A cyber attack can have drastic negative impacts on your business. In fact, 60% of small businesses that fall victim to an attack shut down within six months after the breach, primarily due to financial and reputational losses.
Many small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) have the misconception that because their business is smaller, they are less at risk of a cyber attack. Unfortunately, this is not the case and cybersecurity is crucial for all businesses to protect not only their own data, but often their clients and customers’ too. According to a 2019 survey by Kennet Research, 18% of decision-makers at SMBs listed cybersecurity as their lowest priority. 66% believe that a cyber attack is unlikely, despite the fact that research shows 67% of SMBs had actually experienced a cyber attack in 2019.
With the rise of remote-working and bring your own device (BYOD) policies, it’s becoming more crucial than ever for businesses to become more cyber aware and implement more proactive cybersecurity practices in their workplace.
1. Implement a Cybersecurity Policy
Implementing a thorough cybersecurity policy helps your employees to understand their role and responsibilities with cybersecurity, what to do, and what is acceptable to use or share. We recommend addressing the following in your cybersecurity policy:
Antivirus and security software
Spam filters
Password management
Bring your own devices (laptops and mobile devices)
Social media policy
Network access
Acceptable online practices on email, and business and BYOD devices
Reporting suspicious activity
2. Invest in Employee Cybersecurity Training
Research shows that 92% of malware is delivered via email, with 24% of data breaches caused by human error from internal employees. Cybersecurity training for your employees can empower them with the knowledge to become more cyber aware and educate them on what they should do if they receive a suspicious email or cyber threat. Creating a workplace culture around cyber awareness is a proactive solution to prevent data careless data breaches.
3. Secure Wi-Fi Networks
Cyber threats can attack your business via your Wi-Fi network. Protect your Wi-Fi network by hiding and encrypting the network name, using a strong password on the router and limiting knowledge of the password amongst employees. If your business regularly has guests or clients who need to connect to your Wi-Fi, it may be a better solution to have a separate guest Wi-Fi access to protect your business network and data.
4. Limit Data Access
Avoid providing all employees with access to all data and passwords across your business. Limiting access on a ‘need-to-have’ basis can help protect your business from cyber attacks. Be aware of which departments and staff have access to which passwords and data. We recommend using a reliable password security manager where access can be limited from employee to employee, and it is easier to keep track of who has access.
5. Install Antivirus Software
It’s important for all employees within your business to have reputable and reliable antivirus software installed across all devices to protect from viruses, spyware, ransomware, malware, and phishing scams. Remember to ensure that all employees’ own devices used for work, such as laptops and mobile phones, also have appropriate antivirus software installed.
At Incito, we can help develop IT security solutions for your business by auditing, assessing and implementing solutions that meet industry standards and suit your business. For assistance with your cybersecurity needs, get in touch with our team at Incito.