10 Tips for Reducing Cyber Liability Threats

These 10 steps will help safeguard you from threats posed by a potential cyber attack. Want more tips and tricks? Simply reach out to info@aleragroup.com to get connected with a cyber liability expert!  

1.   Protect against viruses, spyware, and other malicious code. Make sure all computers are equipped with antivirus software and anti-spyware and updated regularly.

2.   Secure your networks: Safeguard your Internet connection by using a firewall and encrypting information. Make sure your Wi-Fi network is secure and hidden.

3.   Establish security practices and policies to protect sensitive information: Establish policies on how employees should handle and protect personally identifiable information and other sensitive data.

4.   Educate employees about cyberthreats and hold them accountable: Deter employees from introducing competitors to sensitive details about your firm’s internal business by informing them about how to post online in a way that does not reveal any trade secrets to the public or competing businesses.

5.   Require employees to use strong passwords and to change them often: Consider implementing multifactor authentication that requires additional information beyond a password to gain entry.

6.   Employ best practices on payment cards: Work with your banks or card processors to ensure the most trusted and validated tools and anti-fraud services are being used. Do not use the same computer to process payments and surf the Internet.

7.  Make backup copies of important business data and information: Regularly back up critical data on all computers and store in the cloud or offsite. 

8.   Control physical access to computers and network components: Prevent access or use of business computers by unauthorized individuals. Make sure a separate user account is created for each employee and require strong passwords.

9.  Create a mobile device action plan: Mobile devices can create significant security and management challenges, especially if they hold confidential information or can access the corporate network

10. Protect all pages on your public-facing websites, not just the checkout and sign-up pages.

As an additional precaution, you may want to consider cyber liability insurance.  Please reach out to info@aleragroup.com to get connected with an Alera Group cyber liability expert!  

Source U.S. Small Business Administration (for the complete description, see https://www.sba.gov/managing-business/cybersecurity/top-ten-cybersecurity-tips)