Data hacking is a real problem for business owners of all sizes. The wake of the Target breach has affected their customers and small business owners. Not only do businesses lose money from cyber attacks, it is unwanted press to the company. “According to a survey last year by the association, 44 percent of respondents had been victims of at least one cyber-attack, with an average $8,700 cost for each breach.” The extended costs associated with losing valuable customers amount to several times the immediate losses. Corporations have budgets that can safeguard against the most advanced hackers. Small businesses then become an easier target since cyber security isn’t usually on top of management’s list. Here are some tips in cybersecurity safety measures to prevent data leaks:

• Perform a security audit every 6 months – It is easy to have the mentality of dealing with a problem once they arise. This automatically puts you on a reactive mode which can do more damage than having a preventative measure in place. Have each employee change passwords every 3 months and perform a security test with our IT department every 6 months will actively put your company ahead of hackers.
• Have the latest technology in place – Computers and smart phones are always evolving so it’s important to have the most adaptable firewalls and antivirus software available.
• Keep the standards high – Only work with banks and payment processors that have the similarly high standards in data security as well. Doing so will only safeguard your company and customers’ information as well. Remember, you are the company that you keep.

Liron Damri, COO of Forter, an Israeli-based firm that offers fraud protection to small and medium sized online merchants said that “of the 40 million cards stolen, anywhere from 1 to 3 million were successfully sold on the black market. Many were used not in physical brick-and-mortar stores but, rather, on online outlets selling high-end goods such as laptops, watches or jewelry that could easily be resold.” Knowing that there is a subset industry for stolen data should alert business owners to take a proactive approach in securing their data. As a triple ISO certified firm, we have grown to be process oriented which helps prevent data breach. For more information on how the Certification can help your business, download our our presentation to discover how it can help with security measures by being process oriented.