How to Protect Your Business from Malware

How to Protect Your Business from Malware

Malware attacks have become a national security concern due to the serious threat they impose on people and businesses. A recent study by Kaspersky Labs indicates that over a hundred banks across the world suffered huge losses in 2013 due to malware attacks. Another study by Symantec has found out that malware is the most expensive threat to businesses.

The attacks destroy business infrastructure and put essential data at risk. In case of attacks, small companies suffer the biggest blow. In fact, according to a Symantec report, over forty-three percent of these attacks affect small companies. The report also indicated that most companies are unable to get back to business after the attack. However, there are different ways to protect your company from malware attacks.

Strong Security Policy

The first and important way of protecting your company is by formulating and implementing strong security measures. The measures should include all aspects of the company such as the employees and clients. Research has shown that employees are connected to over sixty percent of the attacks.

While some are through malicious attempts, others are accidental for instance when an employee opens a contaminated link. It is therefore prudent to ensure employees are well informed about internet security protocol. Strict guidelines should be adopted to maximize protection. For example, employees should not open emails or links that are not related to the company, including personal emails.

Secure Your Network

When using Wi-Fi, it is important to ensure it is up to the current security standards. For instance, the latest WPA2 protection has a longer encryption key for enhanced protection. Also, it is important to have a strong password for the Wi-Fi to prevent unauthorized access. A stronger password should combine lowercase, uppercase, numbers, and symbols.

Anti-malware Protection

The term malware is an inclusive name for various attacks including viruses, spyware etc. Some of these attacks are easily sent through emails and links. Integrating anti-malware software ensures protection even in case of accidents. For maximum malware protection, it is advisable to install both the anti-malware together with an antivirus. Attacks are so rampant that no business can survive without anti-malware software.

Encryption

Any sensitive information should be encrypted before being uploaded to the servers or cloud. Nowadays, third-party vendors are providing data encryption services at a cheaper cost. In essence, it is the process of creating additional passwords for specific data. Data encryption is exceptionally important because even if a hacker is able to access the company’s general system or servers, they require an additional password for the data.

Hiring Cyber-security Professionals

Due to the complexity of malware attacks nowadays, installing anti-malware software is not enough. It is also vital to involve cybersecurity experts in malware protection. Experts will ensure that you are up-to-date with emerging threats and provide necessary additional protection.

Why is malware on the rise? Selling personal information such as credit cards details and other forms of intellectual properties has become lucrative in the recent past. An attacker can hijack your computer or the entire infrastructure using just an email or a simple link and get access to all of your information. New threats are emerging every day putting most companies at unknown risks daily. Protecting your company and sensitive information should become your top priority.