-What are the costs and benefits of developing cybersecurity programs in business?

The costs of developing cybersecurity programs is constant and should always be budgeted for. With a cybersecurity program comes training, maintenance, insurance, and testing. These are the top areas I believe should always be accounted for when budgeting for your program. Outside of these top areas are also cost that are not always identifiable, these costs consist of system repair, legal fees, compensation to clients, and loss of business and customers. However the benefits of developing a cybersecurity program outweigh the costs. Having a well developed program can set you apart from competitors, and give your clients peace of mind. If your clients are happy and at ease then word travels quick, and more clients will roll in and trust you with their information and security. Cybersecurity is not just a benefit but it is a necessity if you want to be taken seriously and move your company forward.

-How can you tell if your computer is safe?

The number one way to tell if your computer is safe is research. It is important to know what vulnerabilities are being exploited and what updates need to be installed to ensure your system is secure, the only way you can know if you are at risk or not is by researching the possible threats or vulnerabilities you might have. After you have done thorough research and installed any available updates and patches, it is important to scan your system for anything you might have missed or even test your configuration. If the system is connected to a network it is import to run some port scans and ensure your firewall is doing it’s job protecting you from the outside world.