4 Cybersecurity Best practices for Small Business That Aren’t Optional Anymore
When it comes to protecting your business from cyberthreats, the basics still matter. A lot. In fact, according to IBM’s 2023 Cost Of A Data Breach Report, 82% of breaches involved data stored in the cloud, and most of them could’ve been prevented with simple, foundational safeguards.
Think about it this way: just like good health depends on daily habits like washing your hands, your company’s digital safety depends on consistent, preventive measures. That’s where “cyber hygiene” comes in – your business’s version of daily handwashing. No, it’s not sexy. But it’s essential. And if you’re skipping the basics, you’re asking for trouble.
Here are four cyber hygiene essentials every small business should have on lock:
1. Keep your network secure
Keep your Internet connection secure by encrypting your business’s sensitive data and using implementing a firewall for your business. Keep your WiFi network protected and hidden with a Service Set Identifier (SSID); this allows you to set your wireless access point or router so it doesn’t broadcast your network name. Your router should also be password-protected. Finally, any remote employees should use a virtual private network (VPN) is you use one server in one location, or a zero-trust VPN, is you are using cloud services like Microsoft 365.
2. Teach your team how to stay protected.
Your team is the first line of defense against cybersecurity attacks. Establishing basic security policies for employees is a great way to reduce your risk of breaches caused by human error. Cybersecurity training should cover how to identify suspicious emails, avoid clicking on unknown links or attachments, and use strong, unique passwords for all accounts. Employees should also be taught the importance of locking devices when unattended and reporting anything that looks unusual to IT right away.
3. Back up your important data. It’s really part of security.
In the event of a cybersecurity breach, crash or ransomware attack, you want to make sure your most important data is still accessible, so your business can continue operating. This is why it’s so important to have a trusted IT expert that regularly backs up data on all computers; critical data to back up includes documents, spreadsheets, HR and financial files, and databases. If possible, it’s best to set up your data to back up automatically. Store copies in the cloud or offsite in a secure server.
4. Limit data access.
Limiting access to critical data drastically minimizes your risk. Even in the event of a breach, limiting access means that your most sensitive data will likely still be protected. Your staff should only be given access to the specific data systems required for their jobs, and no one employee should ever have access to all data systems. Restrict administrative privileges to only trusted IT staff members and key personnel. Ensure that any former employees are removed from company systems as part of the offboarding process.
Why Investing in Business Cybersecurity Now Prevents Data Breaches In The Future
While taking all these cybersecurity measures can seem like a pain, it’s far less costly in time, money and effort to invest in them up front. Otherwise, you run the risk of having critical data stolen during a breach or your entire business grinding to a halt due to a ransomware attack you can’t afford.
Strengthen Your Business’s Cybersecurity Before It’s Too Late
If you’re not sure how your business stacks up, now’s the time to find out. Our free Cybersecurity Risk Assessment will uncover hidden vulnerabilities, identify gaps in your defenses and give you a clear, actionable plan to strengthen your cyber hygiene—fast.