Wait, simple and network security in the same sentence? What? Before you click away, you should know that is absolutely possible to increase your network security, without all the hustle. Not sold on the idea of increasing your network security? Here is why you should:

• Damage costs from cybercrime will reach $6 trillion annually by 2021.
• In 2017, there were more than 171 million records exposed and 1,120 total breaches.
• Ransomware attacks increased by 36% in 2017.
• One in 131 emails contains a malware.

Network security is critical to your business, no matter the size. Some small businesses believe they are safe from attack, only to find themselves up against a breach later. Large enterprises tend to believe they have the best network security strategy in place when they are overlooking security holes. The best way to stop cybercrime within your business is to increase your network security today. And yes, it can be done. Here are three steps to increase your network security quickly and simply.

1) Create a Backup Plan

Tom Coughlin of Forbes states, “In various surveys (including some I have run) it seems 20 to 35 percent of respondents either don’t back up or don’t back up very frequently, leaving themselves vulnerable to data loss.  Options for backing up data have been around for many years, but for one reason or another, many people don’t take advantage of them.”

It seems to almost be a play on words, but when it comes to cybersecurity, you want to have a backup plan. This doesn’t mean a plan you can fall back on once your data is stolen, but a backup plan for your data to keep it secure. Criminals may threaten to steal all your data, so moving it to a backup at another remote location will keep it safe. A backup will also allow you to bring your data back online immediately when the threat passes.

You may already have a backup plan within your IT strategy. If so, take some time today to make any updates or changes according to the current state of technology. Technology changes often, so your backup strategy should change and grow with it. Cybercriminals learn more and create new cybercrime tools just as fast as tech changes. Stay vigilant.

2) Find and Purchase Help

Listen, you can’t do everything yourself. You may find that your IT department is overrun with tasks that a network security vendor could handle for you, with a lower cost. An IT department that is relieved of time-consuming data tasks can focus on more growth-fueled tasks for your business.

There are many different vendors out there that offer network security products to purchase. However, there are also vendors that offer managed network security services where they manage your network for you. For small to medium-sized businesses that do not have an IT department of their own, managed services could be a great fit. For larger enterprises that need added assistance, managed services can be the righthand to your IT department.

These vendors can supply malware blocking, virus protection, detection software and more, all from a remote location, saving you space and overhead costs. If you choose to purchase tools yourself, you can also find those readily available for your needs. However, experts believe that there is not one tool that can secure your network. Instead, you should combine your strategy with as many approaches as possible.

3) Cultivate Your Cybersecurity Culture

It can be a pain to have to change your password every thirty days, but for cybersecurity, it is important. Your employees are using sensitive and critical data daily to do their business tasks and should understand how important it is to remain vigilant. Everyone using the data is responsible for the data.

You can start cultivating a culture of cybersecurity today by reminding your employees to not share their log-in information and to remember the importance of network security for business. Give them advice on how to choose a safe password that does not include the word “password” in it, as well as how they can manage their passwords while keeping them out of sight. Employees are the first defense against breaches and threats, supplementing your network security strategy.

According to Inc., “Take internal data security protocols seriously. A 2013 Coreo study revealed that 43 percent of networks hacked were attacked using information criminals secured inside the company.” Protecting your data from the inside out is the only way to secure it.

You can start today by beginning to implement these three steps and moving towards a higher level of network security. Create a backup plan and back that data up, find some help for your security needs, and start cultivating a culture of security within your business from the inside out. If data is what keeps your business going, what happens when it’s gone?