How To Keep Your Business Safe from Hackers

After non-stop news of hacker break-ins at LinkedIn you may be wondering if your business is protected.  Yes, it’s irritating to think about but stolen passwords can lead to costly cleanups and even worse yet ruin your company’s reputation.  Have you taken the precautions necessary to keep hackers from reeking havoc on your wedding business?

Here are a few steps to take that will help you avoid hacker break-ins:

• Implement a firewall — A firewall is a barrier that keeps hackers and viruses out of computer networks. Firewalls intercept network traffic and allow only authorized data to pass through.

• Install anti-virus software — All computers should run the most recent version of an anti-virus protection subscription. Ideally a server should be configured to push virus updates out periodically to all client systems. Employees should be educated about viruses and discouraged from opening e-mail attachments or e-mail from unknown senders.

• Keep operating systems up to date — Upgrade operating systems frequently and regularly install the latest patches or versions of software, which are often free over the Web.

• Conduct a vulnerability test — Conducting a vulnerability test is a cost-effective way to evaluate the current security program. This test highlights flaws and limitations in the program, and experts can offer suggestions for improvement. The best method for conducting a vulnerability test is to contact a computer consulting company and provide access to your system for a day or two. This will provide ample time for network appraisal and follow-up discussion and planning.

Do you have any other ways to prevent hacking?  Please share your ideas with us by commenting below: