7 Essentials for a Secure Business

If your business has these seven key protections in place, you’re already far ahead of most — and it becomes very difficult for anyone to break in or cause damage. This is a quick and simple list for any executive to understand what is required today to be considered a "hard target".

1. Active Threat Protection (24/7 Response)

This is your business’s digital security guard. It uses AI and real experts to monitor your systems around the clock, block threats, and respond instantly if something suspicious happens. Unlike regular antivirus, it actively looks for unusual behavior and stops it before it spreads.

2. Two-Factor Login (2FA)

Always require a second step when logging in — like a code on your phone. This simple step stops most password-based attacks cold.

3. Laptop & Device Encryption

If a laptop or phone is lost or stolen, encryption keeps your information safe and unreadable — like locking it in a digital vault.

4. Early Warning Systems

A honeypot is a simple, low-cost “tripwire” inside your network. It looks like a real target but holds no data. If anyone touches it, you know instantly that something’s wrong. Honeypots are inexpensive, easy to set up, and create major hassles for anyone trying to move around your network unnoticed.

5. Reliable Backups (3-2-1 Rule)

Keep 3 copies of your data, on 2 different devices, with stored off-site or in the cloud. Use immutable or offline backups so even ransomware can’t delete or change them.

6. Keep Systems Updated

Out-of-date software is one of the easiest ways in. Set updates to run automatically for Windows, servers, and applications.

7. Train Your Staff

Most attacks start with an innocent-looking email. Regular short training sessions help staff recognize phishing attempts and fake links before they cause harm. Users should understand the basics of complex passwords and how to identify basic fraud attempts.

My Comments

There are endless layers in Cyber Security. However, with these seven steps in place, it becomes genuinely difficult for anyone to compromise your systems. Dataforge has worked with expert penetration testers in the industry and I can tell you from experience these 7 steps will frustrate even professional hackers if implemented correctly.

At Dataforge Canada, we help businesses across Burlington and the GTA strengthen their cybersecurity posture with these seven steps.
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