Quick Cybersecurity Steps You Must Take Right Now

Small businesses are often the main target and victim of cybercrimes. In fact, 43% of all cyberattacks target small businesses. And 60% of small businesses that experience a data breach go out of business within 6 months. These statistics are alarming, but most businesses don't know how to get started with protecting their business. Fortunately, strengthening your cybersecurity doesn't need to be difficult or expensive. Here are a few actionable steps you can take to bolster your business' cybersecurity.

Educate your employees

Your employees are your most valuable asset against cybersecurity threats. With an educated and cyber-trained staff, most cybercrimes can be stopped before they even happen. It's vital to educate your employees and make sure they know how to spot basic cyberattacks. You can educate your employees by holding regular training sessions and workshops, sending out monthly newsletters with tips, or having an easily accessible knowledge base with articles and videos.

Install firewalls and antiviruses

Firewalls and antiviruses can be a great layer of defense against most basic cyberattacks. By installing these programs, you can block many common attacks before they even reach your devices. This includes things like spam email, phishing attacks, and viruses. This is increasingly important the larger an organization is. Most firewalls and antivirus programs are affordable, so this is a great step to take to secure your data.

Update software

A primary reason businesses get compromised is they use legacy software and systems. These often have vulnerabilities and can be exploited by cybercriminals. It's best to routinely update your software, devices, etc to ensure you're running on the most secure version of your applications. This greatly diminishes the chance of being hacked.

Use two-factor authentication

One of the simplest, yet effective ways to improve cybersecurity is using two-factor authentication. This adds an extra layer of security by requiring two pieces of information to access accounts. Two-factor authentication requires users to enter their password and verify with another method like a text message, email or a code. Even if your account credentials get leaked, it's far less likely to get hacked with two-factor authentication.

Be cautious about public WIFI

With remote work becoming standard in today's economy, it's routine for many employees to work out of coffee shops, libraries, and other public places. While this can be a great perk, it also opens up your business to potential cybersecurity threats. Make sure your employees understand the importance of using only secure, private WIFI networks when working remotely. Some public WIFI networks can compromise your cybersecurity and hackers can get access to any data on your devices. It's best to avoid public WIFI if you're conducting business.

Small businesses are especially vulnerable to cybercrime, but following some of the tips above can help mitigate the risk of your business falling prey to hackers. To learn more about how you can protect your business' cybersecurity, get a free assessment here.