The Importance of Having Virus Protection For Your Business

Virus protection in the form of antivirus software might seem to be a thing of the past. No one is really worried about viruses any more, are they? The online security risks are generally about hackers invading your data. What you might not realize is that most cases of data breach start with an invasion like malware or a virus.

Small to medium sized businesses might not be too concerned over the options in purchasing top antivirus software. After all, hackers wouldn’t be targeting small businesses, right? They target large corporations where their data breach can net them a great deal of valuable information. That’s not necessarily true.

In fact, in the United States, Congress introduced the Main Street Cybersecurity Act precisely to address the added risks to small businesses. It was estimated that 50% of small businesses in the US were hacked or compromised in some way in 2016. Because smaller businesses can’t afford whole IT departments to monitor their data, there are some gaps in the skills needed to offer a robust cybersecurity protocol.

Cyber Security Risks to Your Small Business

For your small business, you need to be aware that some of the biggest risks come from employees. That’s not to say that employees will be stealing or otherwise jeopardizing your data (though that does happen on occasion). But the bigger risk comes from employees not following good safety protocols when it comes to their online time for your company. Remember, if your computers are connected through a network, any employee can accidentally open the door to a breach that can impact your whole company.

Small businesses represent a goldmine for those who want to steal data. They’re easier to gain entry to than some of the larger companies. For the unskilled hacker, they represent a lower threat of being caught that larger operations.

There is a Number of Protocols that Can Mitigate Your Risks

• Ongoing Training for Employees. Many employees can’t readily identify cyber security risks, which means that they’re more susceptible to possible threats. Offering ongoing training so that all employees are up to speed on best practices can help minimize risks.
• Protocol for Creating and Using Passwords. Passwords and use of them are important. One clear problem for companies is that employees are prone to take the easy, more convenient route than the safest. In many cases, employees leave their applications open, so that anyone at their terminal can access their files. The better protocol is to insist on high security passwords and mandate that all applications must be accessed through password on each use. There are password programs that can help with the convenience of this effort. Passwords should also be unique. Many employees use personal passwords at work or on multiple platforms – that is a security risk because accessing one password will mean that each platform where the same one is used is essentially compromised.
• Invest in Top Antivirus Software. The name antivirus doesn’t encompass all of the good virus protection does for your company. A good virus protection program can detect any new threat and is constantly updated as new threats are developed. When you consider that most data breaches occur through malware and viruses that can be detected and eliminated by software, this addition is a relatively cost effective safety measure.

Top Benefits to Adding Virus Protection Software for Your Small Business

Today most users have advanced to Windows 10, which wisely includes its own built in antivirus program called Windows Defender. And this program is relatively good. So you may wonder why you would need the extra security offered by top antivirus software.

Here are a few benefits to beefing up the virus protection your business uses:

• Beefs Up Security for Your Data. While the free program you use might be good, a top antivirus software will offer a full range of protections. This often includes antivirus, malware, Trojans, worms, and any other nefarious creation that hackers like to set loose on the internet.
• Protects Other Computers from You. Here’s something you might not think about – if your system gets infected, it can infect other unprotected systems. It can be damaging to your professional reputation to have a malicious virus traced to your company by colleagues and clients.
• Keeps Your System Healthy. One of the side effects (and sometimes the purpose) of viruses is that they damage hardware and applications. In a serious case, you might need to repair or even replace costly equipment. Adding a security layer so that you’re less prone to damage is a smart insurance policy for your IT equipment.
• Makes Sure Your Virus Protection Software is Compatible. One problem with using free antivirus programs is that they might not be compatible with everything else running on your system, such as pop up blockers or firewalls. Investing in top antivirus software includes the whole package of programs designed to protect each aspect, which means they are all compatible and run together.

Investing in virus protection is a responsible choice for the protection of your company and the clients you serve.