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Taking Charge: Everything You Need To Know About Cybersecurity

 

It may be scary to think about, but cybersecurity is an important part of every business these days. If your business is on the web, then you're at risk. However, your fears can be alleviated as there are many things you can do to take the necessary precautions. Here are a few things to get you started so you can ensure your business's cybersecurity policies are in place and ready to go.

 

 

Crime is on the rise

Gemalto, a cybersecurity firm, released a study that showed a 40 percent increase in security breaches in 2014, plus a 10 percent increase above that for 2015. You may not realize it, but chances are you've been a victim of hacking in some way or another. From RAM scraping to phishing to keylogging, there are many ways that criminals can hack into your system, and they are just getting smarter.

 

Cybersecurity is a huge industry

There have been some very high profile security breaches lately. You may recall some of the press from recent occurrences at Sony, Target and even Ashley Madison. Those incidents have sparked a lot of interest in cybersecurity from organizations all over the world. New cybersecurity startup companies have seen more than $4.6 billion in investment since 2014, with even more to come. If you're looking to get into this game, you may want to pull that trigger fast.

 

Cybersecurity is easier than you think

There are a few simple steps you can take to ensure strong security across all your networks. Downloading the latest software updates, using strong passwords and deleting weird emails will help you keep your information secure. Once you get those basics right, it's time to take a risk management approach to your business, and to adopt the right plans to keep your business safe.

 

Risk management

If you've decided that it's time to take that risk management approach, start by asking yourself what is at risk within your organization, then figure out who could pose a threat to any of your assets and what form that threat could take. Plan for the worst, and you can rest peacefully knowing that you're prepared should your small business get hit with a cyberattack in any way.

 

 

This article was written by Deborah Flomberg for CBS Small Business Pulse.

 

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