How to Improve Your Cyber Security for Small Businesses - A Beginners Guide

Image via DALL-E

Small businesses are often among the most vulnerable targets to cyber threats. They’re also among the most at-risk businesses because they don’t always have the resources or staff to protect themselves from attack. Awareness and expertise may also be lacking in a small business, as day-to-day operations and growth are often at the forefront and take priority, leaving a business open to potential data breaches or other cyber threats. 

Understand cyber threats

Cyber threats are the main risk for small businesses, so small business owners must take steps to protect themselves from attacks. Here's a quick rundown on the most common cyber threats faced by small businesses:

• Phishing

• Social engineering

• Viruses

• Malware

• Theft of data

• Data breaches

• Data loss

There are many ways to mitigate cyber threats. For example, you should know that phishing scams often look like legitimate email correspondence and are addressed directly to you or your company. It would help if you also implemented a security policy. Securin manages your cyber security and ensures employees know how to identify potential phishing scams. Other methods include installing security software and monitoring your visitors in your office space.

Get organized

One of the first steps you should take is to get organized. Many things can happen on your computer, and what might seem like a minor issue can lead to big problems if not taken care of first.

Start by creating an online backup for your files, then create a list of items that need to be protected from hackers:

• Passwords

• Payment information

• Social media accounts

• Online banking credentials

• Credit card numbers

• Personal contact information

Install security software and hardware

One of the first security changes you should make is installing and regularly updating your antivirus software. This will help to protect yourself from ransomware, viruses, and spyware. If you have any other type of security software installed, keep it up-to-date. If you are using SD-Wan, it is essential to remember you might need additional security measures to keep your information secure.

You can also consider installing anti-spam software that filters inbound emails before they reach your inbox. The software will analyze messages coming into your inbox, looking for spam or phishing attempts or questionable content. The tool could also prevent malware from spreading by catching it before reaching your network or end-users.

If you have a small team that works from a single location, you may also want to invest in wireless local area network (WLAN) hardware. Not only are WLAN systems scalable, meaning that you can expand your business without harming your connectivity or uptime, they are also incredibly secure. If you're interested in setting up a WLAN for your business, it's best to first do thorough research online in order to find the best provider of the relevant software and hardware for you. Once you've settled on a provider, it's then time to ensure you keep your meraki go umbrella security license, or other wireless access point license, renewed, as this will be what provides you with unhindered access to the system.

Create a cyber policy

The first step in creating a cyber policy is ensuring all staff members are on the same page. Ensure you have clear guidelines and understand the importance of security in your business.

This will help to create a strong foundation for your cyber policy, which should include several things, such as:

• Notifying employees about threat actors and their actions

• Make sure employees have training on how to identify malicious emails and how not to click on suspicious links

• Developing an incident response plan that includes steps for mitigating damage in case an attack is successful

Keep your business online and safe

Of course, protecting your business doesn’t stop with a smart cyber security strategy. You should also take steps to protect your online identity.

One way to protect your identity is to use two-factor authorization (2FA). 2FA is a security measure that requires you to use a second form of identification or code when logging into an account to ensure the authenticity of your identity. Businesses can set up 2FA via email, text, or app. 

It’s important for small businesses because they don’t have dedicated IT staff and often lack access to sophisticated equipment or software necessary for cyber security measures.