Essential Cybersecurity Practices for Small Businesses

Written by WesTec on April 5, 2024. Posted in Cybersecurity

Small businesses are an essential and often beloved part of communities. However, their size and statistically weaker security measures put them at risk for cyber attacks. Read on to learn helpful tips to protect small businesses from losing important data or customer information.

Limit Access to Information

As a business with a small number of employees, it can be easy to provide everyone in the organization with access to all data. However, it is essential to keep track of who has access to what information to reduce the risk of hackers preying on employees. Employees should only have access to data that is essential to their role and should not be able to install software without permission. This ensures that employees do not accidentally install software that contains malware or mistakenly fall for a phishing attempt.

Secure Wifi Networks

Having an encrypted and password-protected wifi network is essential for protecting any business from attacks. If your business has a public wifi network for customers, consider having a second protected network for things like cash registers or computers that store important data. Wifi networks can even be hidden from the public in instances like these, so taking this step can further reduce the risk of someone unknown connecting to the network that powers computers with sensitive data.

Training Employees

Creating data protection guidelines for employees to follow is essential in protecting important data. This can be password regulations, anti-virus software on computers, and training sessions to ensure employees know how to spot various cybersecurity threats. Protecting data in a small business is everyone’s responsibility, so it is important to ensure that everyone in an organization is properly trained and educated about cyber risks.

Consult with Cybersecurity Experts

Consulting with experts in the cybersecurity field is essential in protecting businesses. There are many cyber threats beyond the obvious phishing and hacking attempts. 41% of small business owners believe that cyber-attacks only happen to larger businesses, but 41% of small businesses have been victims of cyber attacks. Small businesses are much more vulnerable than larger businesses, so consulting with professionals is essential to ensure the security of a small business’ data.

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