November 1st 2024

HOW TO SAFEGUARD YOUR BUSINESS THIS BLACK FRIDAY & CYBER MONDAY

During Black Friday, your business communications and IT are put to the test. Without the right defence, you open your doors to malicious actors (cyber criminals) looking for their next victim. 

Not only that but with major influxes in online traffic, cyber threats will be at its highest, so your business must remain on high alert. Below, we discuss the necessary precautions to protect your business and customers over the Black Friday and Cyber Monday season.

4 Tips for Improving Your Cyber Defence

1 - Enhance Network Security

With increasing online activity, keeping your network secure is a top priority. Here are the key tools for improving your online security:  

  • Firewalls monitor and control network traffic to and from a company device. This software minimises hacking attempts, unauthorised access and denial-of-service attacks. 
  • Anti-virus will identify and remove malicious software, like viruses, spyware and trojans, from your company devices.
  • Multi-factor authentication (MFA) can prevent up to 99.9% of brute force attacks. Even if hackers know or find out your password, MFA will stop them from gaining access. 
  • Network monitoring will detect malicious or unauthorised activity and alert your IT team before further damage happens. 
  • Access controls ensure only authorised employees can access sensitive data, apps and resources. Productivity software like Microsoft 365 has these controls in place to respect data privacy.

2 - Install the Latest Patches & Updates

Ensure your systems are patched and secure ahead of the holiday rush so cyber criminals can’t infiltrate your business. Key areas include operating systems, servers, network devices, routers and connected (IoT) devices.

If you’re an online retailer, you’re a prime target for these hackers. Keep website software and security patches up-to-date and implement encryption tools like SSL and HTTPS. These safeguards will improve website security, preventing you from malicious attacks. 

3 - Implement Backup Solutions

If your business gets hit by a ransomware attack, a data backup will allow you to restore your operations and mitigate data loss. Cloud storage, like Microsoft OneDrive or Lily’s backup software, offers off-site convenience and fast access from anywhere. 

For extra security, we recommend setting data retention policies to limit the amount of personal data you have on record. With less data stored, you’ll comply with your data protection (GDPR) obligations and minimise what hackers can access. 

4 - Minimise the Risk of Human Error

In the last 12 months, 84% of reported attacks were phishing attempts, and in busy shopping seasons like Black Friday, these malicious attempts will be everywhere. The biggest weakness you’re facing? The human element.

Employees are one of your largest vulnerabilities. They may misplace passwords, share confidential data over a public network or fall for a phishing attack. As such, your team must be managed as part of your cyber security strategy. 

Hackers use advanced social engineering tactics to manipulate your employees, but with the right measures, nothing should slip through. A phishing simulation tool will prime your team on what to look out for, and ongoing cyber security training will make you less susceptible to attacks.

Stay Secure All Year Round with Lily 

Lily is a trusted Managed Service Provider specialising in managed IT and cyber security. Our IT support packages cover all the services you need to keep your business running securely throughout Black Friday and beyond. Contact us today to get started

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