4 Ways to Protect Your Company From Hackers

Small businesses are targeted by 43% of hackers because they often lack the same level of security as larger businesses. Companies may be vulnerable to a variety of attacks, including:  

• Denial of Service  
• Malware  
• Trojans
• Phishing  
• Ransomware  
• SQL Injection
• Worms  

Protecting against these common attacks requires a multifaceted approach to security. Companies can protect their data from hackers by: 

1. Installing Anti-malware and Antivirus Software

Malware, trojans, ransomware and worms are major security threats that can be thwarted with the proper software. Anti-malware and antivirus software should be installed and up-to-date on all computer systems and mobile devices. 

Real-time protection should be enabled to ensure that files are scanned as they’re downloaded or transferred to the system. 

2. Protecting Against Distributed Denial of Service Attacks

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks impact some of the world’s largest companies every year. Hackers use these attacks to deny website users from accessing online services. DDoS attacks overload the website or service by sending enough traffic to a service that the server cannot handle all of the requests. 

DDoS attacks vary in complexity, and several measures can be taken to bypass these attacks, such as: 

• Specialized hardware, which uses filters to stop malicious traffic. 
• Cloud mitigation providers to handle large-scale attacks. These services can also “scrub” your traffic so that only legitimate traffic reaches the data center. 
• Contacting Internet service providers to determine if traffic can be re-routed. Many providers will offer DDoS protection services. 

3. Implementing Security Policies and Protocols

Phishing attacks and viruses are often a result of an employee’s negligence. Downloading files from an unknown email sender or falling for a phishing attack can be prevented with strict security policies and protocols. 

Companies can reduce cybersecurity risks with the proper training, but protocols can also help lower common security errors. 

Policies can be created that outline rules on: 

• Clicking on external links 
• Opening email attachments 
• Connecting external devices to a company’s network 

4. Protecting Against SQL Injection

SQL injections are a form of attack that can allow hackers to access a company’s database. Hackers can use SQL injections to make changes to a database or retrieve user information. Protecting against these attacks can be achieved by: 

• Updating web scripts 
• Following OWASP guidelines
• Input filtering
• Validating user-supplied input 
• Utilizing prepared statements 
• Disabling unneeded shell functions 
• Applying software and system patches regularly 

Implementing the right security measures can make it more difficult for a hacker to access your company’s sensitive data. Adopting cybersecurity frameworks will further strengthen a business’ security measures and protocols.