10 Tips for improving Small Business Cyber Security Ten cybersecurity tips that can help small business companies to protect their IT infrastructure from hackers and external threats

Hackers do not compromise your small business cybersecurity for fun. Instead, they do it with the motive of securing economic gain.

Hacking is more of a business for hackers and less of a fun adventure. The reason why we are saying this is because it has evolved. Like real businesses grow, hackers are also expanding their dark enterprises, so you must equip your website with these ten tips that we are about to talk about.

For this very reason, in this post we'll take a look at ten cybersecurity tips that can help small business companies to protect their IT infrastructure from hackers and external threats.

1. Avoid using unsecure networks

Unsecure networks like public WI-FIs can provide the suitable medium to hackers to hack into your system. Public wi-fi are open networks through which anyone can connect and get their work done, which is why it is best to avoid them. However, if you are to use wi-fi, make sure that it is password-protected and have a Web Application Firewall installed.

Firewalls filter the communication and restrict the flow of information from an unsolicited source. Thus, it is better to use them.

2. Use two-factor authentication

Passwords are not impenetrable. If a hacker is familiar with you then, he might be able to guess your password and sign in to your account. However, if you have a two-factor authentication system, you can always bank your trust upon the OTP on your mobile.

The One Time Password is received when a user signs in and enters a code sent to his mobile device. The code is confidential, and only the user can gain access to that.

3. Use unique passwords

We cannot predict the time of the cyberattack but, we can surely stay war ready at all times and, to be prepared, you must have a robust defence system. Yes, we are talking about your passwords. You must ensure that your passwords are at least 12-15 characters long and mix both numbers and letters.

Strong passwords are hard to guess, and bots can't auto-generate them easily too.

4. Keep your employees in check

A breach can start from inside as well. For example, a hacker may not even have to guess your admin passwords; they simply might have been told. We are not saying that employees are your foes, but the fact that there are no restrictions on sharing in your company, employees might share stuff they should not have shared.

So, educate them about your company sharing policies and let them know how to conduct themselves in cyberspace.

5. Get an SSL certificate in place

One of the most critical cybersecurity tips we can offer is having an SSL certificate in place. SSL or Secure Socket Layer technology acts as a chamber inside which nobody can intercept what is going on. SSL passes the data in an encrypted format, eliminating the risk of MITM attacks and data theft. Your customer's payment checkout, product selection, and credentials will all be safe from the wrath of cyber criminals under SSL encryption.

Small businesses often run on a tight budget and are wary of stretching their expenses. However, we have got you covered with a variety of cheap SSL certificates available in the market that can be procured from reliable SSL vendors.

6. Backup your data on the cloud

A lot of websites suggest that you must backup your data on multiple locations and hard drives. But hard drives have their limits. For example, they might get rusty with time, and you might have to format it, which is why we recommend you to use cloud-based storage.

Cloud storage not only safeguards your data but also can be accessed from anywhere. Moreover, it is not constrained by the device.

7. Train your employees for phishing attacks

Hackers attack through emails in the form of phishing attacks. For example, if you are a business, they would come across as your fake customer and ask your support team or employees to click on unsolicited links. On the other hand, if you are a user, they would come across as fake companies offering you 80% off on its products and ask you to click an unsolicited link again.

Your employees should be trained for such emails and should be strictly prohibited from clicking unsolicited links.

8. Keep track of your admin authority

Not every employee needs a company's admin credentials. Make sure that your admin authority lies in a few trusted hands. They must keep their devices protected by passwords and keep the information safe under all circumstances.

If they have laptops, ask them not to use their devices to click unsolicited links and visit unauthentic websites. That way, you can keep your company information protected.

9. Keep a strict mobile device policy

Mobile devices are often used for all kinds of purposes off-premises. As a result, they are usually kept in unsecured places like public restaurant tables, car dashboards, and sometimes even in kids' hands. The same mobile devices are used to send out early morning work emails and make client calls, so its protection is paramount. So, ask your employees to keep your mobiles secured with passwords and security applications.

10. Analyze what went wrong

After you have been breached, there is no point vining about it. Instead, it is time to look back and see what went wrong.

Keep a solution-oriented approach so that you can see the scope of improvement. For example, sit with your IT team and grab their inputs on the same. This way, you can learn from your mistakes and will be better prepared the next time around. A clear site audit can pave the way for better results in the future.

Conclusion

Your small business's cybersecurity can only be protected when you are aware of your loopholes and strongholds. Without appropriate knowledge of your website, you won't figure out the areas of improvement. When a cyberattack happens, it always catches you off-guard. You can never predict the attack's timing, but you can certainly keep yourself ready to face it.

Most businesses are unaware of their website's weaknesses, so their defence systems put little to no fight in front of the advanced cyberattacks. Thus, to strengthen your website security, follow these ten tips given above, and you will always be in a ready state to repel a cyberattack.

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