Can you guess what haunts most of the business firms these days? Not a sudden dip in the revenue curve or an unpredicted loss of an important client. These issues are recoverable, in the long run, at least. No, what troubles them is the potential gap in their Cyber secure net.
Yes, the concern for data security has reached its epitome, especially in the present age. According to a recent research, over 130 targeted breaches of a massive scale are orchestrated in the USA per year, and that number does not seem to be slowing down. Accenture predicts these cyber-attacks to increase by 27% each forthcoming year. In addition, seven out of ten business organizations HAVE validated this skyrocketing of their security risks in 2017 alone! (https://blog.varonis.com/cybersecurity-statistics/)
What’s the worst part? The hackers and cybercriminals seem to be winning the battle. Because the current businesses are increasingly finding themselves in a technological fix.
In order to ensure their future stability and amp up the optimization of their infrastructure, these firms rely on technological advancements. But technology is a neutral gateway. Where it benefits a business, on the one hand, it allows the cybercriminals to hack that every business’s data on the other. One of the ways it allows the security breaches to pass is through the internet-connected computers, IoT and other devices, on which a firm’s very survival depends.
Large organizations with proper security systems in place have a higher chance of making it through the onslaught of ransomware, malware, spyware, and whatnot. But small businesses, and especially those that use macOS products to run their operations, are significantly more vulnerable to the cyberattacks.
Why macOS, you ask? Because even though Apple exceeds expectations in nearly every domain, it lags a little behind when it comes to security (Check out: High Sierra Root bug and the chaos it caused). That is why macOS business users often find their work cut out for them, security-wise.
Know this, however, that cybersecuring on a Mac is not impossible. You can probably do it on your own. All you’d need a safe and secure internet connection, like the one acquired from those famous Spectrum packages, and the following tips to guide you through the process. Check them out below.
Enable the Firewall:
The purpose of a firewall in a computing device is to block unauthorized access. Make sure to enable this feature by heading over to the System Preferences folder in the Security & Privacy menu. Most of the time, the firewall’s not turned on, which leaves the Mac open for attacks. However, you should keep in mind that a firewall only prevents inbound traffic. It doesn’t stop any outbound connections, through which malware usually enters the said device.
Luckily, there’s a solution for that too. Third party apps like Hands Off and Little Snitch do the anti-malware detection and prevention job.
Password-Protect the Device:
Lock your doors properly and the intruder will not barge in. Basic household wisdom, isn’t it? Apply this to your macOS device. How? By password-protecting all of its entryways. Most of the times, a malware or a virus slithers its way into a system, over the internet waves, through unattended gateways. Once you seal those points of entry, you leave no chance for the hackers to manipulate you.
Disable the auto-login feature, instead, go for a two-factor authentication mode. Set super-unique passwords for all channels (from the online domain to the device itself), disclose them to the most trusted employees only and manage them effectively through apps like 1Password etc.
Update the OS:
When new threats come upon the horizon, firms look for new solutions to counter them. Similarly, the creators of Mac release software security updates every now and then to fix the bugs and the glitches and to improve the overall performance of the device.
You need to keep an eye out for these especially. Because if you don’t update your macOS regularly, it’ll be riddled with security loopholes and become an easy target for the cyberattackers.
Encrypt the Information:
Everything runs on data, these days. When businesses undergo the online transition, they make their data virtual for easy functioning. This move streamlines many processes and saves time, money and resources of the company. But putting this crucial information on the internet also exposes it to the eyes of the interested parties, no matter how hard the organizations try to hide it behind steel walls.
What’s the way out then? Encryption. Yes, this ingenious solution cushions the data from attacks by converting it into an unbreakable code. Only the owner knows the real shape of the information. How cool is that?! Enable the FileVault in your Mac which follows the same principle. Use a good VPN for your online transactions.
Carefully Allow the Remote Management:
If you’re a part of an organization, you’d often find your Mac device being remotely controlled over the corporate network. Don’t worry, though. It won’t hurt your device as long as you remain synced to the trusted network.
But once you step out of the secure premises and into the open public, be sure to turn off the remote management option. Turn off the auto file-sharing, and auto printer connection too. Just remember. You can never be too careful.
So, whether you run your own small business or are a part of a firm if you happen to use Mac, protect it by implementing the aforementioned tips. There should be no compromising when it comes to security.
