Cyber crime is steadily spreading and claiming victims. From national companies, to small, Colorado businesses, neither of us can afford the luxury of not being proactive about online safety. Lost data or device viruses take a lot more money and time to deal with than taking simple actions to secure your online operations.

Check out these simple tips that can get you started on a safer online experience for your business:

Backup Your Data

Haven’t we all at some point gone through the painful experience of our harddrive giving up? If you do nothing else, you should at least make sure that your data is regularly backed up. With the new realities of life, you can’t afford to have it in just one place, even if you’re using storage solutions like the cloud. That kind of storage can still have its weaknesses.

You need to have a plan B and C in case something goes wrong, securing you could get hold of a backup.

Protect Your Devices

Are you using a Windows-based device? Do you have solid antivirus software? Different options are all over the Internet, and there are plenty of free options too.

Never forget however, that what you pay is what you get. Do not underestimate the small investment of solid software, in comparison to the risk of your device being taken hostage to a virus infection, or even worse - high jacked.

Generate Robust Passwords

Passwords… The many passwords we need to generate and remember, across different platforms. As much of a hassle this can be, it is especially important when it comes to business to have passwords, which are hard to break through. Hackers use software, which automates the combination guessing. The simpler the password, the faster your account can be broken into.

Getting access to your important business data is a luxurious prospect for cyber criminals out there, so don’t make it easy for them! There are password generators online if you’re struggling to come up with something. There are also secure services, which can keep track of your passwords, freeing up some memory space in your brain.

Watch What You’re Downloading

With the availability of file download online, the spreading of viruses became that much easier. We all need to download files at times, from software to operating system updates. Knowing the difference between a suspicious download and a secure one is essential.

Your antivirus software should catch the majority of virus-infested downloads, but you can’t always be sure of that. If you download the wrong thing, you’ll be at risk.

Whatever you decide to download, make sure it is from a reputable location. Use common sense and don’t ignore it if a website looks dodgy. Don’t fall for scams; do plenty of research to make sure you’re downloading safe files.

Stay Away From Suspicious Websites

With recent changes in search engine algorithms, the so called SSL certificate became a requirement for e-commerce properties. SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer, the protocol which provides the encryption needed for secure communications between a website and an Internet browser.

How do you know if an e-commerce property is SSL compliant? When using your browser, keep an eye out for a green lock icon to the left of the URL you are accessing. If you see the green icon then the connection is secure.

If you’re planning on buying something from a website that isn’t secure,be careful because you might be putting your sensitive data at risk.

Do you have any additional tips? Share them with us and let's all stay safe online!

And while on the topic of safety, do you have the right business insurance for your Colorado business? Call us today with any questions.