As more and more business data is stored digitally hackers are increasingly targeting small businesses. Your payroll is a particularly ripe prize for these keyboard criminals. Think about it, if hackers can access the information in your payroll system they will instantly have a smorgasbord of information they could use to steal your employees identities. Considering how high the stakes are, it’s more important than ever to make your business hacker-proof – here are five easy ways to beef up cyber security.

Change Passwords Often

Everyone knows by now (hopefully!) that default passwords should be customised for each user. These password should, of course, be complex using numbers, case-sensitive letters, random symbols, and so on. But these steps alone aren’t enough. Usernames and passwords can be a hacker’s skeleton key to your company, so keep changing both your own username and password and employees’ login info on a monthly or even weekly basis. It may be a pain, but it’s worth the time.

Choose a Secure ISP

Your internet service provider is, in some ways, your first line of defence, and they are not all created equal. When choosing an internet provider, it shouldn’t just be about speed and price. There are lots of providers out there, so search around to find an Internet package with built-in security features. After an ISP checks out in the online security department, its affordability and connection speed comes next. Your best bet is to find one that meets all three criteria.

Keep Spyware up to Date

Just having a secure USP isn’t enough, of course, so you’ll need quality anti-virus and anti-spyware software on all your computers. This will help stop malicious software that manages to get past the ISP security from actually getting into your systems. But you need to be sure to keep this security software up to date. Another way to keep hackers from sneaking into your place of business is by installing a network firewall. By controlling the incoming and outgoing network traffic, it’s easier to tell if there are any threats making it into your business’s operating system.

Encrypt All Important Data

It’s likely you store sensitive customer and employee information in your systems, and this is candy from heaven for hackers. Use encryption software to make this data more difficult to read and use even if it is accessed. If that information is compromised the results can be catastrophic, both for the individuals in question and for your business – legal ramifications and reputation damage might even combine to bring the whole thing down.

Limit Access to Unnecessary Websites

Blocking certain sites on work computers will reduce the chance of dangerous sites from being opened within your network. Take steps to block unnecessary sites and find out which sites are most likely to put you at risk with malware and viruses.

Ensure High Standards of Data Security

A great many of the above practices are embodied in ISO standards.  These standards, particularly ISO27001 are internationally designed to ensure that data practices are correctly secured and properly managed.  You can adopt these standards although it can sometimes take 6 to 12 months to undertake all the necessary changes. 

Outsource Sensitive Processes

Another very effective way to reduce your risk from hackers is to outsource sensitive processes such as payroll. Companies that provide payroll services have highly sophisticated anti-hacker measures in place and can keep your data safe. Moreover, if a breach does occur you will be less liable. If you want to outsource your payroll contact Aussiepay’s expert team today. Aussiepay is ISO27001 certified. You can call us on 1800 729 765 or enquire online.