These Are the 8 Vulnerable Areas of Your Business to Lockdown Now

Small businesses are more vulnerable than ever before. The rapid pace of digital transformation, cyberattacks, and business competition has created an environment where even the most security-conscious company can fall prey to cybercriminals or outside hackers with a few well-placed tricks.

Vulnerabilities often lurk in unexpected places. And that’s when it’s time to lock down those vulnerable areas to keep them safe from threats.

The good news is that small business don’t need to fear the vulnerabilities lurking within their organization. With just a few clever ideas for improving your security, you can rest assured that your small business is as protected as possible from threats without sacrificing convenience.

Here are eight vulnerable areas of your small business you should lock down to protect your company’s future.

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1. Data Protection

Data is a key asset for your business, and keeping it safe is essential for any successful organization. And breaches can be costly, with many companies reporting a significant decrease in revenue and profitability after a breach. Inadequate data protection practices often result from a need for more awareness about the risks of handling sensitive data.

Nowadays, cybercriminals are targeted at businesses that regularly look for data to steal. If your business’s data is hacked, you may lose valuable information. This can include clients’ data, customers’ data, financial data, business secrets, information about the company’s products and services, and more.

As your business grows, so does the risk of data loss. You can combat this by locking down your data storage. Do this using cloud storage, which offers extra security features like encryption. Or storage solutions like local file backup. There are several other ways you can protect your data too. A security policy and breach prevention plan are essential for protecting your data. Setting clear guidelines about how employees should handle data will help prevent data breaches.

2. Chargebacks

Chargebacks pose a major threat to your small business. It’s easy to overlook chargebacks as an area of weakness compared to more publicly unveiled aspects of your business. But they pose a much bigger threat to your bottom line than you might think.

Chargebacks are the reversal of funds from a credit or debit card company back to the cardholder. This is usually following a cardholder’s dispute of a charge. They can sound like refunds, but they’re different because it’s not you as the business initiating the fund reversal. The bank pulls funds directly from your account and then holds them while they investigate the claim. This money is then returned to the customer if the claim is legitimate.

You can do a few things to protect yourself from unwanted chargebacks. Especially as many of them are the product of fraudulent activity. And they can decimate a fledgling business if they’re not locked down. The simplest way is to get chargeback management software like the one Chargebackhit provides. Other than this, ensure your refund policies are clear, your inventory is consistently updated, and clearly describe all products.

3. Network Security

While you may think that your network is secure and is enough to safeguard critical operations, it’s more likely that some vulnerabilities remain. And a weak network can be a huge liability for any business. Whether you face a hacking incident or a human error, having a secure network is crucial. A small amount of time spent upfront on network configuration can ensure you’re always on top of any network issues. This includes ensuring devices are always connected to the network. And protecting your network from outside threats, like hackers.

To keep your network secure, you should make sure that you keep all your devices up-to-date and up-to-speed. Including software upgrades, firmware updates, and ensuring your devices are configured properly. A good network security policy requires users to adhere to a few basic rules.

For example, employees should not have instant message access to critical systems and files, and remote access to devices should always be through one of the best VPN connection. If you discover a possible security threat, you should immediately block it from accessing your network.

4. Legal Protection

Protecting your company from legal trouble is one of the most important parts of any business. When you’re a new business, you may be especially vulnerable. Due to this high risk of lawsuits, it’s vital to protect your business legally. A small mistake or oversight in this area can bring down a company with heavy fines or even bankruptcy.

Make sure all of your paperwork is in order and up-to-date. You should also ensure that you follow all laws and regulations that apply to your industry. If you’re operating in an area with unique rules or laws that apply to your industry, you should follow them. This can make all the difference in preventing legal trouble. If in doubt, hire a lawyer well-versed in business law. They can talk you through all possibilities and help you secure vulnerable areas of your company from the get-go.

5. Staff Training And Awareness

Training your employees on what to do if a cyberattack hits your business can reduce the risk of a data breach and help prevent any potential data theft. Awareness training will help your employees know what to do if they notice a potential threat. To improve staff awareness, you should implement a training program that covers proper security practices, such as what to do if they see a potential danger.

The best way to ensure that your employees are aware of the risks of accessing sensitive data is to hire security auditors to conduct regular audits on your employees’ computer access privileges. This will allow you to ensure that your employees understand the importance of using strong passwords, keeping their computers up-to-date, and adhering to your company’s policies and procedures.

Another way to ensure that your employees know the risks of accessing sensitive data is to conduct regular training sessions on the dangers of data security. You can also create awareness campaigns on social media channels and in-company newsletters to remind your employees of the importance of data security.

6. BOS (Business Operating System)

A Business Operating System (BOS) is designed to help companies manage critical business operations, including finances, inventory, HR, and customer service. A BOS can help you assess these risks and can help you to decide which are acceptable and which ones aren’t. A BOS is an operating model that outlines the security policies that a business follows. You can use these policies to guide your employees on the best ways to implement security. A BOS can help you decide whether a new technology is worth the risk.

Keep your operating system up-to-date to ensure that your business is operating as efficiently and securely as possible. Make sure you download updates on all your devices as soon as the manufacturer releases them. Another important thing to do when it comes to your business’s operating system is to make sure that all your devices are connected to your network using a secure connection, such as a virtual private network (VPN).

7. Physical Security

Protecting your office from threats like break-ins, vandalism, or accidents is crucial to ensuring your physical security. Physical security protects your business from threats like vandalism, theft and casualties like fires or break-ins.

The best way to protect your business’s physical security is to keep an eye out for potential threats and vulnerabilities. This will allow you to identify and mitigate any threats quickly. Some of the best ways to physically protect your business include installing an alarm system and keeping your windows and doors locked.

If you’re leaving your business unattended, carry a cell phone or another form of security with you at all times. Avoid leaving valuable items, such as computers and cameras, unattended in public areas where they could be easily stolen. Instead, you should store these items in a relatively safe place, such as a locked filing cabinet or closet.

Double down on your physical security threats by bringing staff in the loop. A robust security policy is the easiest way to do this.

8. Cloud Storage

Cloud storage has become an essential part of any business. But it also presents some unique risks, especially regarding security. Protecting your data in the cloud can help to protect your business in case of a data breach or other threats. Cloud storage is a type of security that protects your data from various threats like hackers, fires, and other accidents. Cloud storage can act as an extra layer of protection for your data. It can safeguard you from data breaches caused by hackers, fires, or other accidents. To make sure that the cloud protects your data, you should make sure that your cloud storage provider is as secure as possible. You should also ensure that you use a cloud storage provider with the most security features.

Cloud storage is a great way to back up your files, especially if you want to know where your data is stored. But you’ll have to ensure that you are using an encrypted cloud storage service. It’s also important to analyze different cloud security features before storing your company’s data in a cloud service.

Conclusion

The modern transformation of the small business environment is a reality that is here to stay. With more and more of your day spent working in the digital world, protecting your small business from the many threats out there is essential. By locking down your weak areas, you can ensure that your company is as protected as possible against any threats coming its way. Protecting these 8 vulnerable areas of your business will have you well on your way to keeping your company safe.