Published on July 27th, 2021 | by Bibhuranjan

5 Cybersecurity Tips for Your Small Business

For small businesses, cyberattacks are serious threats that can cause long-term damages. Sadly, many small businesses owners fail to make cybersecurity a priority. The common misconception is that because their businesses are small, they are not at risk for a security breach.

Ironically, it is due to their business’s size that they are susceptible to cyberattacks. As a small business owner, you must have proper provisions in place to ensure that your company can withstand a data breach. Here are some tips to help you enhance your cybersecurity system and navigate the complex cyber world.

Perform a cyber-risk audit

To formulate a comprehensive security plan, you first need to determine and evaluate the potential cyber risks in your small company. Knowing your security risks can help you gauge if your current security measures are relevant to your small business security risks. Identify any security gaps and analyze how your data can get compromised. Without a proper risk assessment, you might end up wasting your company’s precious resources.

Invest in quality software

Invest in a reliable antivirus software and ensure that it is regularly updated. A good antivirus program can safeguard your company’s devices from harmful viruses which can compromise your small business. It should also be able to properly clean your devices and keep hackers at bay. When choosing the right software for your company, avoid going for the cheapest option as it may cause more harm than good.

Regularly backup your files

With all the sensitive and essential information that your small business has, you must set up a strong backup system. Make it a habit to backup your data and ensure that you have copies for them. Keep the copies in a separate location so that your business can still operate in the event of an attack. Or you could use a third-party backup service like Clodally. If you use Google Workspace for your business, try Google Workspace backup by Cloudally to keep all your business-critical data safe. All of your files should also be password-secured and consider using data encryption.

Change your password

It is imperative that everyone in your company regularly change their passwords. Cybercriminals can easily crack your password if you typically use easy to guess passwords such as your date of birth or the name of your pet. Consider using a password generator or password manager to make the process easier and uncomplicated. To add another layer of security, you can use a two-factor authentication system to further safeguard your data from security theft.

Educate and train your employees

Without proper training and guidance, your employees can be sources of cyber threats. One of the most common ways cyber criminals attack is through phishing emails. Educate your employees on how to spot and handle these fraudulent emails. Ensure that they know the importance of safeguarding their information and what to do in case of a security mishap. To make it easier for your employees, you can incorporate a single sign-on method so they can securely manage all of their accounts with just one set of user credentials. Just make sure that they create a strong password and routinely change it.

Small businesses are gold mines for cyber hackers. If you want your small company to stay operational, you need to focus on building up your cybersecurity and ensuring that it is formidable enough to weather security breaches.

Photo credit: Image by TheDigitalWay from Pixabay

Tags: antivirus, business data protection, business security, cyber attack, cybersecurity, data encryption, phishing prevention

About the Author

Bibhuranjan Editorial Officer, technofaq.org I'm an avid tech enthusiast at heart. I like to mug up on new and exciting developments on science and tech and have a deep love for PC gaming. Other hobbies include writing blog posts, music and DIY projects.