Did you know that 60 percent of small businesses shut down for good within six months of a data breach? If those kinds of statistics keep you awake at night, you’re probably looking for ways to keep your company and customer data as safe as possible while maintaining everyday productivity. Take a look at some simple online security steps you can (and should) take right now.

Give your business a cybersecurity perimeter - Just as a physical security perimeter involves numerous protective measures to exclude intruders, a cybersecurity perimeter offers holistic protection for your data. The standard tools in this setup include regular data backup onto multiple devices, anti-malware programs, periodic evaluations (with upgrades as needed), and a disaster recovery plan in case the worst happens.

Change user names and passwords regularly - People often make the mistake of relying on the same usernames and passwords for months or years at a time out of sheer convenience. But the longer those safeguards remain unchanged, the higher the risk of their falling into the wrong hands and being misused. A software-based password manager can generate fresh, complex passwords every time, with no need for your workers to remember them or write them down. Don’t forget to keep changing your network’s master passwords as well.

Encrypt mobile devices - Online security becomes even harder to maintain when your employees do a lot of their work in the field, using mobile devices. The problem grows especially thorny if these employees use their own personal devices, which may or may have the proper encryption to prevent data hacks. You’re better off abandoning a “Bring Your Own Device” (BYOD) policy and requiring your remote workers to use company-encrypted devices instead.

Our Austin IT managed services team at Gravity Systems can help you secure your data and technology. Contact us today!