As the owner of a small business, you may think your company is “too small” to be targeted by cybercrime because you are not a large company worth millions of dollars. However, nothing could be further from the truth. Although the media mainly focus on attacks on large companies, small businesses are easy targets for cybercriminals.
Cybercriminals know that small businesses are less likely to have strong security measures, making it much easier for them to steal their data. This blog post will tell you what steps you can take to protect your business from cybercriminals.
Follow these best practices for preventing cyber incidents
While there is no one panacea to prevent all incidents, there are some best practices you can use to reduce the risk of becoming a victim of a cyberattack.
- Make sure your cybersecurity policy supports remote working
When implementing a cybersecurity policy that supports remote work, consider the following:
- How do employees access remote assets?
- What security measures should be taken to protect corporate data?
- How can remote workers collaborate and share data with each other?
In addition, identify any support mechanisms to help employees who find it difficult to get used to working remotely. By considering these factors, you can create a cybersecurity policy that is productive, flexible and secure.
- Make sure your employees receive cybersecurity awareness training
Implementing security awareness training for employees is crucial in today’s digital world. As a responsible business leader, you should strive to ensure that the program is comprehensive, engaging and adaptable to new threats.
- Implement software patches
Threats to your network security are becoming more common as technology advances. Therefore, it is essential to keep your software up-to-date with the latest security patches.
There are two different ways to keep your software up-to-date. One way is to set your software to update automatically, while the other is to manually check for updates regularly.
- Provide active antivirus and anti-malware protection
There are many different antivirus and anti-malware solutions available, so choose one that suits your business. You should consider the size of your business, the type of data you want to protect and your budget.
Once you have chosen a solution, make sure you act on it immediately. This means that you install it directly on all of your company’s computers and keep everything up-to-date.
- Implement two-factor authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication is a security measure that requires users to use more than one form of identification when accessing data, greatly reducing the likelihood of unauthorized access to data.
This can be something the user remembers (such as a password), something the user has (such as a security token) or something personal to the user (such as a fingerprint).
- Use a virtual private network (VPN)
A virtual private network encrypts your company’s data and allows you to control who has access to it. This can help prevent data breaches and secure your company’s data.
Be sure to choose a reputable provider that offers robust security features.
- Implement single-sign-on (SSO) and password management
A single sign-on solution can simplify your users’ login process by allowing them to log in once to a central system and then access all the other applications and systems they use. This can make the application process more efficient for them.
In addition to SSO, a password management solution simplifies users’ login process by enabling them to manage their passwords more securely and efficiently.
- Encrypt your data
Data encryption is the process of converting information into a code that can only be deciphered by someone who has the key to decrypt it. This is done to prevent unauthorized access to the data. Data encryption is critical in cybersecurity because it can help reduce your data’s exposure to risk and ensure compliance with data privacy regulations.
- Have solutions for backup and disaster recovery
It is crucial to have backup and disaster recovery solutions in case of system failure or data loss. Be sure to compare and carefully review the various options to find the best solution for your business. Regularly test whether your backup and disaster recovery solutions are working properly.
Working together for success
As a small business owner, you may not have the time or expertise to implement effective best practices for cyber incident prevention. Working with us, however, you can leverage our experience to build a digital fortress around your business. Contact us today to find out how we can support and help you protect your business from potential cyber threats.
You can also click here to download our infographic “Is Your Business Prepared for a Cyber Incident?” in which we take a deeper look on the concept.
