively safe from the danger of being hacked. While it is true that hackers and other cybercriminals will typically look to larger businesses or those who are at least more readily visible, don’t underestimate their ability to sniff out a good opportunity to steal some valuable data. What’s more, you have even more to lose than big businesses, since it’s not very likely you can take the hit of having your customer or financial data stolen.
Here, we’re going to look at some of the security tech that you should be ready to invest in to protect your home business especially in the corona period.
A good antimalware solution
Though typically they are called antiviruses, the more sophisticated and higher-quality of these software suites can defend you from all manner of malware, including spyware that can be used to monitor your activity and find potential exploits that others can take advantage of. Look at some of the top anti-virus solutions available on the market and choose one that reviews well and is widely used. The better the support for it, the more likely that it is to make sure you’re protected against all the latest threats. Of course, once you have the software, you need to make sure it’s used regularly to scan your system and kept up-to-date at all times.
A strong firewall to keep others out
Your operating system is likely to come with its own firewall, and it might even be a halfway decent one. However, if you keep any amount of financial or client data on your computer, then you must invest in something that is known to more effectively protect your computer. Firewalls improve the security status of your device by ensuring that unauthorized devices can’t get into your private network or (if applicable) onto your LAN. Malware threats and hackers can both easily make their way into systems that aren’t protected by a firewall. The better firewall deals out there offer the ability to monitor network traffic and get alerts if there are any previously unknown devices or users on the network, too.
Securing your connection
A lot of home business owners do not necessarily always work in their own home. You might travel for work or you might regularly go to the nearest cafe for a change of scenery. Whatever the case, the point remains the same: you should never connect to a public or semi-public network without the protection of a virtual private network. A VPN encodes all of the data that you send and sends it to a remote location, hiding your own device and your own location. You should check out the best VPN deals even if you are using a private network from home 100% of the time. The benefit of hiding your connection is still very real even if there isn’t anyone able to tap into your network easily.
Maintaining password security
Data breaches don’t just happen because a particularly clever hacker was able to breach all of the defenses through technological prowess. Sometimes, it’s as simple as a person with authorized access not doing enough to secure their workstation. If you work from home, there isn’t much risk someone will steal your password from your desk, but there is a chance they might be able to use tools to guess your passwords if they aren’t particularly strong. To that end, password management tools might be able to help. Not only can they remember more complex passwords for you, but they can also suggest stronger passwords that would be hard for any hacker to steal.
Securing your files
Nowadays, the use of the Cloud is ubiquitous. It’s great for storing files outside of your computer, reducing your need for physical storage space, and also allowing you to work anywhere from any device. However, if someone stole the laptop you worked on, for instance, could they get onto your Cloud simply by using your device? If so, you need to rethink what Cloud storage you use and how you access it. Disable the ability to automatically log in, ensuring that you have to use a password every time. Make sure you are investing in a secure Cloud solution, as well, that offers your files the extra level of protection that they need.
IT security might not necessarily be cheap, but it is crucial. Don’t ignore your cybersecurity needs just because you think you might not be targeted.