Cyber Security Tips for Small Businesses

When a new business owner starts a small business, he or she investigates every potential threat, including competitors, customers, and financial backing. One aspect that frequently goes unnoticed is their cyber security. Furthermore, the misconception that hackers only target large corporations is a major reason that every month, approximately 7700 small businesses are targeted by Business Email Compromise (BES) – a phishing scam.

You can protect your small business from minor cyber threats by following a few simple practices and tips. So, let’s see what can we do to stay protected:

Always keep a backup for everything

Backing up is one of the most important things you can do to protect your business from cyber threats. Always make a backup of everything on your server. A few pointers to keep in mind when backing up your data include: never use the same device to back up where you work. Always keep a separate disk that is not connected to the internet to keep your data safe.

Aside from that, you can experiment with various cloud storage options on the internet to keep your data safe. When purchasing one, look for one that is both affordable and dependable.

Setup a Firewall

A firewall protects you from unauthorized sources by establishing a barrier between your server and the rest of the internet. Install a firewall on your organization’s network to protect you from untrustworthy sources. There are numerous trusted and dependable firewalls available to keep your system secure.

Protection against Cyber Threats is as important as Physical Thefts

While we focus on protecting your business from cyber threats, don’t forget that physical theft protection is just as important. Make certain that your employees keep their cellphones, laptops, and pen drives in a secure location. Any device loss can result in a data breach, which can lead to bigger problems. Cyber security training for employees helps to address one of the biggest factors in major security breaches.

Invest in a Scanning Tool

Investing in a vulnerability scanning tool can be beneficial due to its automated features that scan your networks, servers, and applications on a regular basis. They will provide you with a detailed report on the vulnerabilities so that you can see what is causing your server to be a cyber threat.

Software Updates

If you are using outdated software or apps, you are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. To reduce that risk, you should always keep your apps and software up to date. Not only that, but remind your employees to update the app on the device they use for work.

Change Passwords Frequently

Many businesses fail to require their employees to change their passwords on a regular basis and to use strong passwords. As a small business owner, make it a point to remind your employees to keep their passwords strong and to change them at regular intervals.

Know about Cyber Attacks and Threats

Learning about cyber security is one of the best ways to stay safe from cyber threats. Sites such as TryHackMe blog can be a great place to learn about cyber security. They also have free and paid resources that can help your employees become more aware of cyber threats and improve their cyber security knowledge.

Don’t Mix Personal and Professional in the same device

Having a single device where you do and store your personal belongings as well as your work comes with a risk. Sharing the device with friends, family, and housemates puts confidential business documents at risk. It is preferable to avoid sharing the device as much as possible.

There are several ways to improve your small business’s cyber security. Allowing internet access only on devices used for work by enabling MAC address filtration, for example, aids in the removal of unwanted connected devices from your network. Furthermore, businesses tend to use free software or even cracked versions to save money, which makes the business completely vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

If you own a business where your and your customers’ data is equally important, we recommend that you use more secure and reliable paid software and applications.

Finally, self-awareness is one factor that can help protect your small business from cyberattacks. Employees will not be motivated if you and your employees are unaware of how a cyber attack can harm your business and how a few cyber security tips can help them stay safe. More importantly, you should protect yourself from cyber attacks in both your personal and professional lives. Your privacy is important, and this blog strives to provide it.