How to Enhance Your Online Business Security: A Step-By-Step Guide

busy made simple cyber security Apr 22, 2024

In today's digital age, maintaining strong cybersecurity protocols is more critical than ever. With the increasing number of cyber threats, online businesses must maintain practical and effective security measures to protect sensitive data; such as login credentials, credit card details, legal documents, Intellectual Property (IP), and Personal Information.

Below, we've outlined some fundamental yet crucial steps to enhance your online business security.

1) Create Individual Logins:
The first step in enhancing your online security is to create individual logins for different systems that you, your clients and your team use. Many systems also monitor logins per user, so this basic security measure ensures each person has individual responsibility in managing their own account, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized access.

2) Handle Old Passwords Appropriately:
Transitioning to individual logins means effectively dealing with old passwords. Once an individual login is created, old passwords need to be changed and updated in your password manager. This ensures that access credentials are current and in the right hands only.

3) Implement Multi-factor Authentication:
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is crucial for adding an extra layer of protection to your online systems. Each system will have its own type of preferred MFA, but you can usually set these up in a way that suits you. Despite the slight inconvenience of an additional step to log in every now and then, MFA is a necessary practice for safeguarding access to systems and data. This extra step really goes a long way in preventing malicious attacks.

4) Password Management Tools:
Managing numerous passwords can be simplified by using a password management tool like LastPass. These tools reduce stress by requiring you to remember only one strong, unique password instead of multiple.
By logging into a system through LastPass, you streamline the login process without compromising security. You can also opt for auto-fill or even auto-login to most of your systems through your LastPass account. Another great feature is the secure sharing of sensitive data. So, no more texting or emailing sensitive information that could get compromised!

5) Change Passwords Regularly:
While the idea of changing every password every 45 days may seem overwhelming, adopting a practical approach to password changes is key. Regular password changes are a good security practice, but the frequency and practicality of doing so for every single password need to be balanced with the reality of managing it. If you can only manage to change one password, prioritise your password management one. A good way to remind yourself when these changes are due is to put a task reminder in your calendar each month.

6) Restart Your Computer Regularly:

Regularly restarting your computer is a simple yet effective practice that can significantly enhance your cybersecurity. This process clears out the computer's memory and stops any lingering processes that could be consuming resources unnecessarily. More importantly, restarting is crucial for applying software updates and security patches that often require a reboot to take effect. These updates are vital as they fix vulnerabilities that could be exploited by cyber attackers.

By making it a habit to restart your computer, you also ensure that any security measures you have in place, such as firewalls and antivirus software, are running optimally. Think of it as a fresh start for your system, which can prevent potential cyber threats from taking root. Ideally, setting a schedule to restart your computer at least once a week can help maintain your digital hygiene while ensuring your system’s defences are updated and activated.

To sum it up, enhancing your online security is not just about following protocols; it's about adapting to them in a way that balances security with practicality. By implementing individual logins, handling old passwords properly, adopting MFA, using password management tools, and changing passwords regularly, you can significantly improve your security presence in the digital world.

If you're unsure about how to implement these steps into your business, just reach out!

Get Your Free Guide - How to Outsource to a Virtual Team

Receive a step-by-step guide on how you can prepare your business so you can feel confident and secure to work with virtual team members.

We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as the traditional custodians of the ACT and surrounding region, the land where we live and work. We pay respect to elders past and present. It always was and always will be, Aboriginal Land.

Diversity fuels innovation. We're dedicated to fostering a culture where everyone's unique race, age, gender, orientation, disability, and experiences are celebrated. In our inclusive environment, all are welcomed and empowered. Your uniqueness is not just accepted, it's the core of our strength and success.