We live in a digital age. Although the internet has brought some huge advantages to small businesses, it has also increased the risk of cyberattacks. A huge mistake that many entrepreneurs make is assuming their business to be safe from hackers. While there are larger corporations with bigger bank balances out there, it is typically the smaller enterprises that crooks target. With that in mind, here are six cybersecurity tips to protect your business.
Adopt Good Password Hygiene
Weak passwords are a typical vulnerability within small businesses. Rather than using your own name or the word “password” to access sensitive information, you should think of something stronger. All passwords that you use should contain at least ten characters and consist of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters. You should also update them regularly.
Back Up Data Regularly
A cyberattack doesn’t just risk data being stolen, but being lost too. Because of this, you must back up all of your files regularly, saving everything on the cloud. Most businesses use either a document management solution or a digital asset management system, but it doesn’t have to be a case of DMS vs. DAM. Depending on your business, using both could be more efficient.
Keep All Software Updated
Updates don’t exist for no reason whatsoever. Often, software developers create these updates to patch up a vulnerability. If you put off updating your systems, you leave them exposed for hackers to exploit. The sooner you update your software, therefore, the lower the risk of your systems being compromised. Software usually updates by itself, but you should check regularly.
Think Twice Before Downloading
Downloading software onto your computer is a bigger risk than most people realize. If you install the wrong thing, you might allow crooks to install harmful programs or spy on your activity. Even if you know that you shouldn’t download from unrecognized software vendors, you must ensure that your staff do too. If a cybercriminal gains access to any computer, it will cause chaos.
Beware Of Unsecured Networks
Today’s workforce is far from static. In this era of remote working, it’s vital that employees understand what they can and can’t use when on unsecured networks. Although some members of staff will want to work out of restaurants and coffee shops, this can lead to the theft of sensitive data. If you have to connect to an unsecured network, then you must use a VPN.
Hack Your Own Business
One of the best ways to identify vulnerabilities in your network and systems is to hire a hacker to exploit them. Not all hackers in the world want to steal your data and sell it online. In fact, many want to help you keep others from doing so. Think of this like conducting a risk assessment. If the hacker that you employ finds a problem, then you can make changes to resolve it.
Small businesses face many digital threats, so protect your online world by following the cybersecurity tips listed above.
