Cyber security tips for small businesses – why do you need them? Cyber security is one of those topics that isn’t necessarily nice to talk about, but it has to be talked about. Do you know what I mean? No one wants to think about their house being burgled, and cyber crime is just the same. You don’t want to think the worst about your small business being a victim of data theft. However, the hard truth is that, it does happen, and it happens quite frequently unfortunately. But, here’s the good news: you can prevent it. Just by taking a few extra steps, you can ensure that you have a significantly reduced risk of being involved in a cyber attack. 

Over the past year, there has been a sharp increase in cyber attacks. This is because cybercriminals have taken advantage of the disruption caused by the global pandemic. Due to this fact, businesses have needed to rapidly adapt to remote working practices, which in itself has brought a whole range of challenges compounded by the increased threat of cyber related incidents.

Additionally, in recent months, there has been a sharp rise in the number of high profile cyber attacks. The majority related to ransomware involving cybercriminals locking down organisational networks and leaking data to unscrupulous groups on the dark web.  

 The increased threat of ransomware can be devastating to organisations of all shapes and sizes.  Research has shown that most small businesses would collapse if they were targeted by hackers. And, this is due to their inability to deal with the cyber incident and the associated reputational and financial costs of recovery.

Cybersecurity tips for small businesses: cyber security doesn’t need to be daunting

Cyber security shouldn’t be a challenge for small business owners. There are many ways to protect your organisation from the increasing threats. The worst thing that you can do is ignore it.  If you are a small business with minimal or no security measures in place, then there are steps that you can take to ensure that you are protected and prepared as much as possible. It is important to look into cyber security and take any relevant steps to help your business be ready for a cyber attack if it was to happen.

 Cybersecurity tips for small businesses: what to do now

There are four business critical actions small businesses can undertake quickly, and at minimal cost. Just by these simple steps, you can ensure protection against cyber attacks. Let’s have a look at where you can begin in your cyber security strategy.

Educate your staff about ‘phishing’ 

In a typical phishing attack, cybercriminals will send fake emails or text messages to large numbers of people asking for sensitive data. This could be bank details, or will contain links to bad websites that could contaminate your PC with malicious software. Phishing emails have become extremely sophisticated and are often difficult to spot increasing the probability that the recipient will click on dodgy links or provide personal information.  Phishing is also the main delivery mechanism of choice for ransomware.

Protect your organisation from malicious software

It is surprising how few organisations invest in robust antivirus and anti-malware software as part of their IT infrastructure. Antivirus and Anti-malware is the first line of defence in protecting your business against viruses, malware, ransomware and malicious websites. Installing this software on all of your devices will provide a robust defence against most online threats.

Back-up your data

All businesses, regardless of size, must take regular backups of their important data. Backing up your data will ensure your business can still function following the impact of flood, fire, physical damage or theft. The most effective way to backup your data is to use a reputable cloud storage provider. And, most cloud storage companies provide a low cost solution to safely store your essential data. The high availability of cloud storage ensures that you can quickly recover if your main data source is lost and you can’t be blackmailed by ransomware attacks. 

Passwords

The use of strong multi character passwords is one of the easiest ways to protect business critical data and personal information from cyber criminals. Using long multi character passwords are great for keeping your sensitive data secure but can be a nightmare to remember. Many business owners and employees tend to use the same easy to remember password across all platforms, which makes them vulnerable to exploitation. Consider using a password manager, a tool that can create and store strong multi character passwords for you.  

Cyber security tips for small businesses

Unfortunately, cyber crime is a constant and evolving threat and poses significant risks to small businesses or charities throughout the UK. Those businesses that choose to ignore cybersecurity are taking huge risks – not only for themselves – but their customers as well. It is important to understand what a cyber attack is, what one looks like, and what measures you need to take to protect your organisation online.

So, do you know what steps to take going forward? 

We offer cyber security consultancy, get in contact today to see how we can help you.  Cybersecurity Tips for Small Businesses