Cybersecurity threats are an ongoing problem for businesses large and small as we approach 2022. With cybercriminals becoming more sophisticated in the way they attack businesses and individuals, the cybersecurity industry has difficult to follow the evolution of the environment.
This is not helped by a shortage of cybersecurity specialists around the world and is becoming an increasingly problematic area for companies to recruit. For small businesses that don’t rely on in-house cybersecurity specialists, cybersecurity threats are still very valid and need to be addressed.
Large companies, while more attractive to cybercriminals, tend to invest significantly more in cybersecurity protection. SMBs, on the other hand, do not invest as much in cybersecurity protection. So while the payout for cybercriminals may be less with an SMB, they are often a much easier target.
While small businesses may not be able to invest in a dedicated cybersecurity professional or even work with a cybersecurity vendor, there are things you can do to protect your business and make it much harder to get in. from cybercriminals to important data files on your network.
Here are some of the best cybersecurity tips for small businesses looking to improve their overall cybersecurity protection:
Invest in antivirus and antimalware protection
If you haven’t already, be sure to invest in an anti-virus and anti-malware protection package appropriate for the size of your business, such as one of those identified. The good news about antivirus software is that it can usually be scaled up or down as your business grows, with packages suitable for all business sizes.
Be sure to invest in a package that also protects the personal devices of all your staff. With the new work from home (WFH) and bring your own device (BYOD) culture, personal devices are often used to access corporate networks and these devices are equally susceptible to malware and other cyber threats. such as phishing scams. .
Protecting your network is as much about protecting the devices connected to your network as it is about protecting the network itself.
Once you’ve invested in the right software, be sure to keep it up to date. Cybercriminals are always on the lookout for security holes in everyday software, and software vendors regularly release security patches to applications and programs to combat these threats.
Use two-step verification
A very simple way to protect your business is to implement a two-step verification process for anyone accessing your network. According to Googletwo-step verification or multi-factor authentication (MFA), is basically a requirement for anyone logging into the network or a network-connected device to perform a second or, in some cases, third step verification by more than a traditional password.
This can be as simple as an SMS code sent to your mobile device, a specific authentication app on your smartphone, or something more secure like a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint or facial recognition scan.
Many software vendors are turning to two-step authentication, including Google, Microsoft, and Apple, and it’s one of the easiest (and cheapest) ways for SMBs to protect their network and devices. connected.
Use password management tools
Basic passwords are still one of the most common ways for cybercriminals to “hack” a device or app. It’s amazing how many people don’t bother to change the passwords that come with a new device or continue to use the same password for every device, website, and app they log into.
Another easy (and inexpensive) way for businesses to ensure staff members use more secure passwords is to implement a secure password policy alongside a password management tool. such as One Password or LastPass. These tools not only suggest strong passwords for you, but they also store all your passwords in a secure vault that can only be accessed using a master password (which may also require two-factor authentication ). You can read more about the best password manager tools in this PCMag.com article.
These tools also allow you to set up two-factor authentication through the tool, killing two birds with one stone. Tools like this can be useful for small teams where shared passwords are common, as you can also set up shared vaults that allow you to securely share passwords between team members without having to communicate them through other channels such as email or messaging apps.
Educate employees
Perhaps the best thing you can do to strengthen your cybersecurity measures is to invest in cybersecurity training for your staff and make it part of the onboarding process for new staff. From the CEO to the newest member of the team, it’s important that everyone follows cybersecurity best practice guidelines.
Many free resources are available to help you improve your skills and those of your team. Regular training should be part of your training program to make sure people stay up to date with the latest threats and things that could have the biggest impact on your business.
Learn from the best
In some industries, cybersecurity is essential when it comes to gaining customer trust. Online gaming sites like Betway.com have invested heavily in cybersecurity to protect gamers on their site, allowing these customers to know that their data is safe while playing online.
Many online gaming platforms have been subject to cyberattacks over the past five years and they have all had to tighten security measures in order to reassure players about the safety and security of their gaming platforms.
Financial organizations are also subject to regular cyberattacks and are turning to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain to protect their business and their customers.
While you may not be based in the gaming or finance industries, you can learn a lot in terms of best practices and some of the tips above are all part of a cybersecurity plan that every major company put in place. According to nec.co.nz, in large multinational companies, a cybersecurity framework is often necessary to deal with the growing number of threats. The National Institute of Standards (NIST) developed the first cybersecurity framework in 2014 for companies looking to improve their cybersecurity defenses and this free resource is another great way to structure your own cybersecurity protection, no matter what. or the size of your organization.
