Data breaches are an embarrassing and costly incident that could prove fatal for all businesses. It may sound dramatic if you’ve never been a victim of a cyberattack, but countless small to medium-sized businesses have had to close their doors for good because of a preventable data breach.
Let’s take a quick look at the dangers of data breaches and go over some IT security tips your Los Angeles business can follow to avoid this nightmare scenario.
The disastrous effects of data breaches on LA businesses
Data breaches not only bring your operations to a screeching halt, but also incur damages and penalties you may not be able to recover from. Some of the worst effects include:
- Financial losses: The costs associated with a breach can include regulatory fines, legal fees, and the expenses involved in investigating and rectifying the breach.
- Reputational damage: If a data breach occurs, customers may lose their trust in your company and bad publicity may spread, making it more difficult to attract new clients.
- Legal repercussions: Data privacy laws such as the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) have specific requirements for data protection and breach notification, with failure incurring fines and other punitive actions.
- Operational disruptions: Responding to a breach and recovering from it takes significant time and resources away from your organization and its core operations.
You can get cyber insurance to help absorb the costs, but that won’t give you your time back. The best way to mitigate damage from a breach is to prevent it from happening in the first place.
IT security tips to help prevent a data breach
There’s no silver bullet to keep you safe from all manner of cyberattacks all of the time. You’ll need to do it the hard way and mitigate risk with a variety of tools and policies. Here are a few easy tips you can follow that will help you significantly reduce the odds of your business falling prey to cybercriminals.
Implement strong password policies
Today, even with all the data showing weak passwords lead to costly data breaches, people still get complacent with their passwords. Therefore, you need to take charge and set a password policy for strong passwords that are changed regularly. You can streamline this process by implementing a password management system, such as Dashlane or NordPass.
Regular software updates
Software companies put a lot of money and effort into finding vulnerabilities and fixing them at no cost to you, but if you don’t keep your apps up to date, you lose this advantage. Enable automatic software updates and implement an update schedule to ensure unpatched software isn’t leaving the door open for cybercriminals.
Employee training and awareness
Most cyberattacks still require someone on the inside to get careless or gullible, so your employees are your best line of defense against breaches. Make them better at protecting your business by:
- Conducting regular training sessions in cybersecurity best practices and policies
- Educating them about phishing, social engineering, and other common threats
- Encouraging reporting of suspicious activities and providing avenues for raising concerns
Access controls
Access controls involve granting data access to only certain roles and employees. If sensitive data isn’t vital to their job, they don’t need access to it, because everyone with access is a potential vulnerability.
Regular backups
Regularly back up critical data and systems so that in the event of a breach, your operations can quickly bounce back and prevent long-term damage. Consider automated backup systems and geo-redundant cloud storage to ensure you are never without your business’s vital data.
Partner with an experienced outsourced cybersecurity provider
All of these tips help move the needle when it comes to cybersecurity, but to minimize your risk, you need an IT partner who understands your security needs and the unique threatscape LA businesses face.
By partnering with a reliable cybersecurity services provider like CDS, you can enjoy enterprise-grade cybersecurity tools and consulting for a small-business price. Contact us for a free consultation, and we’ll show you why Los Angeles and Orange County businesses have trusted us to keep their business data safe for over 30 years.
Leave a comment!