Nine Cybersecurity terms businesses should know

As a business owner, you are focused on growing your business— from customer service, products, customer services, etc. You aren’t worried about your cybersecurity or your data! But don’t forget about your cybersecurity because it might bite you in the back in the future. A cybersecurity breach can lead to fatal consequences for small and mid-sized businesses. Statistically, over 60% of small businesses that fall victim to cyber-attacks go out of business within six months after a successful breach.

We are not encouraging you to become a cybersecurity expert. But, it is important to know some cybersecurity terms to start protecting your business from increasing threats. Here are nine important cybersecurity terms everyone should know:

1. Virtual Private Network or VPN.

This tool gives you online privacy and allows you to stay anonymous by creating a private network from a public internet connection. VPN masks your internet protocol and enables a secure and encrypted connection. VPN should be a must for everyone concerned about their online security.

2. Encryption.

The process of converting data or texts to an unrecognizable (“encrypted”) format. It is commonly used for sensitive information protection so that only authorized persons can view or read it.

3. Malware and Ransomware.

These are malicious programs developed to damage or block your hardware, steal sensitive data, or give hackers access to compromised devices. It becomes ransomware when a hacker extort your business in exchange for access to your data

4. Phishing.

Pronounced as “fishing.” It attempts to get your data using a “baited hook,” which is a phishing email. These emails appear to be from trusted sources with the goal of gaining personal information. An example of this is a setup of a fake log-in page to your Bank account. Unlike most other types of cyberattacks, phishing provokes the user to share sensitive data voluntarily.

5. Firewall.

A Firewall is like a fence that surrounds your house, keeping it safe. A firewall is one of the first lines of defense for a company network. They are one of the oldest computer security defenses and remain a crucial foundation of network protection. Firewalls can be software or hardware technologies that restrict incoming and outgoing network traffic through specific criteria configured by the administrator.

6. Virus.

It is a type of malicious code designed to replicate and spread from one device to another similar to viruses that attack the human body. Terms Virus and Malware are often used interchangeably they are very different. While a virus is a type of malware, not all malware are computer viruses

7. Multi-factor Authentication or MFA.

A form of security authentication that requires a user to present two or more authentication factors. These could be a username and password completed with code from the text message, link, fingerprint, or facial recognition.

8. BYOD (Bring your own device).

Refers to a company security policy that allows employees to use their own devices for work purposes. As more and more organizations move to work from home, BYOD gains traction. In many cases, this practice can improve productivity, but the downside is that personal device access to a company’s network can cause serious security challenges. Read more about how to set up your BYOD policy HERE

9. Penetration testing.

also known as “pen-testing” is the practice of identifying security weaknesses by simulating a cyber-attack. It allows disclosing weaknesses and vulnerabilities that cybercriminals can exploit during a breach. Findings from these “pen-tests” are used for further patching and adjusting security policies.

This is just a brief overview of some cybersecurity terms that you should know. The best approach to having secure cybersecurity is to partner with an expert. Like Klik! We have 24/7/265 support with amazing customer support. Leave the cybersecurity to us, and you can focus more on growing your business. Contact Klik to get hackers out of your nightmares.