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Understand the Risks<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Good education should go over the risks that you are likely to face, as well as the kind of response that suits them best. Your employees need to know the kind of problems that they can face and the appropriate ways to counter them or prevent any further harm to your business.<\/p>\n

It is essential that you and your employees understand what kind of threats you will be facing and the kind of damage that they can end up causing to your data (or your business as a whole). Some may only be minor, impacting one or two computers at most, while others can ruin an entire company.<\/p>\n

Having an idea of how these threats work can help you prioritize the way that you respond to them. Security awareness is not just about knowing your own security system, but understanding how that system should be used and which types of risk are the most severe.<\/p>\n

For example, minor security threats might just try to install adware on a computer, something that can be cleaned off quite easily if you have a good antivirus and antimalware program. Major ones could corrupt or destroy data, including financial records or important tools that your business uses.<\/p>\n

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Understand your Options<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

This kind of education should also focus on the options that you have available and the ways that you can pre-emptively prevent cyber attacks. Preparing is just as important as reacting, and there are many ways to secure your company’s networks or online presence so that they are not as vulnerable to common threats.<\/p>\n

No two businesses will have exactly the same systems, and they may end up having drastically different security measures, but they will still be aiming for the same thing: complete security. Groups like Phriendly Phishing are often able to help provide solutions that are tailored to individual clients rather than generalized (and flawed) options.<\/p>\n

Employees should also be told about the best options that they have available so that they know the ideal ways to handle a situation. There may be multiple ways to combat malware, for example, but you want to make sure that your employees are choosing an option that limits further damage.<\/p>\n

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Run Tests<\/strong><\/h3>\n<\/blockquote>\n

It is always a good idea to run tests on your own digital security, no matter how complex your methods might be. Running phishing simulations or paying white-hat hackers to try breaking into your network are both valid options and can help you find weaknesses or potential risks in your own network.<\/p>\n

Some companies also decide to run drills relating to certain major threats (like ransomware taking over a computer) or regularly update their security software. However you decide to test your business\u2019 own security, it is important to do it well and safely.<\/p>\n

Working with a third-party company can help you skip a lot of the boring setup work and testing, ensuring that your business is going to be safe without taking manpower away from other projects. This could be invaluable for a smaller or newer business that only has a handful of employees.<\/p>\n

Whatever you do, it is important to be educated, prepared, and sure of your own security measures. Never get too comfortable with your security options, and always assume that something might get through \u2013 especially if you do not keep updating and double-checking your own network.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Cyber security is a major part of any online business, and even smaller companies could be at risk of getting attacked or stumbling into a nasty virus. The more prepared you are for these risks, and the better you understand them, the easier it becomes to combat them if they ever turn up. However, it […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":20615,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8,18],"tags":[10461,10462],"class_list":["post-20614","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-how-to","category-technology","tag-how-to-preparing-for-online-security-threats","tag-preparing-for-online-security-threats"],"yoast_head":"\n