8 Best Cybersecurity Strategies For Small Businesses
By Gary McCauley VP of Global Sales
With the power of the internet, businesses of all sizes are able to reach bigger and newer markets from any location. Working from home, the coffee shop, the office – even public transport – is all possible with the current reach remotely online. We can work better and for longer without being stuck in a stuffy office all of the time.
If you are considering moving your business from the office to a more mobile environment such as the cloud, you need to think about cybersecurity for businesses before you go ahead and make a change. Even if you only plan to maintain a website and you want to use email, you should make cybersecurity a big part of your plan.
You may have already been aware of the theft of business information that occurs online – hackers are getting smarter every single day, and business owners need to be aware of this. It’s the most commonly reported fraud out there, even above physical theft. Cybersecurity for businesses has to be a top priority for you and you must be responsible for creating a culture of security to ensure that your business is enhanced to give your consumers confidence.
8 Cyber Security Tips for Small Business
It’s not always easy to ensure that your business is secure, but when you put the following eight cybersecurity tips into play, you can begin reaching new markets and increase your business productivity. You will also ensure that your business is more efficient, and for this you need to have a strategy that works for your cybersecurity. So, let’s take a look!
Cloud Security
When you move over to the cloud, you need to ensure that your network is secure. Your Wi-Fi network should be encrypted and hidden to the outside world, and to hide it you have to set up your router so that you don’t have the network name broadcasted to anyone looking for a secure connection in the local area. This is known as the Service Set Identifier, and you can password protect your access to the router as a result.
Network Security
To protect your entire network, you need to ensure that you have the right firewalls and software installed. Outsiders will always look to access your data on a private network, and these firewalls and programs will ensure that you cannot access those private networks. When your employees work from home, it’s vital that they have security available, too.
VPNs and Cybersecurity
Speaking of people working from home, we mentioned remote workers earlier in the article. Many people work from mobile devices, so a VPN – or Virtual Private Network – is going to be what you need to face the significant security management challenges in front of you for remote workers. Users should protect their devices with passwords and passphrases to protect their data and encrypt it. You can even install security apps on mobile devices to ensure that criminals cannot steal your information.
Updates and Upgrades
Your computers and software should be updated and kept clean of clutter. The latest software and web browsers and operating systems are the defences that you need against malware and viruses. They also protect against other threats online. You can keep updates going with scans being run after each update.
Data Backups
Backing up your data across all devices, especially critical data, is vital for security. Cybersecurity for businesses includes financial files, human resources and all electronic spreadsheets. These can then be stored in the protected cloud!
Segmented and Limited Access
Throughout your business, only those who need access to all data systems should have it – no one employee should have the access to everything. Limit access to the management team only, and employees should only get access to the systems that are relevant to their jobs. Segmenting your data will ensure that fewer people have access to secure information, which prevents data from getting lost in translation.
Employee Training
If you want to ensure that your business is secure across the cloud, all software and all machinery, you need to ensure that your employees are educated enough to keep your security tight. Establishing practices and policies that you convey to your employees is vital to ensure that your online data is secure. You should also establish online behaviour rules to ensure that your staff know how to handle and protect all customer data.
Security Culture
Above everything else, preventing the access or use of company equipment to those not authorized to use or see sensitive information is vital. Laptops are easy targets for theft, as are tablets. They can also be easily lost, which means that administrative privileges need to only be given to those who are trusted as IT staff – as well as key personnel who require access.
To be able to help your business to be protected from cyber threats, you need to secure your business with the right technology. For more help on this, contact ExterNetwork Services today!
