Keeping the web a safer place for everyone.
Best Practices
Keeping your customers safe requires your own computer systems to be fully protected. The best policies in the world won't protect your customers if your network and resources are at risks for preventable attacks.
Protecting your network and systems requires a lot of the same steps as protecting a single computer, only on a larger scale.
- Keep a clean machine: Having the latest security software, web browser and operating system is the best defense against viruses, malware and other online threats.
- Automate software updates: Many software programs will automatically connect and update to defend against known risks. Turn on automatic updates if that’s an available option
- Scan all new devices: Be sure to scan all USB and other devices before they are attached to the network.
- Use a firewall: A good firewall keeps criminals out and sensitive data in.
- Use spam filters. Spam can carry malicious software and phishing scams, some aimed directly at businesses. A good spam filter will block most of it and will make your email system safer and easier to use.
Show your commitment to security: Participate in activities such as National Cyber Security Awareness Month and Data Privacy Day to demonstrate your business' commitment to security.
PROTECT YOUR CUSTOMERS
Trust is an essential element of customer relationships. When it comes to Internet security, your customers trust you to protect the personal information they share with you.
You would never knowingly put them at risk, but lax computer security practices can do just that -- jeopardize your customers' sensitive information and expose them to threats.
If your company has a website, communicates with customers via email, or stores customer information in an electronic database, you could be putting them at risk if you aren't taking the right precautions.
Following a few simple online safety practices can protect you from incurring expensive and dangerous data breaches, and give your customers the peace of mind they deserve.
The following information practices will help safeguard your customers' data and help them feel confident about doing business with you online.
- Have (and follow) a privacy policy: Your company’s website should have a privacy policy that tells customers what information you collect and how you use it.
- Know what you have: You should be aware of all the personal information you have about your customers, where you're storing it, how you are using it, who has access to it and how you protect it.
- Keep what you need and delete what you don't: While it's tempting to keep information for future use, the less you collect and store, the less opportunity there is for something to go wrong.
- Protect what they give you: If you're holding onto information about your customers, you need to keep it secure.
Your best sources of guidance are your Internet Service Provider (ISP) and software providers. Many ISPs have services devoted to their business customers. Explore what’s available from them and how they can help. The provider of your security and other software can also be of assistance and may have special services for small businesses.
Tips& Resources
Learn how to better protect your business with our tip sheets, infographics and other resources.
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