Internet Security: Cybersecurity Basics for Businesses

Did you know that the U.S. alone loses $100 billion every year to cybercrimes? Cyberattackers target individuals, corporations, and government agencies, with the U.S. Navy getting over 100,000 cyberattacks per hour. These internet security threats underline why businesses must adopt strong security for internet measures and think seriously about internet security to avoid financial losses and identity theft.

All businesses should be aware and take preventive action against these kinds of attacks because they can be very expensive. Keep reading, and we will guide you through cybersecurity basics for businesses.
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Understand Your Network

Before you get the right network security, you need to understand what your actual computer network for your company looks like. This includes the software you use, how many devices are connected to your network and are exposed to the Internet, the sensitive information you collect, and who has access to what. Monitoring internet traffic and setting up access control systems are critical to prevent attackers trying to modify data or steal data.

You need to understand your network to find where it's vulnerable. You can then work with an IT team to create internet security best practices include plans and Internet security measures to block malicious software and prevent anything from being stolen or hacked.

Employee Awareness

Employee awareness has always been important, but now more than ever, with remote access, you want to make sure that your employees know how to keep the company's data protected. You should have training that includes the basic internet security practices:

1. Strong passwords
2. Password manager
3. Phishing attacks and suspicious email attachments
4. Recognizing malicious websites and suspicious links

Employees who handle company finances or data about HIPAA should have extra training to protect financial information, confidential information, and private data from cyber criminals. They must also know how to secure email accounts, identify malicious intent, and apply email security practices, such as spam filters, to reduce risks.

Penti is here to help you achieve continuous compliance and cybersecurity best practices. You can see a case study CONTINUOUS COMPLIANCE ACHIEVED) they ran with the solution and how it helped the company secure online accounts and cloud-based storage systems.

Update Software Often

When you're setting up IT infrastructure, ensure that all operating system and application software receive automatic updates. This helps prevent attacks from malicious code, ransomware attacks, and malware targeting IoT devices, mobile devices, or physical devices. Keeping software updated also protects sensitive data from being stolen by unauthorized parties. Updated systems can also detect robot network infections, download malware attempts, and distributed denial attacks more effectively.

Password Protection

For extra security, require employees to update their passwords every 30, 60, or 90 days. Using a password manager ensures all credentials are protected, and employees can avoid same password reuse, which is a common cybersecurity threat. Additionally, encourage multi-factor authentication for online accounts, email, and cloud access to reduce risks from social engineering or man in the middle cyber attacks. This way, if other users attempt to hack one computer, they cannot escalate into other devices or compromise other files.

If you want to avoid being a part of the $6 trillion that the U.S. is expected to spend on cybersecurity in 2025, you need to stay smart and make sure you prepare for anything to happen.

Put Into Practice the Cybersecurity Basics

Now that you're up to speed, start assessing your cybersecurity posture:

• Understand your network security and controls access for sensitive files.
• Train employees to recognize malicious software, suspicious activity, spam messages, and junk emails.
• Ensure antivirus software is active, and browser extensions are safe.
• Apply physical security measures for flash drives or other physical devices.
• Protect financial information and sensitive data from phishing attacks or ransomware attacks.
• Monitor outgoing traffic for unusual patterns and check for strange behavior on systems that may indicate compromise.

By combining cybersecurity practices, online security best practices, and user education, businesses can safeguard private data, computer networks, and IoT devices from increasingly sophisticated threats. Even voice assistants or connections via public wifi can become attack vectors if not secured under proper information technology policies.

FAQ

What are the best practices for internet security in small businesses?

‍Implement strong passwords, multi-factor authentication, regular software updates, and employee training to prevent cyber threats.

How can I protect my sensitive information online?

Use cloud-based storage systems, password managers, and antivirus software to prevent data breaches and unauthorized access.

What are common cybersecurity threats to mobile devices?

Malicious software, phishing attacks, suspicious links, and attacks via public Wi-Fi are major risks.

How do I know if a website is safe to use?

Avoid malicious websites, check for HTTPS, and ensure your web browsers and browser extensions are updated.

How can employees help prevent cyberattacks?

Through user education, strong passwords, password managers, and recognizing suspicious activity, spam messages, or junk emails.

What steps should I take if I suspect a cyber attack?

Immediately disconnect physical devices, report suspicious activity, and follow company cybersecurity best practices.