Running a small business is not easy. With so many risks involved, it is common for small businesses to overlook cybersecurity. We live in the digital age, so you must focus on maximizing the technological capabilities of your small business.
To help you stay safe, we share the top 10 cybersecurity practices that will allow you to steer clear of cyber criminals so that you can continue operating your company. Besides, the latest cybersecurity news can be outright frightening. Hence, you must take cybersecurity seriously.
The following SIMPLE practices will help your small business navigate cybersecurity and flourish.
1. Back Everything Up
Data is the biggest asset that you own. It can be easy to forget about its importance until you lose it. To stay on the safe side, you have to back up everything. The importance of backups cannot be stressed enough. Adopt the habit of backing up all your data regularly.
Never make the mistake of storing all your data in one place. You cannot afford to lose it. Get an external drive to run backups every day. In addition to this, there are plenty of cloud storage solutions that you can use to start saving all your records.
Some of the best cloud storage options include Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive. Each of these solutions offers free storage up to a certain extent. Then, you can purchase extra storage if needed. It does not get better than this.
2. Encrypt Everything
Although backing up is vital, you also have to make sure that all the information that you back up is secure. Encrypt all your drives and devices to keep them protected. Emails that contain sensitive data should also be encrypted.
Encryption is very important in the world of today as hackers use sophisticated techniques to gather data. When you encrypt a file, it would be impossible for hackers to decrypt it.
3. Use Firewalls
A firewall helps protect your network. It should be at the top of your mind. There are many firewall software options in the market. Therefore, you should have no trouble finding one that suits your requirements.
The reason why you need to place a firewall on your network is that it blocks out unwanted persons from accessing your computer or device.
4. Protect Yourself from Physical Theft
Even though you might be wary of hackers attempting to breach your system, you cannot forget about the hardware getting stolen as well. Make sure that all the employees know how important data is so that they are careful when using company equipment such as computers or tablets in a public space.
5. Protect Yourself against Spyware, Malware, and Viruses
Any device that is connected to the internet can easily get hacked. It is simply too risky to use a device without installing the latest antivirus software first. Always run regular checks and ensure that there is someone responsible for keeping the software updated.
Spyware, malware, and viruses are your worst nightmare. This is why you need to fully protect all the office devices. A simple mistake that can prove costly is assuming that employees will never open a phishing email.
According to the Verizon Data Breach Investigation Report published in 2016, it was found that around 30 percent of employees open a phishing email. Once an employee clicks on the wrong link, malware would be installed on the computer. Hence, anti-malware software has to be installed on every device.
6. Implement Safe Password Practices
Employees are not as fond of changing passwords as they should be. Since most breaches occur due to weak, stolen, or lost passwords, you have to implement safe password practices. It is the only way you can avoid getting your system hacked.
Small businesses have to enforce password policies if they want to keep things going. Every employee that uses the company network has to be password protected.
To create a strong password, a combination of numbers, upper- and lowercase letters, and symbols has to be used. All the passwords would also need to be changed every 2 to 3 months.
7. Use Multifactor Identification
Multifactor identification is extremely useful as it helps ensure that your data does not get compromised. Since employees are bound to make a security mistake, you cannot risk your network by not adding an extra layer of protection.
A great thing about multifactor identification is that it is very simple to set up. It provides your business with much-needed protection.
8. Ensure Third Parties Are Safe
Next, you need to ensure that the third parties you deal with are safe and secure. Be wary of suppliers and do not grant them access to your system. The same goes for customers as a simple mistake can prove costly. Always perform a background check before granting access to anyone and manage their control.
9. Avoid Freeware
As much as we like free things, you must avoid freeware. The internet is filled with lots of free options. However, it is your responsibility to get premium services that do not contain any malware. Cybersecurity is never a place to cut costs as it makes for money well spent.
10 Train Employees
Finally, to keep the network safe, you need to train employees. You can even ask the Web Development services you hire to help train the workforce about the basics. The employees must know how important it is to maintain cybersecurity.
There is a need to have clearly defined rules for everyone to follow. Moreover, nobody should mix work with pleasure. This means that business devices should not be used for other purposes as it could result in a Pandora box opening up.
Keep Your Small Business Protected With the Top 10 Cyber Security Practices
Security is ever-expanding. As cybercriminals continue to get more advanced by the day, the least you can do to keep your apps for small business secure is to follow the cybersecurity best practices mentioned above. The goal should be to keep data as protected as possible.
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