We live in a time when data breaches and hacks represent a serious threat to businesses of all industries. While retail and banking have consistently been top targets in the past, video games and other industries are becoming increasingly susceptible to such occurrences.
The risk can be especially great for small- to medium-sized businesses, which are less likely to have robust security systems in place to protect their data. Hackers know this, and actively target these companies to gain access to customer data or to launch ransomware attacks.
The good news is that protecting your business’ data isn’t as hard as you might think. There are now several tools on the marketplace designed to help you keep your data safe and secure. Here are some of the best.
Hoxhunt
According to the Better Business Bureau, companies in the United States have lost over $3 billion due to phishing attacks since 2016. It is estimated that in 2018 alone, 80 percent of businesses received some type of phishing email.
Part of what makes these attacks so commonplace is because they are remarkably effective at tricking employees. What seems like a legitimate email gets an employee — or even the boss — to click on a dangerous link that compromises financial data or unleashes a virus on the system.
Hoxhunt is designed to counteract this by providing automated training on how to react and respond to phishing emails. A gamified platform runs phishing simulations to engage employees and change their mindset regarding these emails. This helps reduce the threat from phishing emails, while also encouraging prompt reporting of potential breaches.
Lookout
Cloud applications have made it easier than ever for employees to perform work outside of the office. While this can greatly enhance productivity, it also introduces new risks for your data, particularly when employees are using a mobile device or accessing information from an unsecured network.
Lookout is a mobile endpoint security tool that focuses on many of the risks inherent to smartphone and tablet use. App analysis addresses risky app behaviors, app data transfer vulnerabilities, and potential spyware that could be inside a smartphone app. The system also evaluates connected devices for security risks based on configuration issues, outdated operating systems, and behavioral concerns.
Identifying and blocking these potential data breach sources ensures that company information is kept safe, regardless of where someone tries to access company information.
Torii
Today’s businesses are increasingly reliant on SaaS tools. While this can be extremely helpful in reducing IT costs, it also decentralizes much of the tech that helps keep the business running smoothly. As your company adopts more SaaS tools, it can become increasingly difficult to oversee privacy settings and access permissions.
This is where Torii comes in. Torii serves as a centralized management platform for all applications and third-party tools — even financial tools and business applications like Slack and SalesForce. From this central hub, you can control user access and permissions for all your tools. This ensures that only authorized parties will have access to needed tools and data, making it easier to protect confidential information.
This system also helps you know which applications receive the most use, who is using them and how much money is being spent on them so you can optimize your use of SaaS tools. Identifying redundant SaaS tools and cutting them can reduce overhead and simplify processes for your employees.
HTTPS Everywhere
As nice as it would be to have your employees dedicated to their jobs all day, the fact is that most will take breaks throughout the day. For many, that means time spent browsing the internet. Unfortunately, not all websites that your employees might visit are secure.
Sites that don’t use an “https://” extension are not encrypted, meaning any information that is entered on such sites can easily be intercepted by others.
The free web browser extension HTTPS Everywhere alleviates this threat by essentially rewriting site requests so that all websites you visit become encrypted. This helps protect the information you or your employees submit online. This extension is currently compatible with Chrome, Firefox, and Opera web browsers.
AxCrypt
Encrypting your web browsing activity is one thing, but the files stored on your company’s computers or cloud networks should also be protected. A physical or digital security breach could all too easily allow someone to steal the information stored within your files.
AxCrypt directly addresses this concern by allowing users to encrypt files with either a 128-bit or 256-bit key. Files can still be shared with others within the company network. The encryption ensures that even if the files were intercepted by a third party, they would not be able to access the information inside.
AxCrypt can also be used for cloud storage tools like Google Drive and Dropbox, ensuring that these files are kept safe even if an unauthorized user gained access to your system.
Related: The Top 10 Most Embarrassing Data Breaches
Now is the Time to Protect Your Business’ Data
Protecting your internal data and information you have collected from your customers should be a top priority for any business owner. As you use these tools and take other steps to enhance your cybersecurity, you will be better equipped for the challenges and opportunities of the digital age.
