In today’s work environment, small business owners must learn how to protect their businesses from cyber threats. A cybersecurity incident can have various consequences for your company, including dealing with the aftermath of a data breach, losing clients’ trust, and experiencing significant downtime.
Making the security of your small business a top priority means finding effective ways to safeguard against evolving cyber threats. Here, we provide you with eight essential business security tips.
Best Cybersecurity Tips for Small Business
#1 Activate Multi-Factor Authentication
To enhance the cybersecurity of your business, make sure to enable and enforce multi-factor authentication for all accounts. Multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity before accessing their accounts. Typically, this involves sending a one-time code to the user’s email or mobile device. By combining multi-factor authentication with strong passwords, you significantly improve your business’s security and make it more challenging for cybercriminals to hack into accounts and access sensitive data. Enforcing multi-factor authentication ensures compliance and eliminates the risk of human error, where one account might be missed. Remember, it only takes one compromised account to expose your business to data breaches.
#2 Implement a Stronger Password Security Policy
Your organization should enforce strong authentication and implement strict password security policies. Ensure clear communication of password policies and the significance of creating and protecting strong passwords. It is also advisable to regularly change passwords. You can enforce your password policy through appropriate Group Policy settings.
#3 Use a VPN
With VPN apps, your business can protect itself from many vulnerabilities and types of threats. In particular, if you download VeePN, you can prevent data leaks, hide Internet activity, maintain privacy, and protect against DDoS attacks, phishing, and viruses. You will also have all the necessary conditions to bypass regional restrictions. Yes, you will have to figure out a little how to change location on your iPhone, but you can find instructions at the link. You will need VeePN, you can even use it in the free trial version. It has more than 2500 VPN servers, so you can unblock any website in the world.
#4 Implement an IRP
Any business must understand how to swiftly respond to a cybersecurity incident, effectively preventing confidential data from being compromised and reducing workplace downtime. By developing an incident response plan (IRP) in collaboration with a Managed Service Provider, businesses can address a variety of scenarios and equip their employees with the knowledge to avoid common mistakes. It is crucial to regularly update the IRP to ensure it remains current.
#5 Develop a Data Protection Plan
Your business faces the risk of significant data loss from a single cybersecurity incident. Such loss can occur due to employee errors or infrastructure failures during projects. To be prepared, it is crucial to create data backups at the very least. Again, this needs to be done in a secure environment, for which it is wise to download iOS VPN or a VPN for your device type. Ideally, your business should have a Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Plan that links to your Incident Response Plan.
While backups excel in keeping copies of information separate from live production systems, they often serve as a major hindrance to recovery. Every business has become heavily reliant on technology, not just for data like files and spreadsheets, but also for critical applications that form the foundation of daily operations.
Imagine the impact if your business couldn’t access key systems like email, ERP, accounts, or payroll applications. While your data may be securely stored as a backup, accessing it can become a challenge.
#6 Educate Your Employees
Ponemon research reveals that phishing or other forms of social engineering account for 55% of attacks on small businesses. The success of these common attacks relies heavily on the security awareness of your employees. Specifically, train your employees to use strong passwords, recognize and refuse suspicious emails, and never leave their devices unattended. Additionally, educate them on reporting suspicious events and security incidents. Tailor the training to different user groups and regularly test your employees through strategies such as fake phishing emails.
#7 Encrypt All Devices
To protect data from cyber threats, encryption plays a crucial role. Ensuring that all your devices are encrypted is vital for data security and reducing the risk of data breaches. Utilizing built-in encryption programs like Bitlocker or third-party providers can effectively safeguard your data. Avoid being in a situation where a stolen laptop leads to the disclosure of a data breach to the DPO due to the inability to verify encryption. A managed IT service provider can assist in ensuring that every device is encrypted. As part of a policy, any device you purchase should have encryption enabled by default. Request your provider to demonstrate encryption compliance in your business operations.
#8 Update Your Software Promptly
Ensure proper configuration of applications and operating systems, including mobile devices, and promptly deploy tested released patches.
Final Words
Small businesses are exposed to cyber threats just as often as large companies. However, giants have always cared about security, and many owners of small and medium-sized businesses hope for a miracle. Some assume that no one needs their data, while others assume that their problem will be ignored. Such approaches mean that it is only a matter of time before a business is hacked and the consequences will be dire. There are quite a lot of simple security measures that significantly increase the cryptographic strength of your projects. Why then take so much risk?!
