Cyber security has never been so important for small businesses. One hack is all it takes, and you could find yourself in a whole world of problems. Crucial company data could be stolen, product secrets taken, and private customer data could get leaked, leading to large fines.
Or you could even get held to ransom if a hacker manages to get into your system and prevents you from accessing your crucial data.
Here are some of the most important cybersecurity steps you should be taking right now to protect your systems.
Secure Your Network
Use a firewall, antivirus software, and antispyware to protect your systems, and make sure you update them regularly. You should also set up a router with a password for Wi-Fi access, and you can create two Wi-Fi passwords, one of which can be used by guests.
Use Multifactor Authentication
Multifactor Authentication (MFA) is one of the simplest and most sensible things that you and your employees can do to keep your data safe.
Services like Gmail and Dropbox have been providing this technology for years, and it makes the whole process of protecting your accounts much more secure.
Once you set up MFA, you will need to insert a password and a code sent to your mobile phone in order to access your account. So if someone manages to steal your password, they still cannot get access.
You can also encourage your employees to use this whenever they sign into online accounts, and this will help to keep all your accounts safe even if someone gets access to the password.
Make Regular Backups
You should ensure that you are backing up your systems on a regular basis. If you have backups, you are less likely to be a victim of ransomware because no one can hold your data to ransom if you have copies. However, if you are held to ransom, you might be able to get ransomware removal at https://MonsterCloud.com to help you sort the problem out.
Back everything up to a hard drive, and keep a copy safe. Consider automating your backups to make the process easier and give you more peace of mind.
Make Sure Your Employees Know the Risks
The human factor can be the weakest link when it comes to cybersecurity. You can take all the precautions you want with antivirus and password control, but data breaches often come down to human error.
Make sure your employees know that cybersecurity is everyone’s responsibility. Educate them on choosing strong passwords and using multifactor authentication, and teach them about the dangers of clicking links to suspicious websites.
Do they use their cell phones at work to access company data? If so, make sure they are secure or provide them with company phones that you know are secure. You don’t want them losing their phones with important company data and no password, and you also want them to be able to remotely wipe their phones should they get lost.
Also warn them about posting company information on social media, and provide them with details of what is and is not acceptable.
Move to the Cloud Securely
The cloud has many benefits for small businesses. However, you have to take cloud security seriously. That means don’t just go with the cheapest provider, and instead find a provider that takes security very seriously. Ask them about their security measures, and only go with a provider that is highly recommended.
Send Secure Emails
Make sure no one sends secure information over emails because emails can often be a weak link in the chain. Consider using encrypted emails instead, and also teach your employees about the dangers of opening attachments.
Have a Plan
You hope it’s never going to happen to you, but you need to plan for the worst just in case so that you know what to do when it happens. You may be stressed in the moment when something goes wrong, so it helps to have a clear plan in place.
Cut Off Ex-Employee Access
You want to trust the people who work for you, but what about when they leave? Make sure that their access to all of your systems is cut off because they should not be able to access anything using their old passwords. Don’t leave any loose ends because this can present a big risk.
Read these tips from the Small Business Administration for more cybersecurity info.
Lock Out the Hackers and Keep Your Systems Safe
Don’t make the mistake of assuming that hackers are not interested in your systems because you are just a small business. Criminals could still get access to useful information from you, and they might try to make money from holding your systems hostage.
So keep the following tips in mind, and make sure you prevent anyone from accessing your systems who shouldn’t be.
Author
Zohar Pinhasi, CEO and Founder of MonsterCloud, is a leader in opening the cloud computing market to small- and medium-sized businesses. Zohar has 20+ years of experience with sophisticated technology systems. A leader in the fast-moving technology industry trend of cloud services.
Zohar has spent the past 12 years evangelizing for small- and medium-sized businesses to shift to the cloud. A calculated risk-taker with deep tech industry knowledge, he continues to champion cloud services to his enterprise and consumer customers. The foundations of Zohars knowledge were established during a long training in an elite military technological unit.
Zohar is also the founder of GOLBNET, a telecom company. Zohars motto:
A dream is a seed. Vision plants it. Imagination nurtures growth. Opportunities create blooms. Thoughts become things!
– Donna McGoff
