Many business owners view cyber-attacks and data breaches as things that only happen to other people. In reality, your chances of being affected by one of the cyber-crimes are relatively high. Having your sensitive data compromised by a hacker can be disastrous. If the sensitive information on your network was recently compromised, finding ways to avoid this problem in the future is crucial.
Seeking out the help of professionals, like Emagined Security, is crucial when trying to find out where network vulnerabilities exist. Moving from a reactive to a proactive approach to cyber-security can help you keep your network safe and avoid future hacks. Below are some steps you should take after experiencing a data breach.
Find the Virus and Eliminate It
Nearly 85% of the cyber-attacks each year are perpetrated for financial gain. When the right information is stolen, hackers can sell it on the black market. If a virus has infiltrated your network, the first step you need to take is making sure it is gone before using the servers again. Some business owners make the mistake of thinking a virus is gone just because spammy emails or other problems have stopped. In reality, a virus can remain undetected and dormant until hackers decide to activate it again.
Rather than waiting for a virus to pop back up and wreak havoc, you need to work with IT professionals to remove it completely. An IT professional will probably recommend a virus scan software program for your business network. Running a scan on a regular basis can help you discover problems early on.
Figure Out What You Lost
After the virus that causes your data breach is removed, you need to take inventory of what was lost. Knowing what sensitive information was taken can help you inform customers or employees of this event. If you are sure a person’s information was compromised during this hack, letting them know can help them avoid having their identity stolen. In many instances, a data hack will require you to clean out your servers thoroughly.
If you don’t have a data backup in place, restoring the lost information will be impossible. This is why you need to take a proactive approach to data security. Instead of trying to store all of your backups on in-house servers, you need to think about embracing the cloud. A cloud-based server is stored in another location, which means you don’t have to worry about maintaining them. Before choosing a cloud-based server provider, be sure to find out about the security measures they have in place. Paying a bit more for highly-secured servers will benefit you in the future.
Changing All Of Your Passwords is Crucial
After experiencing a data hack, the main concern you should have is making sure it doesn’t happen again. The first line of defense your network has is usually a password. If you or your employees aren’t changing your passwords routinely, it is only a matter of time before they are compromised. Making sure everyone changes their passwords following a data hack is imperative.
Creating a policy that requires these password changes once a month is a great way to keep hackers at bay. Letting employees know how important it is to make their passwords complex is a wise move. With the right amount of education, your employees can help you keep sensitive information on your network safe.
Bouncing Back After a Hack
Having a plan of action regarding how to bounce back after a data breach is vital. Consulting with an IT professional is a great way to avoid mistakes during this planning process.