Small businesses are often targeted in cyberattacks because they typically don’t have as many resources as large businesses to safeguard their data. However, cybersecurity is just as important for small companies as it is for large enterprises.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend a fortune to implement effective cybersecurity solutions for your business. Many changes you can make to improve network security are simple and affordable, and go a long way toward preventing attacks.
Here are five easy cybersecurity solutions for small businesses.
1. Have Your Infrastructure Audited
Instead of reacting when a security breach or cyber incident happens, it’s far more effective to put preventative steps in place now. A managed services provider or cybersecurity consultant can help you review your processes and audit your infrastructure to understand where your network is most vulnerable.
By working with a specialist, you have the knowledge and resources you need to implement proactive solutions for your cybersecurity. Remember that prevention is always more feasible and cost-effective than trying to recover data or protect your reputation after an attack.
2. Keep Your Software Updated
Software enables your business to efficiently achieve daily tasks. However, even cutting-edge software isn’t immune to threats. Updating your software is critical to ensuring your business is using the most current version of apps and operating on a secure system.
By failing to update your systems, you may unknowingly leave your networks exposed to cyberattacks. Even worse, by the time you realize an attack has happened, it may be too late to mitigate the damage. You can have your systems set to automatically update or schedule a specific day or time to check for updates or security patches regularly and install them as needed.
3. Invest in Ongoing Practices
As cyber criminals refine their approach and businesses increasingly rely on the internet for their operations, it’s not an option to address your cybersecurity once and then assume your systems are safe. Cybersecurity has to be an ongoing effort for companies of all sizes, especially as your business grows and changes over time.
Whether you have an in-house team or are considering outsourcing your security needs, always approach cybersecurity as an ongoing project. You will need to revisit employee training, system updates, penetration testing, and your disaster recovery plan consistently to maintain security and control risk.
4. Control Access to Sensitive Data
Although it’s true that phishing emails and ransomware attacks typically come from outside sources, one of the biggest threats to a small business’ cybersecurity comes from inside the company—their employees.
Part of mitigating your risk for a cyberattack is controlling access to any sensitive data you may store on-site, such as customer information, proprietary company data, and intellectual property. Not all compromised data comes from resentful employees. People can accidentally share information or leave files or passwords exposed.
Only allow access to sensitive data for employees who need it, and have a strategy for tracking access. By limiting the number of people who can see such information, you help lower your risk for a breach.
5. Set Strong Passwords With Multi-Factor Authentication
It seems obvious, but protecting your network with a strong password—one that never contains personal information and is composed of random letters, numbers, and special characters—can prevent unauthorized individuals from gaining access to your data.
You should also change passwords regularly and consider implementing multi-factor authentication. With multi-factor authentication, hackers can’t access your systems even if they crack the password—they would need a code that only a person with legitimate credentials would have.
How Are You Keeping Your Business Safe?
Cybersecurity doesn’t have to be complicated, but it should be an ongoing practice that you invest in no matter how large or small your company is. What steps are you taking to keep your business safe? Learn more about how you can improve your security by contacting neteffect technologies today.
