Cybersecurity risks have never been higher than they are today, and no business is 100% safe from hackers. Many people think that only large organizations are vulnerable to cyber attacks, but small businesses and even solopreneurs are often targeted as well.
Cyber attacks can be financially devastating for small businesses. Managed IT services can help protect you from cyber attacks, but you’ll also need to take steps internally to operate safely. This is why it’s so important to take steps to protect your online operations from cyber criminals early on. Here are eight key cybersecurity tips for small businesses to keep in mind.
Why Cybersecurity Is Essential for Small Businesses
Most small businesses today conduct at least some of their operations online. In fact, over 70% of SMBs are actively choosing to invest in their online operations post-pandemic. The internet has made it easier than ever to grow your business and reach customers around the world. However, online businesses are also vulnerable to hackers who are searching for sensitive financial or personal information.
Certain types of cyber attacks, such as malware, can compromise your systems and make it impossible to conduct your normal business operations until they are addressed. Cyber attacks are often very expensive to resolve, especially in the case of ransomware. Cybercrime can also compromise your customer data, which can have a serious negative effect on your reputation.
Taking basic cybersecurity measures can go a long way toward protecting your company from hackers. Modern hackers are always developing new strategies, so it’s important to stay one step ahead.
Implement Multi-Factor Authentication
Passwords can be a huge liability for your business if they aren’t implemented correctly. One of the best ways to protect your system is to implement multi-factor authentication, or MFA. MFA requires the user to provide two pieces of information in order to access the system.
The first piece of information is a password. The second piece is typically a randomly-generated passcode that is sent via email or text message to a verified account. This means that even if the user’s password is compromised, hackers still won’t be able to access your systems.
Use Secure WiFi Connections
Public WiFi connections are another major security risk to watch out for, especially if your team works remotely. While public hotspots may be convenient, they also come with plenty of security risks.
Make sure your entire team has access to secure and private WiFi connections at home. If you do need to work while on the go, consider using a secure private hotspot rather than a public one.
Install Firewalls and Anti-Virus Programs and Update Them Regularly
Using firewalls, anti-virus programs, and other cybersecurity software is an easy way to reduce the risk of cybersecurity threats. These software programs will help neutralize many common cybersecurity problems with minimal effort required on your part.
However, it is very important to make sure all of your software programs are updated on a regular basis. New updates are designed to improve the software and correct any problems that may have arisen. Failing to update your software programs regularly may leave your organization more vulnerable to cyber attacks.
Learn How to Spot Phishing Emails
Phishing attacks have become incredibly common in recent years, so it’s important to stay vigilant when reading through emails or social media posts. Phishing is when a hacker will pose as a legitimate organization or person in order to gain access to important account login information.
Phishing tactics have become increasingly sophisticated in recent years, which can make them difficult to spot. To prevent phishing attacks from damaging your business, take the time to educate all of your employees about what they are and how to avoid them.
Most phishing emails or social media messages have a few subtle giveaways. They often have grammar or spelling errors in the subject line or in the email itself. They will also typically use overly formal language. The domain name on the email address may look similar to those used by major corporations, but will have a few slight differences.
Any message that asks for login credentials or other sensitive pieces of information should be treated with plenty of suspicion. Users should also avoid opening any attachments or clicking any links in potential phishing emails.
Back up Your Data Regularly
Having a complete, up-to-date backup of all of your data can help keep your business running in the event of a cybersecurity emergency. Ideally, you’ll want to set up your systems to back up your data on an ongoing basis. If this isn’t feasible, set up a schedule for regular data backups. Having data backups will protect you in the event of a ransomware attack. It also ensures that you will continue to have access to your data even if you lose access to your main cloud or server.
Keep Your Mobile Devices Safe
Many remote employees do at least some of their work from a phone or tablet. Mobile devices are just as vulnerable to cyber attacks as computers, so it’s important to make sure that each employee has access to antivirus protection and other cybersecurity tools on every mobile device. Depending on the type of work you do, it may be necessary to provide your employees with dedicated work phones or tablets to keep things secure.
Keep Data Access Siloed
Unless you’re a solo entrepreneur, no single person should have access to all of your company’s data. Provide each employee with only the credentials they need to get their work done. This can help prevent both internal and external security threats. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that login credentials are changed and security measures are re-evaluated every time someone leaves the company to keep things safe.
Consider Cybersecurity Insurance
Cyber attacks can be very expensive to recover from, and are particularly damaging to small businesses who don’t have many financial resources. Cybersecurity insurance is an effective way to protect your business if you are targeted by hackers in the future.
While there’s no way to completely prevent cybersecurity hacks, these tips can go a long way towards keeping your data safe and secure. Implementing strong security practices early on is the best way to keep your organization safe as it grows.
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