If there’s one issue that every business has to deal with, it’s cybersecurity. No matter how small your business is and how much you want to believe that hackers wouldn’t be interested in you, the truth is that you need to take online threats seriously. Hackers aren’t targeting only giant corporations anymore: they’re going after local shops, solo entrepreneurs, and small businesses because, more often than not, they’re the easiest targets.
If this all sounds scary, that’s because it is. If you don’t take the right precautions, criminals can steal customer and financial data, lock you out of your systems, wipe out data, or hold your business hostage with ransomware.
Simple Ways To Improve Your Company’s Cybersecurity
A multi-layered approach to cybersecurity is the best way to avoid falling victim to online threats. The more barriers you put in the way of a hacker, the better off you’ll be.
Lock Down Passwords
If you’re still using “Password123” or a dictionary word to log into all your business and personal accounts, you need to make a change. Poor password management means your login credentials are little more than a speed bump for a determined hacker, so use a unique and strong password for every account. Invest in a password manager to generate complex passwords and store them securely.
Two-factor authentication offers more protection if a hacker gets their hands on your password. It requires them to provide additional information, like a one-time code, to access your account and alerts you to the attempt so you can take action.
Install (and Update) Trusted Antivirus Software
Anti-virus software is a digital guard dog, catching threats from viruses, ransomware, and malware before they do real damage. Keeping it updated ensures the program can catch new and emerging threats, so don’t ignore those software updates.
Don’t ignore updates and patches to your firewalls and other software or hardware. These include security patches for vulnerabilities hackers can exploit to get into your system.
Stay Alert to Phishing Scams
Phishing emails are one of the most common ways hackers break in. These usually arrive in the form of a message that appears to come from someone you trust, like your bank, a vendor, or a colleague, but contains a harmful link or attachment.
Secure Devices and WiFi
Your WiFi network could be inviting criminals into your business. Protect it with WPA3 encryption and maintain a separate guest network. Remember that every device connecting to your network is a potential entry point for a hacker, so ensure that all business devices have antivirus protection and that you can lock and wipe them remotely.
Stop Attacks on Your Small Business Before They Start
Cybersecurity and addressing online threats are ongoing in running a modern business. Make security part of your company culture and prevent cybercriminals from destroying it in minutes.
