Threats are many and varied: whether viruses, Trojans or hacker attacks, you should always protect your IT from external attacks. Therefore, make sure that you have a working spam filter, anti-virus software and a firewall. These three components form the cornerstone of secure IT.
Often a firewall is already pre-installed on a PC and spam filters are included in email programs. You can also find good free anti-virus programs on the Internet. However, if you are unhappy with the performance of your software, then seek advice and find the software that fits your business needs.
2. Install updates of your software
The method of many hackers is to exploit security holes is popular software to access your users' computers and data. To close these security gaps and thus prevent cyber attacks, the providers of your software regularly release updates and security patches. Therefore, always install all available updates promptly. In most cases, these will be displayed to you directly, so pay attention to corresponding messages.
Also note that after some updates a reboot is required, so plan some time for this and save your work process in all running applications.
3. Create backups of your data
Sometimes it happens that you accidentally delete a file that you still need. Misunderstandings among colleagues or defective data media can also lead to data loss. In case of an emergency, you can hire a professional IT service provider to recover the data, but this costs time and money.
Therefore, back up your data yourself and create backups of all important files. In case of a data loss you have the possibility to recover everything on your own.
4. Check and remove dust from your hardware
How old are your devices? And what condition is your hardware in??
Most of the time, when it comes to IT, you focus on the network and software. However, hardware is just as important. Outdated equipment should be replaced regularly to prevent malfunctions, failures or even downtime of entire sections of your company.
In addition, you should regularly clean your hardware from accumulating dust. A thick layer of dust will impair the functioning of your equipment and, in an emergency, lead to a short circuit. This risk can be easily avoided with the right care.
Are you unsure how to clean your devices without damaging them? Then get information from the manufacturer or seek advice from an expert. We will answer your questions about the correct hardware cleaning or will gladly take care of it for you as part of the maintenance contract.
5. Train your employees
In the age of digitalization, every employee now has access to a component of your company's IT system. Therefore, notify your colleagues, from management to temps, on the importance of maintaining and securing the company network.
Inform them about the components of a secure password and the correct handling of phishing e-mails. You should also determine which employees should have administrator rights and whether, for example, the company WLAN can also be used privately. These measures will protect you from damage due to internal misconduct.