With the holidays around the corner, many e-commerce retailers are gearing up for the busiest time of the year. However, one thing that’s sure to put a damper on your holiday sales is a data breach. Getting hacked can cost you business and cut into the money you’ve already earned. According to IBM, the estimated cost of a data breach is more than $400. Make sure you’re protected for the holidays by following these simple steps.
Know What’s Going On
The first step to keeping your retail business safe during the holidays is to know what’s going on by staying up to date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities. Most organizations have incomplete vulnerability information. Keep an eye out for alerts for software or services you use. That includes things like operating systems as well as hardware, cloud services, and your e-commerce platform.
One of the best ways to stay updated is to follow or subscribe to cybersecurity blogs and experts. You should also read any communications from platforms and services you use. These can have important information on potential vulnerabilities and solutions. Implementing these solutions can be the difference between maintaining a safe system and suffering a data breach or hack.
Update Your Software
The next step is to update your software. Make sure you have the latest operating system updates, fresh anti-virus definitions, hardware driver updates, and software updates. Security vulnerabilities can come from unexpected places. Keeping your software, operating system, and drivers updated can help you avoid security risks that you otherwise might not even know about. Updates remove vulnerabilities and help your assets run smoothly so your business can operate efficiently.
It’s always a good idea to make a list of any software or hardware you have that has an option to update automatically. You should subscribe to newsletters from any hardware or software you use so you can know when patches are coming and make sure your business is ready to receive and implement them.
Be Ready for Anything
While you should know the specific threats that are out there, that doesn’t mean you should let your guard down in other places. Data breaches and security flaws can cause a range of problems and come in a variety of forms. Thankfully, there’s some things you can do to make sure you’re ready for anything.
Backup Data
You should schedule regular data backups. Make sure your data backup process covers all the data you could use again in the future. That includes information you take from customers for future promotions as well as sales records, business financial information and books, and any other important information.
Dedicated Cybersecurity Recovery Account/Funds
Next, it’s a good idea to have a dedicated cybersecurity recovery account or some other funds set aside to deal with the worst-case scenario. Having cash on hand to deal with these disasters means that you can respond quickly and effectively. That will help reduce or even eliminate actual damage caused should the worst happen.
Change Passwords Regularly
It may be annoying, but it’s vital that you change your passwords. The same goes for any employees or contractors you hire that has access to your systems. Some of the biggest data breaches of the largest international companies have occurred because “admin/admin” was the login and password combination for vital databases. Moreover, a failure to change passwords regularly could impact your ability to collect insurance on any damages you might suffer.
Consult Cybersecurity IT Professionals
Cybersecurity IT professionals are the best way for e-commerce retailers to increase their cybersecurity during the holidays. Dedicated support for cybersecurity professionals can highlight any vulnerabilities you have and take steps to correct them.
One of the best things about IT security professionals is that they can help you with almost every aspect of this list. Cybersecurity professionals can help you develop an IT roadmap. They’ll stay up to date on the latest threats and vulnerabilities, fill you in on what you need to worry about and what isn’t a problem for you, check the status of your systems and software, and help you come up with a plan that lets you be ready for anything.
Moreover, professionals have years of experience and expertise doing exactly these things, so they’ll know the most effective and cost-efficient ways to help your business make sure all your i’s are dotted and all your t’s are crossed. As a result you can be proactive rather than reactive, ensuring your business has the best security possible.
If you’re interested in receiving a security assessment, reach out to us.
Cybersecurity Insurance
Small and mid-size e-commerce retailers need to be prepared for anything. After all, there’s always the chance that an innovative new attack will target your company. Cybersecurity insurance is a great solution when dealing with these unknowns.
Cybersecurity insurance can not only cover your damages and help with things like buying identity protection for clients, recovering information, and replacing hardware or software, but will also give you guides and information about the best ways to maintain your security so you never need to make a claim. That makes insurance a valuable preventative asset as well as an essential recovery tool.
Understanding Holiday Cybersecurity for E-Commerce Retailers
As you can see, it’s not hard to make sure your e-commerce business can increase cybersecurity for the holidays. Staying up to date on information and updates, having a plan, consulting professionals, and buying insurance will ensure that your business stays safe and, should the worst happen, experiences the smallest possible impact. Cybersecurity is about more than saving yourself the headache, customers say that security is a top concern when shopping online. As a result, securing your systems does more than protect you, it also becomes a selling point for your business.
TechWerxe has been helping small-and-medium-sized companies in New York and New Jersey maintain security by offering comprehensive solutions and expert assistance from professionally trained cybersecurity experts. If you want to prepare your e-commerce business for the holiday season, let’s talk about how we can help.
