5 Cybersecurity Tips for Your Small Business

cropped shot of businessman showing laptop, tablet and smartphone with gdpr and cyber security signs

Small businesses are particularly vulnerable to cyber-attacks, with an estimated 58% of all attacks targeted at small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). In addition, according to the National Cyber Security Alliance, 60 percent of SMEs that suffer a successful cyber attack go out of business within six months. You heard me right. Up to 60 percent!

Small businesses need to prioritize cybersecurity and create a secure organizational environment to protect the infrastructure of their business and breed safety and security.

Here are five tips to keep your small business safe:

1. Implement Multi-Factor Authentication:

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is an effective way to protect against unauthorized access to a system or account. MFA requires two or more credentials, such as a password and PIN, biometric, or token-based authentication.

By implementing MFA, you can reduce the risk of hackers accessing your sensitive data by only allowing real employees into the software.

2. Install Firewalls and Anti-Virus:

Firewalls protect networks from unauthorized access by controlling incoming and outgoing traffic to a network. Installing an active firewall will help protect your business’s information from malicious attacks.

Anti-virus software is also essential to protect against malware, viruses, ransomware, and other cyber threats. You should ensure that your anti-virus solution is always up to date and runs scans regularly.

3. Educate Employees:

According to the National Cyber Security Alliance, employees are often the weakest link in cybersecurity. Organizations can reduce their risk of cyber-attacks by up to 70% by implementing an effective security awareness training program.

Employees need to be educated on how to identify phishing emails, protect their passwords, and keep their devices secure. Employees should also be aware of the risks associated with public wifi networks and mobile device use.

4. Use Secure Data Storage:

Any sensitive or confidential information that your business stores must be kept secure in an encrypted database. This will ensure that any unauthorized access to data is prevented.

Additionally, all devices should be password protected and encryption software should be used to protect data from being accessed if a device is lost or stolen.

5. Back Up Data Regularly:

Regular backups of key data information are essential to protecting your small business against ransomware, viruses, and malicious attacks. Creating daily or weekly backups can help ensure that if a cyber-attack does occur, you can quickly and easily restore any lost or damaged data.

By following these tips, your small business can become more secure and better prepared to face the dangers of cybersecurity in the online world we live in. Protection is becoming preparation more and more.

It is essential to prioritize cybersecurity so that your business’s sensitive data remains safe and secure and kept from the risk of failure. Investing in the right security solutions, educating employees, and backing up data regularly are all important safeguards that your business should take to protect itself.

With these tips, you can be sure that your small business is staying secure and resilient against cyber threats.

Happy Cybersecurity!