It’s time to get serious about cybersecurity.
The future of data is here, and it’s time to take a deep breath, look at the data you have on hand, and decide how best to protect it.
The good news is that there are many steps you can take to protect yourself and your business from cyber threats. Here are some tips for improving your small business cybersecurity:
Don’t Leave Any Data Unsecured on Devices That Aren’t Yours- Even if They’re Offline
If you’re a small business owner, one simple tip that’s easy to implement and can help you improve your cybersecurity: don’t leave any data unsecured on devices that aren’t yours.
That means we’re not just talking about your own devices we’re also talking about the devices of your employees and customers. Therefore, you should have a policy that clarifies what is and isn’t acceptable when storing data on other people’s computers.
It’s easy to forget, especially since many people don’t think twice before storing information on someone else’s computer. But it’s important to remember that anything stored on a shared device could potentially be accessed by someone other than its owner.
And suppose you end up leaving sensitive information like passwords or credit card numbers lying around on another person’s computer. Again, making the chances of getting hacked or compromised high.
Make Sure All Employees Know What They’re Supposed to Do When They See Something Suspicious or Unauthorized
Your company’s most valuable asset is its data and when that data falls into the wrong hands, it’s disastrous.
That’s why it’s essential to ensure all your employees know what they’re supposed to do if they see something suspicious or unauthorized.
You can do this by creating and publicizing an employee handbook. Include in this handbook all the relevant information: how often they should check for viruses, what types of files are allowed and which are forbidden, how to report suspicious activity, and so on.
It’s also essential to ensure that everyone with access to sensitive information is trained to keep it safe. This can include security training sessions where employees learn the importance of keeping passwords secret and avoiding phishing emails.
Finally, it helps if you’re transparent with employees about any security issues or breaches you’ve experienced in the past this gives them a better understanding of what kinds of threats exist out there and helps them be more vigilant while using company resources online and off-site too!
Use Multi-Factor Authentication Whenever Possible
With the increase in cyberattacks, keeping employee laptops secure is a challenge for any small business owner. This is why it’s so important to use multi-factor authentication whenever possible.
When you log into your computer, you must provide your username and password. This can be enough for some people, but many hackers and cybercriminals will try to use automated scripts that try thousands of different usernames and passwords until they find one that works. These scripts are called brute force attacks, designed to brute-force their way into your account without human intervention.
Multi-factor authentication can protect users against these attacks by requiring them to enter an additional piece of information before they are granted access to an account. This could be something like a pin code sent via text message or email, or it could perform a biometric scan like swiping your finger across a fingerprint reader or retinal scanner.
Using MFA whenever possible will help protect your company against breaches like this in the future!
Establish A Pragmatic Security Program
The best way to improve your small business cybersecurity is to establish a security program, a set of guidelines you follow to ensure your small business’s digital infrastructure is protected from attacks.
The first step in establishing a pragmatic security program is to define what “security” means for your small business. For example, it might include things like:
- Regularly updating software
- Using strong passwords and changing them regularly
- Installing anti-virus software on all devices
Once you’ve defined what “security” means for your small business, the next step is determining how to implement these measures. You’ll want to ensure that all employees know about the new measures, so they can be held accountable if they fail to follow them.
You should also ensure that any new measures are part of routine training to ensure that everyone knows what they’re supposed to do when working with sensitive information.
Finally, as part of your pragmatic security program, you’ll want to establish an internal reporting system so employees can report any security incidents without fear of retribution or negative consequences (such as being fired).
Conclusion
The steps detailed above are just a few ways to improve your small business cybersecurity. However, it’s not enough to have the perfect business finances and the right policies and procedures in place; your employees also need tools and training. Hence, they know how to use them properly. The most important thing is to find a solution that works for you and your business not one that someone else wants you to use. It’s important to research different options and consult with experts before making any big decision. For more information on business protection, check out our blog now.
