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In the last few years, Colombia has become an increasingly excellent place to do business. That’s because it has some of the higher rates of internet penetration in Latin America and a strong labor force, which have made it easier for everybody to do business there.
However, Colombia is also one of the most exposed to threats, according to cybersecurity researchers. If Colombian enterprise owners – and businesses worldwide, for that matter – want to take advantage of new opportunities and build towards further growth, they’d better start implementing these essential security measures now.
What’s the Problem in Colombia?
The biggest issue is that Colombia business owners haven’t adopted the proper cybersecurity measures, putting themselves, their assets, and employees at risk.
Looking at the data, Colombian enterprises often don’t have anti-malware software downloaded and enabled. Worse yet, business owners frequently don’t install vital system updates and patches, which often leads to hackers exploiting software weakness to access system resources.
Finally, employees lack cyber hygiene education. All of these things combined have shown that while Colombia is a great place to do business, many people are at risk of cyberattacks.
How Can Colombian Business Owners Improve the Situation?
Education and minimal investment in software will go a long way to improve the cybersecurity environment in Colombia.
You can test this right now. Search “What is my IP?” If you’re able to see your approximate location and other sensitive information that directly connects to your device, you’re already in trouble.
The easiest and most effective way to fix this is with a VPN. A VPN or virtual private network both conceals and encrypts your internet connection, significantly improving your privacy and security in the online world.
From this essential cybersecurity framework, now it’s time to train yourself and your employees on the following cyber hygiene best practices.
1. Update Often
This is one of the simplest things to fix. Developers do all the work for you. All you have to do is remember to update. Turn on automatic updates for all your devices and set them to install during non-peak hours.
2. Enhance Password Security
This is a problem everywhere in the world. People can’t remember all their passwords, so they recycle the same one. However, when a data breach happens, this puts all of their other accounts in jeopardy.
Passwords must be lengthy, complex, and unique. To safely store, manage, and access your online accounts, consider using a password manager. Password managers are digital vaults that you can unlock with biometrics or a master password, making them more secure and convenient than the way we traditionally access accounts.
3. Back Up Routinely
Colombian businesses are a frequent target for ransomware. In these attacks, fraudsters lock victims out of essential files until a hefty ransom fine is paid. In addition to using network security tools like VPNs, the best way to eliminate the damage these attacks can do is by having an encrypted backup.
With encrypted backups in the cloud and locally, you’ll never have to worry about someone trying to lock you out of your key files.
4. Invest in Education
Education doesn’t have to cost you a thing. Review with your employees these remaining essential cyber hygiene steps:
- Lock all devices with a PIN or passcode
- Never leave devices unattended
- Enable anti-malware software
- Never allows guests onto your Wi-Fi networks
- Regulate user permissions
- Learn to recognize phishing and social engineering attacks
- Scan all files and links before clicking on them
- Eliminate default admin names and accounts on all devices
- Update your WP or site software
- Follow the latest tech news
Colombia has such a dynamic business environment. Don’t let your organization fall victim to a cyberattack. Start protecting yourself by using these effective strategies now.