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Small businesses have numerous opportunities to increase their defense against various cyber attacks. Below are just a few solutions that have the ability to be incorporated into the business at little to no additional expense. Here are some cybersecurity solutions to keep your business secure.
Regular Patch and Software Updates
The investment that many people may not think of is updating specific types of software or systems manually. The reason is because so many types of programs are automatically updated. However, there are some forms of software, such the firmware within your Wi-Fi router, that will need to be updated in a manual manner.
Software updates that include security patches are essential in the fight against a large number of cyber threats. Without the installation of these essential patches, the router, as well as all connected devices, remain in a vulnerable status. With this in mind, it’s absolutely essential that businesses continuously monitor their wireless routers firmware and ensure all patches have been installed.
Training Employees
A recent study by CNBC stated that one of the main causes of data breaches within a business is due to employee negligence. Almost half of all businesses pointed to some form of human error as one of the reasons behind a data breach within the organization. It is essential that the business takes the time to ensure all employees have been trained on proper cyber security measures.
Passwords and Authentications
One of the most essential aspects in the fight against cyber threats is the creation of strong passwords that are difficult to figure out. This will typically include the password being 20 characters in length with the inclusion of numbers, symbols, and letters. The more difficult that a password is to crack, the less likely that a brute force attack is going to be successful.
Additionally, it’s important that businesses incorporate multi factor authentications into employees’ devices and applications. There are a number of applications available for storing and managing passwords that will also allow users to set reminders when passwords are due for a change.
Timely Risk Assessments
Risk assessments may sound like that only larger companies would have the money and time to complete. However, many small businesses should consider incorporating these procedures into their general cyber security process.
It’s very important that all businesses consider various “what if” situations involving cyber security, especially when it relates to data storage. In many instances, data will be stored within the cloud. Therefore, it’s possible for businesses to lean on their cloud storage provider and allow them to perform various risk assessments to determine if there are any threats as well as what measures can be taken to help strengthen data security.
The Use of Virtual Private Networks
A virtual private network (VPN) allows employees to access the company’s network while they’re traveling or working from a home environment. This is essential as many employees need to use the Internet to access company files and software. However, it may not be as secure as the company’s network.
VPN helps to lessen the effects of a potential cyber attack due to the ability of a VPN’s encryption of data. With this in mind, they serve as an extra level of security when employees are using home wireless networks or the network at a local restaurant or café.
Regular Backups of Files
While backing up files may seem rather archaic in today’s technologically advanced age, it’s an essential aspect in the world of cloud storage and backup. The vast number of small businesses trust their data and potential backups to companies such as Google, AWS, and Microsoft Azure. However, it’s always a wise precaution to store essential data offline.
Antivirus Programs
The amount of viruses that have grown over the years has been exponential in nature, making it a priority that all businesses have proper antivirus software installed. Antivirus software should be installed not only on corporate-owned devices but also on devices that are owned by employees and used for work-related purposes.
Additionally, antivirus software programs need to be updated on a regular basis. In some instances, these may be automatic updates or manual.
Secure Wi-Fi Networks
All businesses must understand that their wireless networks are as secure as possible. The simplest way to ensure this is by changing the router’s default name and password. By changing the name of the router, it ensures that the name and location of your business is not automatically given away.
Additionally, you’ll want to ensure that the wireless network is encrypted to the strongest protocol possible, which in this case, is WPA3 otherwise known as Wi-Fi protected access 3. Another way to ensure that the Wi-Fi network remains secure is to ensure that all of the devices that are connected to the network are also secure and use data encryption as well as the strongest passwords possible.