The digitization of business brings with it an increase in the number of cyberattacks that the self-employed may suffer. To avoid this type of incident, which can sometimes lead to the closure of a business.
The biggest cybersecurity problem a self-employed person faces is “the lack of knowledge and the ability to react when identifying threats and possible incidents,” explained the head of cybersecurity for companies at INCIBE.
Self-employed professionals “do not usually have too much time; they have enough to take care of their business and deal with issues related to cybersecurity or other technical aspects.” This makes the self-employed become “a profile that is quite susceptible to suffer a cybersecurity incident” and, therefore, that it is one of the groups most affected by this problem.
It is “difficult” to determine the possible cost that it could mean for a self-employed person to repair or deal with a cyber attack, but what is clear is that “if you do not have a contingency plan, such as one or two backups, and you cannot restore the information, it is challenging to return to activity.”
What To Do To Avoid a Cyber Attack On Your Business?
To prevent a self-employed person from suffering any cyberattack, the Spanish National Cybersecurity Institute (INCIBE) explained four recommendations that they should carry out to protect themselves and not find themselves having to close.
1.- Training in Cybersecurity
The first thing a self-employed person should do is try to educate themselves or themselves in cybersecurity, even if it is in “a fundamental and essential way,” without wasting much time.
In this context, next June, INCIBE will launch the eighth edition of its cybersecurity course for entrepreneurs, micro-enterprises, and the self-employed, which, free of charge, “will allow you to acquire the necessary knowledge to deal with cybercriminals and learn to prepare the environment.
2.- Keep the Technologies Used Updated
All the technologies used in the business, from the operating system to the different applications, “must always be kept up-to-date with the latest version and never use illegal applications,” stressed the company manager at INCIBE.
Doing the opposite is discouraged in cybersecurity since it is an easy way for any virus or malware to enter.
3.- Use Technologies Safely
It is essential always to use technology safely. “In accessing services and using the username and password -which is vital to protect a service- the double authentication factor should be used as far as possible.
Right now, for example, if a self-employed cannot distinguish what is a legitimate mail from a non-legitimate mail, it is possible that even if you have a good password, if you access that malicious mail, you deliver it. You are left without access to the service, or they could even impersonate your identity”.
4.- Make One or Several Backup Copies
Making a backup or even two, both in the cloud and locally, is essential to recover files that may attack in a cyber incident. “Nobody is free from being infected by a virus, but if we have a tool that allows us to restore information, we can return our computer equipment to regular activity.
We will be able to return to that conventional activity in a relatively short period and return to carry out our training,” added the head of cybersecurity in companies.
Password Protection Key to Avoiding Cyber Attacks
World Password Day was celebrated, which seeks to make users aware of establishing secure passwords to protect personal data. Cybersecurity is a fundamental factor for self-employed workers to protect their businesses from any cyberattack.
Keeping passwords saved can prevent viruses or malware from accessing private and confidential information.
If our computer is infected with malware, it can access that password information, including credit cards that we have stored in the browser. Or other similar details. The cybercriminal will be able to access all that information.” This could have significant consequences both personally and professionally.
One of the easiest ways for a virus to access a terminal, be it a computer or a smartphone, is through fraudulent emails.
In this sense, INCIBE explained that if any freelancer has doubts about whether it is a legitimate email or not, “they can contact the institute by calling 017, a toll-free number enabled to help and solve any security problem,” he commented.
Specifically, a unique line of cybersecurity is dedicated primarily to protecting companies and businesses. Likewise, “when in doubt whether a notification is official, you can contact the corresponding organization, whether public or private.
