How To Keep Small Businesses Secure From Cyber Attacks

1. How To Keep Small Businesses  Secure From Cyber Attacks    Few will dispute that the Internet has made it possible for businesses of all sizes to reach broader and more distant markets, expand their opportunities for growth, and access new avenues of success. Few also will dispute that all this exposure comes with risks. Given that there are over 130 large-scale targeted data breaches each year in the US alone, which affect millions and even billions of people per attack, it would be hard to deny the problem. Theft of digital information has actually become the most commonly reported fraud today, eclipsing even physical theft. Clearly, all business owners, therefore, have a responsibility to their businesses and their customers to keep their business computers, data and networks safe from cyber attacks. Indeed, many of the largest corporations in the world dedicate a significant portion of their resources to cybersecurity. More worrisome, however, are small businesses, which often assume that they can’t afford to use their resources for cyber defense. On the contrary, quite the opposite is true; cybersecurity doesn’t have to be a capital or resource-intensive undertaking and the price tag of ignoring it is far greater than the price tag of prioritizing it.

2. So how can small businesses prevent cyber attacks without breaking the  bank?  There are, in fact, powerful cybersecurity tools and measures at every business’ disposal that don’t require a major investment of time or finances. Below is a look at an approach to cybersecurity that is affordable, effective and easy to implement: 1. Train your employees​-    In order to protect their data and strengthen consumer confidence, businesses  must create a culture of security. A good place to start with this is employee  awareness. Even one hour spent teaching employees basic cyber hygiene will  go a long way towards enhancing business security.     Teach your employees how to recognize phishing emails, not to download  suspicious attachments or links, and how to browse safely. They should also be  taught company security policies and guidelines for appropriate Internet use in  the workplace.    2. Install an antivirus solution​-   

3. At a very minimum, every business should have antivirus (AV) software. AV  software detects and removes malware before it can infect your business  devices, network, or data. It is the first line of defense against human-error  induced cyber attacks,     ransomware, and other malware. For small businesses that prefer to first  evaluate the different antivirus options available, they should start by  downloading a ​free antivirus for small business​.     This will allow them to learn and become familiar with the product’s features  and levels of protection offered. Small businesses should also look for a​ small  business managed antivirus​, instead of one that is not managed.     With a managed solution, rather than installing a separate antivirus on each  individual business computer, the antivirus is administered and managed for all  your business computers through a single console.     The advantages to this type of solution are many. For example, a managed  antivirus solution means software updates are administered and managed from  a single console, so there is no risk that the updates will be ignored.     Furthermore a managed solution prevents employees from disabling or  uninstalling the antivirus software, and it simplifies the task of monitoring and  responding to threats.     3. Keep your system cyber clean and up to date​-    Keeping your antivirus software and operating system up to date is also one of  the most important steps you can take to defend your business against online  threats.     This is important for all your software, even if you are using ​free computer  protection​ or other free software. Developers regularly release security patches  to vulnerabilities for that very reason, so it is vital to your ​privacy protection​ that  your software is always current.    

4.     Even browsers need to be kept current since many of the security threats we  are exposed to come from browsing to malicious websites.     4. Install a firewall​-     A firewall prevents unauthorized access to data on private networks by  monitoring and analyzing incoming and outgoing network traffic.     The firewall filters any traffic that looks suspicious using a set of  pre-established rules. Businesses should enable their operating system’s  firewall in order to add another level of defense against cyber attacks​.     5. Secure your Wi-Fi networks-    If your business uses a Wi-Fi network, make sure that it is secure. The best way  to do this is with a VPN, which creates a secure connection between your  device and the Internet and encrypts the data that is sent over the connection.         

5.         Limit employee access to data and information to a need-to-know basis-    Employees should only be given access to the data and systems that they need  to use to do their job, especially when it comes to sensitive data.     Sensitive data and non-sensitive data should be segregated and access to the  sensitive data should be restricted to a need-to-know basis only.     Furthermore, former employees should never have access to business systems  or data. An established procedure for ensuring this security measure is crucial  to business safety.    6. Strict password protocol​-     Weak, compromised or reused passwords are the third most common cause of  ransomware attacks globally and the cause of 81 percent of data breaches in  general. The implications of this are clear; implementing a strict password  protocol is critical to a strong defense against cyber attacks.                

6.         Passwords should be long, at least 8 characters but longer is better, and contain a mix  of upper and lower case letters, as well as numbers and other special characters. In  addition, passwords should never be shared and every account should have a unique  password.    7. Remote worker security​-       As remote work becomes increasingly commonplace, businesses must now  place greater attention to securing their employees WFH environment and  computers.     This means providing endpoint security so that all devices are secure, whether  it’s your employees’ laptops, desktops, or tablets, And ensuring that your  business VPN protects the connection between home devices and your  business network.       A final word    Most boards and senior executives of large businesses have acknowledged the  serious threats that cyberattacks pose and have taken action to safeguard their data.  

7.     Small businesses have also started to understand that defending their businesses  from cyber attacks is an urgent need for them as well, and not just a problem to be  dealt with when they have more time and resources.     The strategies mentioned above represent a cost-efficient and effective way forward  to good cyber hygiene and a strong defense against cyber attacks.