Attorney General Kamala D. Harris released a report outlining recommendations for California businesses to help protect against and respond to the increasing threat of malware, data breaches and other cyber risks.
"I recognize that for many of us, computer technology and cybersecurity are complicated. But there are specific and straightforward steps that all small businesses can and should take to reduce their risk, as well as effective measures businesses can take to respond to cyberincidents should they take place,” said Attorney General Harris.
The guide, Cybersecurity in the Golden State, is the product of a collaborative effort between the California Attorney General’s office and Lookout, a mobile security company.
Key Recommendations outlined in the report for small business owners include:
- Assuming you’re a target and developing an incident response plan now;
- Reviewing data your business stores and shares with third parties including backup storage and cloud computing. Once you know what data you have and where it is, get rid of what isn’t necessary;
- Encrypting the data you need to keep. Strong encryption technology is now commonly available for free, and it is easy to use;
- Following safe online practices such as regularly updating firewall and antivirus software on all devices, using strong passwords, avoiding downloading software from unknown sources and practicing safe online banking by only using a secure browser connection.
Click here to view Cybersecurity in the Golden State.