How to Protect Your Electronic Systems on The Cheap?

Cyberattacks are getting more common nowadays and one can never be too careful when it comes to defend themselves from an attack. That should move you to get the best cybersecurity for the systems you’re using either for professional business purposes.

Immediately when you hear the word cybersecurity, the first thought that comes to mind could be expensive security systems. It does not necessarily have to become expensive because there are methods to reduce their costs. How can this be done? Here are tips on defending your electronic systems on the cheap.

Training Employees on Cybersecurity

The most inexpensive but profoundly effective upgrade you can do to your security system is training employees to use it. After updating the security system you are using, ensure that the entire team knows about the update and the developments that come with it. 

Businesses that have just migrated to digital systems must ensure that their entire staff is up to speed with security trends. If you are well-equipped to conduct the training yourself, you’re more than welcome to do so. Alternatively, you can ask a qualified individual in the workforce you’re managing to conduct the training.

Secure All Mobile Devices

The little things matter when it comes to protecting mobile devices because even the type of screen locking mechanism you choose makes a huge difference. Use strong passwords that will not be easily guessed by cyberattackers. Also, ensure that you do not connect to a Bluetooth network that might be suspicious. 

That is because hacking technology using Bluetooth has advanced very much over the years and poses a serious risk to your system. Also, activate Apple Find My Device functionalities or other similar features to recover the device before the data inside it gets compromised. 

Use Multi-factor Authentication 

Using multi-factor authentication is crucial in adding another protective layer of security to your system. When doing so, try to avoid a multi-factor authentication system that sends a one-time pin to the user's email. Rather use a more secure method like a mobile multi-factor authentication app to access restricted areas of the system.

The cybersecurity experts suggest that adding such access control security measures can keep confidential information secure from insider attacks and external cyberattacks. Implementing this system does not cost a fortune but adds a crucial aspect of security. It will also raise red flags when users try to gain access to restricted areas, helping you identify security vulnerabilities.

Be Cautious About Links You Click

Being cautious when receiving emails or direct messages on social media can help prevent phishing scams that can compromise the security of your system. When an email is sent, try to look for the tell-tale signs of malicious intent. Some of those may be an unclear intent of the message being sent or suspicious links. 

Try to hover over the link to see where it will lead you instead of clicking on it blindly. Doing so will make sure that you click only on links leading to trusted domain names that have HTTPS protocols.

Reduce Exposure Risk by Keeping PII Safe

Hackers can use the personal identification information you share online to infiltrate your system. There is no type of platform that is safe and once cyberattackers gather enough information about you, they can easily figure out the password or worse. To reduce the risk exposure levels, you need to keep the information shared on social media channels and other platforms to a minimum. 

You can set your social media account privacy setting to share content posted only to a certain group of people. Many social media platforms have the option to restrict your account for only the selected people to follow you.

Backup the Data Regularly

Data security is an important aspect of securing your system and it can be done at a very low cost. When an attack is successful and the data you have stored gets held for ransom, a backup can get the business up and running in no time. 

Backing up the data you have collected is an inexpensive way to maintain the security of information vital for the company's success. You can request a cloud-solution service that will offer competitive pricing without compromising the features and capabilities of the product.

Use Antivirus Software and Firewall

You must get at least the most basic security setup, which does not cost that much like installing and using antivirus and firewalls. The basic security system should provide enough coverage to protect you from the most sophisticated attacks. 

When choosing a system, ensure that it has excellent alerting systems to inform you of any imminent threats. Run only one antivirus and add firewall protection to help screen all online content to filter material that is safe to download. A firewall can also block out hackers from trying to access the system using brute force.

Auto-update the Software You Use

One aspect that most people forget is updating their systems every once in a while, or whenever a software update is available. That pertains to the antivirus software you are using and firewall security systems being implemented. Updating your systems does not end there and includes the software handling customer data or other essential tasks. 

Because this task is easily forgotten, consider automating the updating process by enabling auto-update on every vital software contributing to the security of the system. Doing so will enable the system to face the most sophisticated attacks inflicted on you.

Engage Technically Inclined Employees to Find Security Vulnerabilities

Some businesses strengthen their cybersecurity by engaging customers with adequate skills to identify potential security vulnerabilities. Probably there are employees skilled in penetration testing or developing websites, apps, and other software.

Use these skills at your disposal by incentivizing this strategy and offering a prize to an employee that will find and remediate a security threat. That saves a lot of money that would go to an external contractor to do this task. Although it is very cost-effective, incentivizing it ensures full cooperation and engagement from technically inclined employees.

Open-source Security Software

Open Source security systems are the most affordable options to secure your business. These systems are available for free and are offered by upcoming developers that would like to build a reputation. In some cases, well-established companies can also offer their security systems for free without any obligations. 

Getting these systems is free but managing them can require some financial investment, such as getting some employees to monitor and manage everything. Do not settle for open-source security platforms that offer minimal features just because they are free. Instead, conduct thorough research to get the best quality of protection.

The Bottom Line

Getting affordable systems is not an impossible task but you have to conduct proper research before committing to any of them. Apart from software security systems, you should also cultivate a positive spirit regarding securing privileged information. 

Ensure that unauthorized personnel does not have access to any confidential data by using access-control software and multi-factor authentication systems. Consider using a mobile app for multi-factor authentication instead of sending the one-time pin to the user's email.