Entrepreneur Resources Your source for small business information
Cyber attacks cost businesses millions of dollars each year, and hackers are showing no signs of slowing down. The problem is that most small businesses don’t have a plan to manage a cyberattack should one happen. If you’re concerned about hackers impacting your business, here are a few things you can do to look after yourself.
Connect With IT Experts
Having small business IT support available when you need it the most can play a crucial part in quickly responding to a cyber attack. Not only can an IT company ensure you have adequate security and software, but they can also educate you and your team about how to keep your business as safe as possible.
If you find yourself in a tricky situation, you can quickly contact your IT connections to minimize the damage and disruption and have your business back in action before long.
Communicate With Your Employees
Phishing attacks and malware can be disastrous for businesses, but these situations can often be avoided if your team knows what protective steps to take. The more you educate your employees about safe internet use in the workplace, the smaller your attack risk will be.
Highlight the importance of not downloading attachments, not clicking links from unknown recipients, and not clicking on pop-ups that may appear on their computer screens. Monitor the news about the latest cyber-attack methods being leveraged, and use these as an opportunity to refresh your team’s memory about the safe use of technology.
Keep Software Up to Date
Updating software can be time-consuming and frustrating, which is why many people fail to prioritize this task. However, software updates are about more than simply enjoying the latest and greatest features. They also keep you safe. Operating system providers create updates to patch bugs, remove weaknesses, and address new threats, allowing you to stay ahead of the ever-changing cybercrime landscape.
Change Passwords Often
Passwords are the golden ticket hackers need to access some of your most important business information. Once they have your password through the use of illegal software, they can access all parts of your business with ease.
Get into the habit of changing your passwords at least three times per year. Make a point of using different passwords for each digital access point to reduce your risk of becoming an easy target.
Install Multi-Factor Authentication
Many businesses and educational facilities are being encouraged to use multi-factor authentication, and it may be just what you need to keep your small business as safe as possible. Multi-factor authentication requires people signing into accounts to use more than just a password. They might also have to produce a code sent to a mobile device.
Having this additional layer of protection means that even if a hacker somehow manages to learn your password, they are unlikely to have the extra information required to access your account.
Limit Sensitive Information
Allowing your entire team to access all parts of your business system may seem like a good idea at the time. With unlimited access, they can find all the information they require to do their job to a high standard.
However, if you have any highly sensitive information, consider partitioning this with a separate set of login credentials. The fewer people who can access it, the safer this valuable data will be.
Protecting your business from hackers is never an easy job, and you may not be able to prevent every cyber attack in the future. However, by taking some of the steps above, you should be able to reduce the risks and put your business in a strong position.
