If you follow the news, you may hear about large-scale cyberattacks on a routine basis. Major business concerns are always under siege by hackers, and a few of them will get lucky from time to time.
But it’s not only the big multinationals that need to worry about preventing cyberattacks. Small business cybersecurity is a growing area of concern.
So to ensure that your business and your clients are safeguarded against all types of cyberattacks, check out these small business cybersecurity tips.
1. Back Up Everything
The most common mistake businesses of all sizes make is not performing backups religiously. This leaves you vulnerable to ransomware attacks, where hackers infect your system with malware that locks you out of your own systems, charging a hefty ransom before they’ll restore your access.
They’ve become one of the most common types of cyberattacks over the last few years, with the number of incidents increasing by 6,000 percent since 2016. The Colonial Pipeline ransomware attack in May 2021 is one, high-profile example of how damaging these attacks can be.
Backing up essential data gives you the option to thwart potential attacks.
2. Update Your Software Religiously
We’ve all delayed a software update because we didn’t want to deal with it right at that moment. But unpatched, out-of-date software can present easy ins for hackers.
Scheduling your software updates to run as soon as business hours end can reduce your vulnerability while reducing workplace disruptions due to downtime.
3. Create Clear Cybersecurity Policies
The greatest vulnerability to any cybersecurity plan is the human element. The strongest security protocols in the world won’t mean much if employees are leaving passwords lying around or engaging in risky online activities.
To reduce the risk from your own employees, you need to formulate clear rules and guidelines, and train your team to avoid common scams hackers use to create vulnerabilities.
4. Protect Yourself Against Physical Theft
Creating protocols to control access to computers and devices and restricting administrative access are basics of cybersecurity. But a major component of that strategy needs to be protecting yourself against physical theft.
Burglars don’t even need to ransack your offices to gain access to compromising data. Employee cell phones, laptops, and tablets can all contain sensitive information. So be sure to express to your employees the importance of any data they take out of the office with them.
5. Consult the Professionals
In an ideal world, you would be able to handle security threats in-house. But with the sheer expanse of the tech landscape, it can be unfeasible if not outright impossible.
Hence why it’s sometimes necessary to defer to experts. Bringing in an IT consulting firm can help you address security threats and daily performance alike while freeing up your attention to focus on your business.
Keeping a Business Safe With These Cybersecurity Tips
In the digital age, online security needs to be a priority for businesses of all sizes. Not only could your business be at risk, but the confidential data of your clients and staff are fair-game for criminals as well.
These cybersecurity tips are just the beginning. Given the rate at which the digital landscape evolves, new threats emerge daily. To ensure that you’re always protected, be sure to keep up with our latest technology and business news and guides.
