Running an online business is hard. More so when you need to stay one step ahead of the latest cybersecurity risk or the newest malware hack.
It’s an unfortunate truth for many small businesses that, when they have an online presence, they’re at a higher risk of having to manage hacks or data leaks, because they’re not up to speed in terms of security, like larger corporations can be.
Thus, it can be tempting to try and invest in the most expensive software to protect your business, but what if there was a way to do this quickly, effectively, and at minimal cost?
- Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
A strong starting point is to look at the authentication systems you have in place. Many online security platforms like Red Canary will recommend setting up multi-factor authentication (MFA) to add an extra layer of protection to online accounts. This makes it significantly harder for hackers to get access to sensitive information, even if your passwords have been compromised. Also, try to aim for long, complicated passwords for any online accounts relating to your business and, if you have staff, require them to do the same. 1234ABC isn’t a strong password!
- Keep Software and Plugins Updated
Is your software updated? Outdated software is one of the key access points for cyber hackers, so you need to make sure that your plugins and software are kept up to date. You can do this by ensuring your website platforms are regularly updated and that any new plugins are added and antivirus tools are installed. It’s worth noting that it’s often a good idea to allow these updates to happen automatically, as many security software companies release updates that patch gaps in the previous software, removing the vulnerability.
- Train Employees
Another key part of cyber hacks and data breaches is human error. Thus, if you have staff, it’s worth investing in some training to help them spot potential cyber issues and identify phishing emails and to provide them with guidance on how to handle customer data and sensitive information. Even doing a 15-minute refresher once a month can help to drastically reduce the risk of your business getting successfully hacked.
- Back Up Your Data
This is the benefit of the cloud! Many businesses operate using cloud-based software, solely because it comes with a built-in backup service that can protect businesses from accidental deletions and hardware failures. So, even if your business operates via the cloud, make sure you (or your staff) schedule automatic backups daily, or once a week, depending on the volume of data. If you can, store multiple copies of the data across multiple platforms, as this will ensure quick recovery if there’s a breach and minimal downtime.
- Use Free or Low-Cost Security Tools
As mentioned in the intro, it can seem like protecting your business from hackers and malware is expensive, but there are a lot of tools that are low-cost or free. So, make sure you have, at minimum, a firewall, anti-virus software and malware tools, as well as website security scanners. Many tools available now come with artificial intelligence, or AI, built in, which can speed up threat detection and alert time.
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