We use the internet for almost everything, from shopping to connecting with friends to finding out more about the world in general. We also use it for business in many instances, and although the internet has opened up a vast new world in which to sell, it has also brought with it a number of new dangers that we wouldn’t have needed to consider before.
Cybercrime is a terrible problem that affects many businesses. It can be as minor as someone hacking into your network and sending fake emails, or it can be as major as wiping your entire business’s files or even stealing customers’ banking details and addresses. Your entire business might have to close and all because of a cybercriminal who was able to wreak havoc. To ensure this doesn’t happen to you, here are three devices that you need to protect from cybercrime.
Laptops
A laptop is an endpoint where a cybercriminal can more easily access the network, especially if it is left unprotected. Protecting your laptop is a sensible thing to do, and in doing so, you will also be protecting your network. You can use endpoint detection and response to ensure that you are doing everything you can.
Just what is endpoint detection and response? In simple terms, it is software that enables you to monitor in real time what is happening about your endpoints – your laptop, in this case. You can see if there is a problem immediately and take steps to remove the issue. You can also spot vulnerabilities, allowing you to fix them before they cause a problem.
Smartphones
You may not realize it, but your smartphone is just as vulnerable as any other device to attack from a cybercriminal. Plus, because you are likely to use it not just for your personal use but for business use too – emails, banking details, social media accounts and so on – it is the ideal device for a hacker to try to get to.
If a cybercriminal wanted to find out everything about you, and take down your business at the same time, what better way to do it than to get into your smartphone and steal the information? You would lose money, customers’ details (and customers in general), your reputation, and your business could well have to close down indefinitely while the mess was sorted out.
You can secure your smartphone with fingerprint identification and a password, and this will help, but it’s also a good idea not to store or save passwords for different apps on your phone. Although this is convenient, it is also dangerous should anything be able to access all that information.
Server
Your server is what connects your network, and where all the important information is saved. Ensuring that this is secure should be a priority for any business owner; just like with the other devices, if this is left unsecured it is open and vulnerable to attack, and therefore needs to be protected above all else.
It is always best to remove a risk if it is practicable, so one question to ask yourself is whether you really need the server – could you use a cloud system instead? This is much more secure, and it means you can work from anywhere, at any time. It is certainly something to consider.
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