In two of my previous articles, I wrote about the importance of taking your business online, and how to grow your online business through optimizing it for search engines. While these growth hacks have been tested to be true and a sure way to take your business to the next level, the security of your online platform and asset is crucial.
The internet has increased the efficiency of business transactions, increased business output and return on investments, and also the ease with which your business can go up in flames.
Before the internet, critical business information and customer details were securely stored away in file cabinets, only physically accessible to authorized persons. The internet opened this information to anyone who knows the right key to punch on the keyboard. The rise in cyber crimes, hacking and information theft has in recent years, led to many persons having some reservations to using online platforms.
While this psychological response to personal data insecurity by internet users is entirely justifiable and only expected, business owners have a lot of work to do to convince users of the safety of their sites and the privacy of whatever data that is submitted to the site.
A recent article on Hackernoon by Georgios Konstantopoulos detailed how it took him just 7 minutes to hack a server with over 40 websites. This is a lot of power for a malicious attacker. Businesses now have to appeal to the security consciousness of customers to keep their business running.
What can site owners do to ensure that their sites are safe and customer data is secure?
Below is a list of practical steps that businesses can take to ensure they do not fall victims.
- Always use a trusted and vetted web hosting service provider: web hosting comparing sites like Web Hosting Media provide detailed information and reviews on web hosting services.
- It is not safe to use one set of username and password for a very long time, it is advised to change your username and password at least every 90 days.
- Name and passwords and other vital information like bank details should be sent and received only via secured channels.
- This article on bplans.com advise you to have a well-protected network.
- Invest heavily on cyber security, your business will be better for it in the long run.
Job security is to employees what cyber security is to business owners, while the employee might lose his/her job and go in search of another, the business owner is at risk of not only losing his entire investments but also may have a basket of law suit hanging over his head