If you’re a business owner, there’s so much on your mind: revenue, customers, and employees take up most of your time. But one crucial thing that’s often overlooked is security. With new legislation such as the GDPR, data security is as important as ever, and UK companies must work hard to secure their data.
Thankfully, you don’t have to constantly think about cybersecurity and how to make it work. All you need is a set of digital tools that will help you strengthen your SME’s security. Here are eight of them:
Password management tools
People tend to take the easy route, even when it comes to security. Choosing weak passwords for business accounts is a common byproduct. While it can be difficult to manage different passwords for so many accounts, you’re only making hackers’ jobs easier.
Thankfully, a solution exists in the form of password management tools. These tools will not only automatically generate strong passwords that are impossible to guess, but they will also store these passwords securely in an online “vault” where only you can access them.
Antivirus
Antivirus software has been around for decades and is still a key tool in combating cyber threats. Over the years, antiviruses have evolved from fighting computer viruses to becoming an all-round cybersecurity tool.
Antivirus software will scan your computer for known threats in its database. If it detects any malicious files, it will delete them. Antiviruses will also warn you if you’re about to download a suspicious file.
For SMEs, it’s best to enable the software to automatically block or delete potentially malicious files.
DNS protection
DNS stands for Domain Name System. DNS protection filters out websites employees can visit based on the domain name. If your SME gives devices to employees or you have computers on-site, you must do everything you can to protect them.
A DNS protection tool will allow you to blacklist dangerous websites so employees can’t access them.
Next-generation firewall
Aside from controlling the websites employees visit, you also have to take control of your entire network. There’s no better way to do so than with a firewall. Traditional firewalls inspect network traffic and block what they deem to be dangerous. They can also be configured with admin controls.
Next-gen firewalls do the same but are far more advanced, adding several other capabilities. They are capable of blocking modern threats like application-layer attacks and malware. They are also much faster in detecting potential problems.
Email gateway security
Human error is the main cause of cyber incidents. All it takes is for one employee to click a malicious link, and your entire company can be put in danger. Email is a common attack vector for hackers, so it’s vital to implement gateway security for your business email.
Gateway security will prevent spam and other targeted attacks like phishing attempts. After all, the best protection is if the employee doesn’t see the harmful email in the first place. That’s exactly why email gateway security tools exist.
Cloud security
The cloud is where most of the action happens for modern businesses, regardless of size. It’s where employees store and transfer data and access services. There are several types of cloud security tools.
Cloud backup tools are popular, allowing users to easily create cloud data backups. There are also cloud antivirus tools that prevent malicious files from spreading across the cloud infrastructure.
Log monitoring tools
Log monitoring requires an IT specialist, which won’t apply to all SMEs. But logging network activity is a great way to detect and prevent attacks. Logging tools will provide detailed descriptions of events. It’s then up to the IT department to determine whether the activity is out of the ordinary.
If your SME operates an extensive network with many devices or stores large amounts of sensitive data, consider investing in log monitoring tools.
Endpoint protection
Endpoints are all devices that connect to your corporate network. Securing these devices is of the utmost importance for overall security. Endpoint protection solutions give network admins a centralized platform to connect to the corporate network. From there, they can monitor, investigate, and protect against threats.
Conclusion
UK businesses that operate online have no choice but to dedicate resources to cybersecurity. Thankfully, securing your business from online threats can be automated thanks to the many digital tools available.
