In today’s digital age, with so many businesses reliant on digital technology and the internet for their day-to-day operations, learning how to protect your business against cyber-attacks and having cyber security measures in place is critical. Without the appropriate precautions, years of hard work can be destroyed in minutes if a cyber-attack targets your business.
A cyber-attack can jeopardise your customer data by exposing sensitive data, and damage your business’ reputation, as well as your ability to perform your day-to-day operations resulting in substantial financial losses.
You may think that, as a small business, you’re too small to catch the attention of hackers. However, the reality is no organisation can be completely immune from the increasing number of malicious online behaviours. If you’re wondering why SMEs are more vulnerable to online attacks, you can find out here.
As we mentioned before, “small” doesn’t equal “safe”. In fact, according to gov.uk 32% of UK small businesses recall any breaches or attacks from the last 12 months costing each business an average of approximately £1,100.
If you’re a small business owner and have not started thinking about protecting your business against cyber-attacks or don’t know where to begin, following these steps could save time, money and even your business’ reputation.
Educate yourself and your employees
Most data breaches are caused by human error, so knowledge is the first line of defence. That’s why it’s important to ensure everyone is following the best security practices (including safe browsing habits), recognising suspicious emails and protecting customer data. Make sure everyone is educated about the importance of verifying email attachments before opening.
Strong passwords and multi-factor authentication
Make sure you’re using unique and complex passwords using a variety of lowercase, uppercase, numbers and special characters. In addition, for better password hygiene you can update them regularly. Multi-factor authentication is an extra layer of security that requires additional data for every account, not just your password.
Move your data to the cloud
When business data and important information is stored onsite, it becomes more susceptible to cyber-attacks. By migrating to the cloud you will ensure your files are protected and monitored for cyber security threats. In addition, cloud storage providers will back up your data automatically. If this is not an option, make sure you make backup copies at least weekly.
Keep all your systems and software updated
All the software utilised by your business and your team should be updated regularly to the latest version to ensure you have the latest security features and bug fixes. Also, make sure you apply the new security patches and updates on all your devices.
Keep your Wi-Fi network secure
Your router comes with a default password, but in order to make sure your network is encrypted with your own, choose a unique password. You can also hide your network, meaning no one can see the network name.
It’s better to be safe than sorry
As a small business owner, you work hard to build a successful business and the last thing you want to see is all of that hard work at risk. Stay proactive and prioritise cyber security to create a secure environment for your business to thrive.
At Everyday Communications, we make sure you stay connected and protected. If you would like to find out more about how we can help your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with our expert team.
