The biggest threat to large businesses, SMEs and individuals in 2019 is cybercrime. This is on the rise with many high profile cases emerging in the last few years, and everyone can be a target. It will be a huge threat over the next 12 months and beyond because everyone uses the internet and digital devices so much in modern life, with people storing an enormous amount of their personal information and data online. On top of this, there are many new threats that are being developed which means that it is an area that people need to keep up with. Here are a few tips for the year ahead:
- Control Access
For businesses, it is important that you control who has access to what as this is often how data is stolen. Once an employee has left the business, it is essential that they are denied access and it is also important to keep this in mind when you take on staff for short-term projects or temporary staff (particularly common in today’s day and age).
- Encryption
There are few better lines of defence against cybercrime than encryption. In a time where information is often shared online and moves through different networks, it is crucial that it cannot be hacked by outsiders and the best way to do this is with encryption.
- VPNs
Similarly, the use of VPNs will be key in 2019 as this can offer protection in a few different ways. More and more, people are using their smartphones while out and about and this can be problematic if you connect to public Wi-Fi which may not be secure and can be easily hacked. A VPN can stop attackers from gaining access to your device and protect you from a wide range of threats.
- Firewalls
Firewalls remain one of the most effective forms of cybersecurity and should be used by both businesses and individuals. Firewalls such as the Sonicwall NSA 3650 can prevent access to or from a private computer network which enables you to safeguard important data and avoid threats like viruses. For extra protection, businesses may want to look into cybersecurity services in Denver or wherever they are based, to go through security protocols and get the cover they need to ensure a safe and secure connection whenever they are online.
- Update Antivirus
Since new threats are always being developed, it is crucial that people keep their antivirus software up to date at all times, to stay protected against the latest threats.
- Learn About The Latest Threats
Leading on from this, one of the best tips for cybercrime going forwards is to stay current on what the latest threats are and how you can avoid them. As an example, most people are now aware of phishing emails, and what to look out for, but many people fell for this scam when they were not aware of it so knowledge is key in the battle against cybercrime.
2019 will be another huge year in the war on cybercrime. There are sure to be more threats that are developed but, fortunately, there are also ways to protect yourself. These are just a few tips for safeguarding your data and keeping your computer/devices safe and hopefully they will allow you to avoid cybercrime in 2019 and beyond.
Hey, I’m Rory and I am the ultimate accidental geek.
Born in London I was never interested in technologies until I started a part-time job at Apple and now I can’t get enough. Join me as a help you navigate the world of tech with some of my fellow geeks.