Over 80% of business operations are either stored digitally or run completely in the cloud. That number is going up rapidly as we shift towards remote work due to the recent pandemic. The growing usage of digital services and cloud computing means there are more information security risks that companies need to mitigate.

Investing inadequate security measures and taking the necessary steps to ensure proper and smooth business operations are necessary. If you are wondering whether your business – or other businesses you are engaging with – are taking information security seriously, here are the 4 signs to look for.

Using Proxies for Improved Privacy

Most of you already know that proxies can hide your personal IP address or help access restricted content. You can learn more about residential proxy services and how your company can benefit from them here.

Proxies are very useful for those who actively use internet services as part of their business operations. Using a residential proxy allows businesses to browse the web and collect information without being tracked. When multiple employees access the web using the same proxy server, they remain anonymous and can get the information they need faster.

A reliable residential proxy provider turns business IP addresses (which are usually identifiable static IP addresses) into residential IP addresses, reducing the attack surface of the business and preventing hackers from getting to the company’s internal network.

A capable proxy server also offers additional features, including better overall internet performance.

Load Balancing for Traffic Management

Having all business solutions running in the cloud can lead to jams. There is nothing fun about dealing with clogged business servers because everyone is trying to access the same information at the same time. This is where load balancing comes in handy.

Load balancing bridges the gap between multiple internet backbones and multiple servers. Rather than forcing users to use one pipeline and access all of the information that they need from one physical server, a load balancer can be configured to route traffic for maximum efficiency.

Load balancers are also handy for front-facing services. The company’s e-commerce website can remain operational when dealing with spikes in traffic simply because there is a load balancer utilizing multiple servers for maximum performance.

At the same time, a load balancer and the presence of multiple servers increases the availability of the company’s services. A single server error will not bring the entire network down.

Firewalls and Other Security Measures

There are several security measures to add to the equation in order to safeguard business operations. A firewall is definitely a must. It is a simple measure that helps prevent over 60% of the attacks targeting your business server.

A simple firewall, when configured correctly, will block access by unauthorized IP addresses automatically. The firewall can also block traffic to certain ports, whitelist employees based on their static IP addresses, and take care of banning attackers entirely.

When multiple attacks happen, a good firewall stops excess traffic from affecting the rest of your cloud environment. The firewall server will experience a heavy load, but the internal systems used by the business will remain operational. Having a load balancer in place helps mitigate this risk too.

Other security measures like better logging, using antivirus and anti-malware software, as well as regular updates of the supporting systems (server operating system, firmware, etc.) are also crucial in ensuring maximum security.

In addition to these measures, incorporating advanced network devices is also vital for optimizing security and operational efficiency. For instance, choosing a high-performance Wi-Fi solution like the Meraki MR36 from Rhinonetworks offers enhanced security features, superior connectivity, and easier network management. This becomes particularly relevant for businesses striving to maintain robust security protocols while handling increased online activities.

Data Encryption

Data encryption is crucial not only for the business itself but also for the customers of that business. We’ve had a lot of data leaks nearly bringing down big companies like Equifax and Capital One. A smaller business may not be able to survive a similar breach.

There should be no sensitive data stored in plain text. Encryption must be a standard on both employee machines and the cloud environment used by the business. Communications to and from the server must also be encrypted to prevent packet sniffing. This can be easily done with a valid SSL certificate and an update to the server configuration.

The presence of a valid SSL certificate, especially on a business level, is how customers identify reputable businesses. In fact, many customers will not complete their purchase if they don’t see a padlock icon next to their address bar. The same behavior should be made more common among employees of the company when accessing business servers.

Of course, there are other things that a business can do to safeguard its operations. If you are not sure about the next steps, it is a good idea to consult a security expert and do a thorough audit once a year.