Many small business owners make the mistake of thinking that cyber criminals only target big companies and corporations because they have a lot more to offer. Unfortunately, the opposite is true. Cybercriminals don’t like to work hard for their rewards and will target the low-hanging fruit first.
Most small businesses have little to no cyber security measures in place, making them prime targets for cyber thieves. If you know your business is lacking in the cyber security department, this article is for you. Below, you will discover several powerful yet easy-to-implement strategies to protect not only your company and employees but also your clients and end-users.
Data Backup and Recovery
First and foremost, your company’s data is its backbone. If it is lost or stolen, you could face ruin. As such, protecting this vital and sensitive information is a must. There are many on-site and off-site ways to do this, with cloud data recovery being a popular option.
With cloud storage, backups are automatically saved to the cloud, where it’s easy to access by authorized personnel but difficult to get to for cybercriminals. Should a loss of data occur, the cloud contains all your company’s information to restore the lost data quickly.
Cybersecurity Training
Your cybersecurity strategies are only as good as the people using them. If your employees aren’t properly trained in cybersecurity measures, they won’t be able to spot breaches or attempts to access company data until it’s too late.
Aim to hold training seminars on cybersecurity at least quarterly to keep your staff informed of the latest upgrades and updates. The more your employees know about scams and hackers, the less likely they will be to fall into any online traps.
Password Management Tools
Many small businesses have shared portals that require multiple logins from different employees. This creates a weakness in the company’s security. To tighten security in this area and protect the passwords used to log in, a password management tool is a must.
With a password manager, strong passwords can be generated and encrypted, making it impossible to see the actual password. This prevents hackers or less-than-honest employees from accessing and sharing login credentials.
Secure Access Levels
Not every employee should have the same access to your company’s data. By creating access levels based on an employee’s need for certain information, you limit the number of people who can potentially cause loss or theft of your sensitive information.
Many password managers allow for creating group access levels to reduce potential loss, so be sure to implement them as a means to limit threats.
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Firewalls and VPNs
To make it more difficult for cyber thieves to access your company’s data, be sure to use a firewall between your network and the rest of the web. Similarly, if you have employees who work from home, make sure their home networks are protected by a firewall.
If any staff members work from public portals like coffee shops or coworking spaces, a VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a must. Don’t make the mistake of thinking it’s too expensive to implement these strategies, as a data breach will be a lot more costly and devastating.
Advanced technology has made owning and operating a small business easier than ever, but it’s also opened doors for cyber criminals to wreak havoc on your company’s sensitive data. Don’t assume your business won’t be a target – implement these powerful cyber strategies to ensure it won’t be.
