6 Security Tips for Small Businesses That Can Save Your Assets
Keeping your small business safe is no easy task. In fact, according to the Small Business Administration, cybercrime costs small businesses over $1 billion annually. Thankfully, there are a number of security tips that can help keep your small business secure. If you own a small business, you’re likely working to manage a variety of different tasks and responsibilities on a daily basis. Therefore, adding one more thing to your list may seem overwhelming. However, as an owner or manager of this business, it’s important that you take steps to ensure its security at all times. Whether you’re expanding into new offices with shared resources or just want to keep confidential data locked down tighter than ever before, these security tips will help keep your assets safe from any potential threat.
Install a Firewall
A firewall is a device or software that restricts the flow of data by identifying and blocking communications from sources that could be harmful to your business. You can also set rules for allowing communications from specific sources as necessary. Firewalls are particularly useful for protecting small businesses from cyberattacks because they can identify malicious communications before they reach computers or servers, preventing damage and keeping information secure. A firewall can be software-based or hardware-based, depending on the network configuration of your business. If you’re looking for a security solution that’s easy to install, cost-effective and highly effective, a firewall is a great option. Firewalls can be installed on computers, network routers and other network devices. They can also be added to cloud-based computer services as an added layer of protection. If you don’t currently have a firewall installed, it’s a good idea to add one as soon as possible. If you’re looking for a firewall solution, make sure to choose one that offers protection against malware, viruses, bots and other types of malicious software. And remember to keep your firewall updated with the latest software and patches to ensure optimal protection.
Use Strong Passwords
Strong passwords are important for keeping your business secure. If you’re unsure how to create strong passwords for all of your business accounts, start by making sure each password is at least 12 characters long. Beyond that, you can add special characters, numbers and symbols to make your passwords even more secure. You can even use a combination of two or more passwords to increase your account security. Another easy yet effective way to keep passwords secure is to avoid reusing them across multiple accounts. This can make account takeovers more likely, even if you’re using strong passwords for each account. If you use a password manager, you can organize your passwords, have them accessible across all devices and know they’re safe and secure. If you’re unsure where to start, you can also ask your IT professional or cybersecurity expert for advice on creating strong passwords. And be sure to update your passwords as often as necessary and whenever they are breached.
Update Your Software
This might seem like a no-brainer, but it’s important to keep your software up to date and running optimally. Whenever a new version of your software is available, make sure to update and download it to receive the latest security updates and patches. This is especially important if you’re using software for data storage and transfer, email communication, computer functions, internet connection and more. If the software you use to run key parts of your business isn’t up to date, you could be putting your business at a greater risk of attack. Additionally, old and outdated software could result in poor performance, which can be problematic when running a business. Updating your software can sometimes be a challenging task, especially if you’re running multiple computer systems. To simplify the process and ensure you’re staying on top of your software updates, consider hiring an IT services company to help manage your business’s software and computer systems.
Use Safeguards for Data Storage and Transfer
If you’re moving data from one device to another or storing it in the cloud, it’s important to take additional security precautions. For example, when sending data from one device to another, avoid sending it as an unsecured file or attachment, and instead send it as a secure file or encrypted file. This will help keep your data private and safe from third parties who might attempt to gain access to it if it’s not properly secured. You can also set up two-factor authentication on your devices to help prevent unauthorized users from logging in. This can be done by using an app like Google Authenticator or Authy. When storing data in the cloud, make sure to follow all guidelines provided by your cloud service provider. Additionally, it’s important to select a cloud service that offers strong security and adheres to industry standards.
Diversify Your Communication Channels
To protect your business against attacks and hacks, it’s important to diversify the channels you use for communication. This means using more than one type of communication, such as securing data transfer with your devices, sending encrypted emails and using a secure communication app with end-to-end encryption. It’s also helpful to use a variety of communication channels when managing your business. For example, in addition to communicating with employees and clients via email, consider scheduling regular conference calls for added security. This ensures that no one can listen in on your conversations, and it also allows you to record meetings and calls if necessary. When you diversify your communication channels and implement security measures, you reduce the risk of falling victim to attacks and hacks. This helps keep your communication secure and private, and it also prevents you from being interrupted by unwanted guests.
Protect Your Assets with Risk Assessment
Risk assessment is a method you can use to identify potential threats to your business and then take steps to minimize or eliminate those threats. For example, if you store a significant amount of data in your office or on your computer, you may want to look into purchasing a surge protector for added protection against power outages and surges. You can also use a portable backup battery or generator to avoid losing data in the event of a power outage. Additionally, you can install surge protectors for your internet connection, cable or network modem to help prevent them from being damaged by power surges. Even if you do everything right, there may still be threats you can’t control. For example, natural disasters like floods or hurricanes may cause power outages and other damage to your business. When these types of things happen, make sure your business has a disaster recovery plan in place. This way, you’ll be prepared if disaster strikes and you need to take action to minimize damage and keep your business up and running.
Conclusion
Keeping your small business secure is no easy task, but it’s important to stay diligent and follow these security tips whenever possible. If you follow these security tips and make cybersecurity a priority for your business, it will be much less likely to fall victim to an attack. Additionally, having an up-to-date security system in place can help you recover more quickly if your business does become a target. And if you encounter an attack and suffer damage as a result, be sure to follow these tips for recovering from a cybersecurity breach.