For many small business owners, cybersecurity can at times seem a bit overwhelming. After all, your resources may be significantly less than other companies, while the types of risks to your business remain the same. Therefore, it may seem hard to determine the best areas to spend your resources to fight off the most amount of threats. So how can you maximize your cybersecurity, in spite of a limited budget? We have five tips to maximize your cybersecurity in the face of a variety of ever changing threats, but these tips can also be very cost effective for your business’ budget.
1. Protect Against Viruses, spyware and other malware codes
This first step is probably one of the most cost effective and that is to purchase anti-virus software for each of the computers or workstations within your system. Even if they do not necessarily have access to the internet, you still want to make sure that the anti-virus software is installed. There is also antispyware software that can be added as well. However, they are most effective when they are updated on a regular basis. So make sure that your IT personnel have a consistent schedule for updating and maintaining that software. Patches and updates are provided on a regular basis that fix potential security issues and improve overall function. If possible, configure your systems to update this software automatically.
2. Secure Your Network
Using a firewall and encrypting information can provide an additional protection to those computers and servers that are attached to the internet. Your Wi-Fi network should also be password locked and hidden, so that individuals cannot easily access it by having the network name broadcast or Service Set Identifier (SSID). Your router for your Wi-Fi network should also be password protected. These are basic ways to provide your own business network common sense security against potential threats.
3. Establish Security Practices and Policies
When it comes to security, it is important to have policies and procedures in place. Then make sure that all your staff is trained properly. These policies need to be proactive in the proper handling and protecting of personally identifiable information, as well as any other sensitive or proprietary information. Your policies should also outline the consequences for not following these procedures and policies. Also, set consequences that you are willing to enforce to make sure they have teeth with your employees.
4. Educate Employees About the Threats
The reality is that your employees are one of your first and primary lines of defense. Therefore, it is important to make education about threats and how to protect your company’s data part of a regular training schedule. This would include training about the appropriate use of social media and networking sites. While it depends on what your business actually is, your employees may actually be giving away sensitive information or introducing your competitors to internal business information. Employees should be informed about how to post online in a way that does not reveal trade secrets in a public format where competitors could find them. Your employees also need to be aware that the internet cybersecurity policies and procedures are non-negotiable.
5. Passwords Should Be Changed Often
Since most systems require passwords, it is important to put a policy in place that means passwords are changed on a regular basis. Additionally, there should be some necessary password criteria that they need to meet, such as having a symbol, number or upper and lower case letters. A multifactor authentication process should also be considered for your most sensitive information, thus requiring your employees to provide more information than just their password. Check if such a security measure is available for your financial accounts with your banking institution as well.
As you can see, most of these tips are not difficult or costly to implement, but they all provide security features that can make it more difficult for invaders to enter your system. One main point to take away is that you need to make sure that you implement your security plan and that your employees understand that there are consequences if they violate those security measures. While a violation may not lead to a breach, it increases the likelihood that one can occur. So it is important to stand firm with your employees.
Working with your IT department and employees, you can make sure that your system is reasonably secure and in a better position to be able to withstand attacks from cyber criminals.
