Many business owners in the Phoenix area understand the importance of cybersecurity. Keeping up to date with the latest cybersecurity practices and techniques can help you stay a step ahead of pesky hackers and cyber-attackers.

However, if you’re planning to start a small business in the New Year, you may not be familiar with these standard practices yet.

If you’re looking for some cybersecurity tips for your future business, you’ve come to the right place. The following list is full of tried-and-true tricks that you can use to protect your small businesses from cyber threats.

Use a VPN

Will you or any of your employees work remotely? Then you may want to consider investing in a virtual private network (VPN) service for your future team.

If you’re not familiar with these outstanding programs, you may be asking yourself questions like, “what is a VPN used for?” or “how can an online VPN protect my remote workers from cyber-attackers?”. 

VPNs are unique tools that allow you and your team members to access the web privately and securely. This is done by altering critical credentials that cyber-attackers and third parties can use to identify you, such as your geolocation and IP address.

Changing this information makes it nearly impossible for third parties to identify you or your employees while they surf the web.

You and your team can also use a VPN for several other tasks, including:

• Protecting your data while connected to public WiFi

• Accessing geo-blocked content

• Saving money on essential goods

Keep Your Device and Software Updated

Keeping your device and software updated is a simple way to protect your data from cyber-attackers.

Cyber-attackers and hackers will often target businesses that use devices with outdated or obsolete software, due to the fact that they have more vulnerabilities, thus, making them easier toinfiltrate.

By keeping your software updated, you’re allowing your OS to address the issues that the software developers have identified. This makes it increasingly difficult for hackers to attack your device.

Pair Your Firewall with an Antivirus Program

Many small business owners are under the impression that their device’s firewall offers ample protection from cyber threats.

Unfortunately, this isn’t true.

Even though firewalls can safeguard your computer by scanning incoming information, they can’t proactively protect your device from potential threats, like malicious software (malware).

Accidentally downloading malware onto a work device can have severe and expensive consequences. For starters, downloading malware can drastically influence your device’s power and speed, which can make it difficult for you to get your work done efficiently.

Furthermore, exposing your device to malware can compromise your business’ data.Some examples include:

• Correspondence between team members and distributors

• Financial data

• Employees’ personal information

• Customers’ personal and financial information

If you want to protect your business from malware proactively, the safest thing you can do is download an antivirus program. These fantastic programs use heuristic technology to protect devices from malware before it becomes established. 

After reading the tips listed above, you should now have a general idea of how you can protect your future business and employees from cyber threats.