Protecting Your Company: 7 Best Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses

Cybercrime is on the rise. According to a study by the University of Maryland Clark School, a hacker attacks him every 39 seconds, which is not cheap at all. According to Cybercrime Magazine, global cybercrime costs are expected to increase by 15% annually over the next few years, reaching $10.5 trillion annually by 2025.

Unfortunately, small and medium-sized businesses often have inadequate cybersecurity measures compared to larger companies, making them prime targets for cybercriminals. If you want to survive as a small business in the digital age, investing in small business cybersecurity and following cybersecurity best practices is essential.

How to Protect Your Business from Cyber ​​Threats

1. Train Employees on Cybersecurity Best Practices

Just one data breach can put an entire company at risk, so cybersecurity must be taken seriously across the enterprise. It only works if you are working on it. Hold regular cybersecurity training for your employees to teach them how to spot phishing scams, why they shouldn’t open or download anything from unknown senders, and how to always log out of their accounts and devices when they’re done. Learn the importance.

2. Use Strong Passwords

An important part of your cybersecurity plan is to use strong passwords. A strong password is at least 8 characters long and includes a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

Also, don’t use the same password twice. Each account has a unique password. If you have trouble remembering all your passwords, you can use a password manager like LastPass or 1Password to keep track of them.

Remember to change your password regularly. This is an easy way to reduce the chances of your password being cracked, as it reduces the amount of time it takes for a hacker to crack your password.

3. Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

For an added layer of security, enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (also known as Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)). MFA requires a user to provide her second identifying information (after her password) to log into her account. This could be a temporary code, fingerprint, eye scan, or voice prompt sent to your phone. This further reduces the chances that hackers will gain access to your business’ sensitive information.

4. Restricting User Access

Most software and systems allow you to restrict user access. This means you can control how much sensitive data different employees have access to. Minimal access to business data should be allowed. Make sure that only those who absolutely need it for work can use it.

5. Back up your data to the cloud

Another easy way to increase your company’s cybersecurity is to back up your data to the cloud. This way, you won’t lose any important information even if your data is lost, corrupted, or stolen.

Create a regular backup schedule (weekly or daily) and schedule the least intrusive backups (nightly hours outside normal business hours). Special backup software can automate this process. The more places you store your backups, the better. The goal is to store data on at least three different servers.

6. Secure your network

Your network is where your business is most vulnerable to cyber threats. Special care must be taken to keep it safe. There are several ways to do this:

• Use a virtual private network (VPN), especially if you’re a remote worker.
• Use end-to-end encryption when sending messages or sharing files.
• Password protect access to your WiFi router.
• Never work on a (unsecured) public WiFi network.
• Install a firewall to monitor and control incoming and outgoing data on your network.

7. Invest in antivirus and anti-malware software

You can improve your company’s cybersecurity by investing in antivirus and anti-malware software. Antivirus software protects you from malicious programs that spread like a disease and attempt to gain access to your computer or network. Anti-malware software protects against a wide range of cyber threats, including ransomware.

Protect your business from cyberattacks today

With these protections in place, you can detect, respond to, and contain cyberthreats faster to minimize damage. Your business will be better if you follow these tips.