There is no better way to say this – Your small business cannot take cybersecurity for granted! Numerous studies indicate that small businesses and startups are on the radar of hackers and cybercriminals, and at least one in every ten companies have suffered in a security breach. When it comes to security concern protection, a few steps can go a long way. In this post, we are sharing some of these robust measures.
- Update everything. Software, firmware, operating systems, apps – everything must be updated to the latest available version, so that existing vulnerabilities are not exploited by hackers.
- Change your default details. Even novice and new hackers can find out default usernames and passwords. Once your product (like software or IP cameras) has been installed, change these details.
- Ask employees to use a password manager. Remembering and managing dozens of complicated passwords is not humanely possible, and therefore, your employees should use a password manager.
- Use multifactor authentication. Onetime passwords, security questions, biometrics, and other forms of authentication can be used as added layers of security beyond using a password.
- Use firewalls. Placing networked devices behind firewalls can be useful for preventing cyberattacks. Also, where possible, use network segmentation, so that if there is a compromise on one subnetwork, it doesn’t impact others.
- Invest in antimalware solutions. There are available spam filters, antimalware solutions, and antivirus software, which can be used to find and detect phishing emails, suspicious downloads and links.
- Security Awareness Training is a must. Train your employees, so that they know how to detect and prevent a cyberattack in the first place. Awareness workshops should be ideally conducted regularly.
- Take backups. Ensure that you take regular backups of everything that’s crucial. You can go for scheduled backups on a periodic basis, and this can help you restore all systems, in case a breach occurs.
- Create an incident response plan. What should an employee do, in case a security breach is detected? There should be a clear list of dos and don’ts, and an incident response plan.
- Stay aware. There are new cybersecurity threats emerging every now and then, and your business must take steps for extra protection. Stay aware and ensure that your cybersecurity policies, dos and don’ts for employees are updated regularly.
A mix of proactive & reactive cybersecurity is all you need to keep hackers at bay. Take help and consider hiring cybersecurity experts, if need be, so as to handle your threats and specific concerns better.
