Cybersecurity is a big issue for small businesses. A recent study found that 43% of cyberattacks specifically target small businesses, and the results can be devastating. Businesses can lose tens of thousands of pounds, and data leaks could result in the business being closed down.
So if you are a small business owner, it is important to protect your business from cyberattacks. Thankfully this is actually fairly easy – you just need to set the right protocols up.
Here are seven useful cybersecurity tips for small businesses.
1. Cybersecurity Tips For Small Businesses: Back Data Up
One of the most effective ways to protect your business from cyberattacks is by backing all of your data up. Don’t store all of your files on one device, as this means if it is stolen, it will be gone forever. Make sure to back data up on other devices that are completely secure from hackers. This could be a USB stick that you keep in your home, or you could use Cloud storage if you have a lot of files. This data shouldn’t be accessed by your employees, as this could increase the chances of a breach.
2. Give Employees Cyber Security Training
It can also be beneficial to give your employees cybersecurity training. We suggest including this in the onboard training; include information about cybercrime and online security, and ask them to protect data (and also to report anything to you that seems suspicious). This can greatly reduce the risk of a cyberattack, especially if you have a large team who all have access to sensitive data.
3. Reduce Access to Important Data
If you store sensitive data, such as client’s personal information, we suggest reducing access to this data. Most employees won’t need to access this information, and by making it less accessible, you lower the risk of the information falling into the wrong person’s hands.
4. Ensure Employees Are Using Strong Passwords
Make sure that all of your employees are using strong passwords that are hard to guess. Don’t allow employees to use their middle names or birthdays as passwords, and encourage them to include numbers, upper case letters and symbols. This step is super simple, but it can make all the difference!
5. Set Clear Security Policies
You can also set clear security policies to ensure employees don’t forget about the importance of cybersecurity. These policies will vary depending on the type of business you have, but generally rules about personal devices, downloading suspicious files and connecting to public WiFi can make your security much safer.
6. Use Antivirus Software On All Devices
It is also essential to make sure every business device has antivirus software installed. This is one of the most effective ways to prevent a breach, and there are lots of affordable antivirus options out there. Some of our favourites include Norton, McAfee and Avast Business Antivirus Pro.
7. Consider Using IT Services
If your business stores a lot of sensitive data, you may want to outsource your cybersecurity to a professional with experience. This could be a virtual assistant, or it could be an IT team who work in-house; either way, find someone who has a lot of experience protecting sensitive data, so that you can rest easy knowing the data is safe.
