Top 10 smart ways to protect your businesses?

1: Use two-factor authentication?

Two-factor authentication requires you to verify your identity after you’ve logged in using your username and password. In some cases, you’ll be asked to verify your identity by entering a code sent by text to your phone or by email. Other times, you’ll have to answer a security question. Whenever two-factor authentication is available, opt in. It may take you a couple of extra seconds to log in to your accounts, but it can make it less likely that other people will be able to log into your accounts, too.

2: Require VPNs for Anyone with Access to Your Code?

VPN is short for “virtual private network.” It’s a way of excluding everyone from your server except for those you have personally authorized. If you don’t want some fourteen-year-old hacker crawling around your database, you’re going to need to enforce VPN protocols for everyone who accesses your server or code.

3: Be the industry export?

If you can prove you know more than anyone about your industry, it’s a great advantage and hard to copy. Post your thoughts in social media, speak at well-known events, run webinars or podcasts with other industry experts, emphasize your qualifications and publicize any testimonials from high profile people or businesses.

At the end of the day, if you’re successful and making a profit then you’re doing something right. Find out what that ‘something’ is and plan to protect it for as long as you can.

4: Avoid using unsecured public Wi-Fi?

If possible, try to avoid accessing unsecured public Wi-Fi on your devices. Using it can make you vulnerable to predatory practices. And if you must use it, avoid entering compromising information, like your Social Security number or financial information, on any websites. Better yet, use a VPN, or virtual private network, to do your browsing when you’re not at home. This will encrypt the data you send and receive, making it much harder to intercept.  

5: Well-Planned User Data Access?

Everyone at your company should not have access to every file. Large businesses use multiple layers of system security to ensure only those with a need can access company data. The same should be true at small businesses.

If you use computer systems for daily operations, every employee should have their own username and password. They should never be shared between users and each account should only have access to the appropriate systems.

Following this guideline allows you to quickly turn off accounts when an employee leaves the company and gives more granular abilities to keep data locked away from prying eyes. Even if you believe every employee is eternally trustworthy, secure your data to be sure you are protected.

6: Avoid sharing personal information?

It’s easy to get comfortable with sharing a little too much personal information online. But you may be surprised at how much damage cybercriminals can do with just a little bit of information.

To keep it safe, never share identifying details, like your full name, address, or financial information with strangers you meet online. You should also be careful about the usernames you create for websites — there’s no need for them to include your real name. And be sparing with the amount of information you share in online surveys or forms. Most of the time, little to no personal information is genuinely needed to complete them.

Staying safer online can feel like a challenge, but it doesn’t have to be. If you’re still learning how to protect yourself against online predators or scams, just treat interactions online the same way you would treat interactions with a stranger walking down the street. That is, you probably wouldn’t open anything they give you, hand them your credit card, or lead them to your home address. The same rules can help you stay safer online.

7: Be better than your competitors?

Having an amazing business with happy customers that refer business is the ultimate way to protect your competitive advantage, but even then, don’t take anything for granted. 

Audit the quality of your products or services to check you are better than the competition. Do your products last longer than your competition. Do you have superior after-sales service? Are you the most reliable? Find out what makes you unique and put steps in place to make sure the customer experience is consistent every time.

8: Don’t Store Customer Payment Data?

Did I mention this before? Let me mention it again. Don’t store payment data. Just don’t do it. It’s tempting to hold onto the data for a variety of reasons, but it’s just not worth the risk. One client of mine insisted that they had to hold onto the data because shipping amounts change from day to day, so they couldn’t be sure how much to charge. As I’m sure you’ve guessed, they lived to regret it. If you need variable or recurring billing set up a tokenization system with your gateway. It’s safe, simple, and protects you.

9: Build a Secure Filing System?

If you do find your business does need to keep paper records for any reason, keep those papers secure. Records that could be used to compromise your business, employees, or customers should be securely locked away somewhere that only those with a business need can access.

In most cases, this means using a locked filing cabinet or system of locked filing cabinets. Just a small key is enough to deter most would-be data thieves. If your documents require additional security, lock them away in a safe or vault, or put your locked file storage away in a locked or secure area requiring a second level of access.

10: Choose a Secure eCommerce Platform?

If you’re not using a reliable and well-vetted programmer for your eCommerce, you’re making a mistake. You need to be able to trust your developer with your life, because that’s literally what you’re doing. Make sure that you discuss the platform you’ll be using, and that it’s a well-known, reliable, and had a long history of security and reliability. There are a lot of great platforms out there like Shopify, WooCommerce, Magento, and dozens of others. If you’re not sure which one to pick, your developer will help you decide. Make sure that it’s secure and can integrate with your payment processor in a smooth and efficient manner.