Data breaches are becoming more common by the day. And as we fast approach the new decade in 2020, cyberattacks will only get more complicated because hackers are constantly adapting and improvising. Employers may be shocked to learn that some ransomware is even available as a subscription service. Why should you be concerned?

Because to survive and thrive online, you need a digital presence. And that comes with its own sets of risks. The majority of cyberattacks depend on unwitting employees making poor decisions such as opening phishing emails that contain viruses and malwares. No matter what the current state of your cybersecurity program is, there are four ways to prevent cyberattacks in 2020.

1. Conduct Cybersecurity Assessments

You can’t address the problem if you don’t even know that it exists. This is where a cybersecurity assessment comes in. You will need an expert to perform annual (or even monthly) probes into the cybersecurity of your entire network. This professional will highlight your strengths and weaknesses, so you can systematically improve the weaknesses.

The assessment should give you a good idea of the clear steps needed to secure your environment. This is to ensure you don’t spend too much time and money on efforts that don’t deserve attention.

2. Train Your Workers

Even the toughest online security system is only as good as the people operating it. Most online users are unaware about the latest cybersecurity threats and require a little training. Attackers are getting savvier and finding different ways of entering your network and systems.

Their most common target is an unsuspecting employee who falls for social engineering or phishing attempts. The employee may even have a weak password such as ‘1234’ or their first name, both of which are easy to crack through brute force attacks or simply guess work. Consider updating your policies to align with cybersecurity best practices and ensuring your team reads them thoroughly.

3. Keeping Your Software Updated

Ransomware such as WannaCry targeted vulnerable Windows devices that were not updated for one reason or another. These security ‘loopholes’ are often patched immediately by the manufacturer, but you have to apply the latest version. Old apps and software are easily exploitable and can be used to penetrate networks, steal information, and cause irreparable damage.

Consider investing in an anti-virus software tool that performs routine scans and checks all the systems for vulnerabilities. Make sure to apply new patches and updates as and when they are rolled out by the manufacturer.

4. Define Access Privileges

Assess all the digital tools that your workers use and make sure that you assign ‘access privileges’ based on the team member and their job function. It is recommended to only let your most trusted employees have administrator access to a network, system, or tool.

The rest of the staff should only be given access to areas that are specific to their job. This ensures that even if their credentials get compromised, it stays restricted to that person.

Keeping your company safe from cyber attacks require a robust cyber security plan. Combine these with good practices like the ones we listed and you’ll be well-protected.

Check out more information by getting in touch with our consultants at JS Benefits Group.