Cybersecurity tips for small businesses

Whether you like it or not, bad actors are exploiting the pandemic to do their dirty work and small businesses are increasingly becoming a target. Don’t get caught with your pants down, be sure to heighten your cyber security defense by following these easy tips. Continue reading this article for tips.

Hire a professional

Firstly, in the event you have the budget, hire a dedicated IT security professional to join your organization. If you cannot afford or do not need a full-time, in-house staff person to handle your security, consider a part-time consultant to set you up with a cyber security strategy, for instance.

Get training

People are arguably the weakest link when it comes to cyber defense. Namely, all it takes is one click on a malicious link for hackers to take over your computers. That one nefarious email, for instance, sent to an unsuspecting person in your organization can be a major financial and security disaster. The best thing to do is to routinely educate and train yourself and employees on good cyber hygiene. There are many cyber security training programs available that will walk you through things like phishing, strong passwords and ransomware.

Sign-up for cyber insurance

At certain point your small business will scale. Or, perhaps you handle highly-sensitive information that needs to be protected. Getting cyber insurance will help protect you in the event you get hit with a data breach or with ransomware, in which hackers takeover your computer network and demand ransom in return for returning your files and data. Ransomware is increasingly occurring across the world. Simply check the news to find out. Think of cyber insurance like workers’ comp or auto insurance…it’s beneficial coverage for accidents.

Get a password manager and use a VPN

Too many passwords, not enough memory? We got you. It’s frustrating trying to remember 20 different passwords for so many accounts you need for doing business. Instead, use a password manager with a complex password that uses different characters. Whatever you do, don’t use any details that are easy to remember such as your pet’s name. Hey, just say no to Fluffy123!

Also, use a VPN. Also known as a virtual private network, a VNP helps protect your computers while using wi-fi. A VPN connect is more secure by encrypting your data and helping to hide your IP address. It’s not entirely private, but it helps mitigate external attacks.

In conclusion

Lastly, while we become more and more dependent on technology, the risk of getting hit with a data breach increases. Be sure to continuously stay informed on current cyber hygiene steps you can take. Enforce cybersecurity awareness training at your small business so you can get your employees involved in helping to protect your small business.