Quick Tips to Increase Cybersecurity for your Small Business
According to the Small Business Association (SBA), 88% of small business owners believe they are vulnerable to cyberattacks. Their fears are justified because hackers target smaller businesses knowing they don’t have the tight security that larger enterprises do. Most have limited funds and time to dedicate to ensuring their IT systems are protected. And the majority don’t know where to start.
Even though technology threats are continuously changing, there are some things you can do to protect your business.
The number one way cyber attackers break into your system is through email and untrained employees. Learning a little bit more about the best cybersecurity practices is something you can do right now to lower your risk. Here are some quick tips that you probably already know about but don’t realize just how valuable they are.
Passwords
We know this is a pain, but create a different password for each of your accounts and change them regularly. Don’t use something easy to remember. Create strong passwords that contain:
10+ characters
1+ uppercase letter
1+ lowercase letter
1+ number
1+ special character
Another option is to purchase an app that keeps your login info secure for all of your cloud apps that you access from different devices while you only have to remember one single password.
Multifactor Authentication
When a website or vendor on the internet prompts you to have them send a security code to your phone, as you’re attempting to log in, this is multifactor authentication. It is somewhat frustrating, especially when your phone doesn’t get the code, but usually having them resend it works. Just remember, dealing with these few extra steps seriously increases your security.
Backups
Backups are the Gold Standard in the IT world. It is super important that you get into the habit of saving your data on all your computers once a week. If you can, set up automated backups. The copied data should be stored on the cloud or offsite. If anything happens to your hardware or your physical office space, your data will be safe.
There are software services that use encryption to protect your sensitive data. You know what that data is, but in general, it might include your documents, spreadsheets, databases, financial files, human resource files, and accounts receivable/payable files.
Keeping on top of your businesses’ cybersecurity can be difficult. If you’re in Utah or Idaho and need some help, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@integrinetit.com or (844) 400-0616.
