With cyber threats becoming increasingly common, it has become essential for businesses of all sizes to spend time and effort protecting themselves as much as possible. As antivirus software becomes more sophisticated, so too does the malware used by criminals.
60% of small businesses that experience a cyber attack go out of business within six months, according to a study by IBM. This spotlights the importance of implementing effective cybersecurity measures to protect your business from potential harm. In this article, we provide some key tips and strategies to help you keep your business away from cyber attacks and ensure that your sensitive data and systems remain secure.
Your Data
Sensitive data, such as customer information or proprietary business data, is often targeted and stolen. Keeping your data well-protected is a crucial step in preventing the harm done by cyberattacks.
Here are some steps you can take to protect your data:
- Make sure only authorised people can access sensitive data. This can be done by access controls and secure passwords.
- Use encryption to protect sensitive data when you send it to even trusted contacts.
- Implement backup and recovery procedures to ensure that sensitive data can be restored in case it is stolen or deleted by a cyberattack.
Basic Steps
The following basic steps can act as your first line of defence against cyberattacks:
- Updates: Keep all your antivirus software up-to-date with the latest security patches and updates. As malware is constantly evolving, so should your security system.
- Two-factor authentication (2FA): 2FA means you need a second method of verification beyond your password, making it harder for criminals to access your data.
- VPNs: A VPN can encrypt all data that passes through it, making it much more difficult for hackers to intercept and steal your sensitive data. This is especially relevant if you have remote workers.
Employees
“Employees can be a critical line of defence in protecting your business from cyberattacks,” explains Mike Needham from startup, Doddler.
“Regular cybersecurity training is a sensible way to ensure your employees are up to date on cybersecurity best practices. This training should aim to cover topics such as password hygiene, phishing awareness, and safe browsing practices.”
“Your business should provide clear policies and procedures for handling sensitive information and responding to security incidents. You could even conduct regular security awareness campaigns to reinforce key cybersecurity concepts and promote a culture of security awareness.”
Ensure remote workers are using VPNs when accessing company systems or data. You can even provide remote workers with company-owned devices, which can be used separately to their own personal devices. For extra security, you can limit remote access to shared files to only those employees who need it to perform their job duties.
Finally, encourage employees to report any potential security incidents or suspicious activity to IT or security personnel. By creating an atmosphere of trust, you can catch incidents before they have a chance to develop and cause too much harm to your business.
Third-Party Vendors
Third-party vendors can pose a significant cybersecurity risk to your business if they are not implementing effective cybersecurity measures. They could be the weak link that leads to your data – or your customers’ – getting into the hands of criminals.
However, you can take steps to ensure that your third-party vendors are safe to work with by conducting a thorough risk assessment of any third-party vendors before doing business with them. You can also include cybersecurity requirements in any contracts or agreements with third-party vendors, making sure that they are implementing appropriate access controls and encryption for sensitive data.
When sharing files with third-party vendors, use secure file sharing platforms such as Dropbox Business or Microsoft OneDrive for Business. This reduces the risk of your files being intercepted.
