Featured article by Andrej, Digital Marketing Specialist
Despite all the goings-on of 2020, the U.S recorded 1,001 data breaches with a total of 155.8 million records exposed.
Aside from the vulnerabilities cyber-attacks pose to businesses, their effects cost small businesses millions of dollars every year. Unfortunately, more than half of these businesses do not survive six months after an attack.
Regardless of your business size, you have everything to lose should you suffer a cyber-attack. If anything, this emphasizes the need to be on the defense with cybersecurity matters.
Here is how to protect yourself from cyber-attacks.
1. Get the Know-How
Unfortunately, small businesses often lack the resources to hire all required roles. With strained finances, the focus becomes more on the tasks that need to be accomplished every day for business continuity.
Many times, roles related to cybersecurity tend to fall through the cracks. This oversight is disastrous since the bulk of attacks target small organizations.
Business leaders who are more informed about cybersecurity issues are likely to do a better job at protecting their organizations than those who are not. In particular, taking a Master of Cyber Security degree can make all the difference.
2. Backup Your Data
Data loss is a key concern in cyber-attacks. Unfortunately, this might cost you important information that can potentially disrupt business indefinitely.
Among the most cost-effective protective measures you can take is to create data backups.
An expert recommendation is to use multiple backup channels. This should include daily incremental backups on the cloud or a portal device. There should also be weekly, quarterly or yearly backups to a server.
All backup sources should be checked occasionally to confirm they are working as they should and that restoration can be affected.
3. Have an Inclusive Security Culture
For some companies, security begins and ends with the IT team. Grave mistake.
While they are central to the organization’s cybersecurity plans and systems, the IT team is only one part of a whole. Every player in the organization should form part of the security team.
And don’t forget, your security protection systems are only as robust as your least informed employee. An unsuspecting employee that could fall for social engineering schemes, phishing, or with a weak password can be the entryway into your business data.
One of the best things you can do is conduct regular security training to ensure every employee is cybersecurity savvy.
4. Update Software
Operating systems and security software require constant updates. Update prompts should never be disregarded. Using outdated software could increase your vulnerability to external attacks.
Some systems will update themselves automatically, while others require certain actions on your part. It’s essential to understand how your chosen systems and software work.
Other things you should do is to install firewalls and block spam. Spam filters reduce phishing emails which are a standard method used to steal information or infect devices.
5. Access Levels
Of course, not all information your company holds is relevant to all employees. By giving everyone in your company access to everything, you are increasing your security risk.
Assess all your tools and take the time to define access privileges for each individual, job function, role, or job level.
Ideally, only administrators should have full access to your systems. Every other member should only get privileges to access data and tools directly related to their job. If a hacker was to gain access through an individual’s credentials, the damage they can inflict becomes limited to that person’s role.
In Summary
For the longest time, most businesses assumed that they were too small for hackers. Statistics have proven this to be untrue. Small businesses are getting hit left, right and center. No one is safe.
Use these tips and evaluate your systems regularly to identify and seal any apparent security breaches.
Andrej Kovačević
Andrej is an accomplished digital marketing specialist and an avid internet technologist. Throughout his career, Andrej has combined his passion for cutting-edge technology with a keen eye for emerging industry trends to deliver customized marketing solutions to businesses and clients around the globe. He believes that the key to modern marketing excellence is a constant willingness to learn and adapt to the ever-changing digital world.
