SMB Computer Security Tips: Basic Principles of Cyber Security

Small and midsized businesses (SMBs) often get wrapped up in the day-to-day actions of running a business and ignore security issues. Ironically, the business owners wouldn’t leave their offices with unlocked doors overnight. Instead, they would secure their businesses. Unfortunately, SMBs don’t approach cyber security with the same urgency and often leave their network “doors” open to cybercrimes. Fortunately, some basic principles apply when securing your business’s data.

Q: What are effective computer security tips to help small businesses protect sensitive data?

A: Businesses should implement basic security measures, such as sharing password tips, enabling two-factor authentication and regularly updating software. Encrypting data, both at rest and in transit, helps ensure its safety even if it’s intercepted. Businesses should also restrict access to confidential information to only those who need it and regularly back up their data to ensure quick recovery in case of a breach.

What Are the Best Cyber Security Tips for Employees?

Everyone in the company needs to embrace cyber security for it to work, which is why it starts with establishing security best practices and sharing cyber security tips for employees:

• Standardization and Education for Employees – There must be codified rules and policies that spell out the areas of risk and the steps required on the user level to prevent and respond to cyberattacks. Vital cyber security tips for employees must become hard rules as a condition of employment. These rules should also be communicated to vendors and clients, so they trust your company’s security protocols and follow the same rules your employees do when accessing the network. These practices include rules for password use, opening attachments, handling suspicious emails and log-in permissions, as well as other policies for safe communication, including when working remotely.
• Ongoing Employee Awareness – Employee best practices training must be ongoing. Logically, policies are only as good as their execution. If your SMB’s end users aren’t trained properly, don’t follow the rules and don’t work to protect your company’s data, your company will eventually fall victim to cybercrimes. As the expression goes, “All it takes is one weak link.” Many small and midsized businesses cannot afford a full-time IT professional on staff, so the more support they can get from their employees, the more secure their networks will be

Q: What are good cyber security tips for employees?

A: Employees are often the first line of defense and need to be trained to recognize phishing attempts, use secure passwords and follow safe online practices. Regular cyber security training helps employees stay informed about the latest threats and how to respond to them, reducing the risk of human error that can lead to security breaches.

What Other Computer Security Tips Should Small Businesses Follow?

• Incident Response Management – Cyber protection needs are fluid and require constant monitoring and updating. But even with many strong layers of cyber security, your business might still fall victim to a cyberattack. In the event of an attack, appropriate employee response and reporting are critical to mitigating potential threats before they spread through your network
• Network Protection – Cyber security starts with a well-secured network. It is essential to have a clear plan for locking down your network, and every employee must be on the same page. The remote work environment has prompted an increase in attacks through unsecured networks such as homes or public places. Unfortunately, any employee who has access to your business network can open the door to cybercrime by logging in to an unsecured connection. Also, off-the-shelf antivirus protection is insufficient against skilled hackers. Just as locking your office is important enough to hire a locksmith, network security requires IT security experts to ensure you have the proper network protection in place for your business
• Regular Software and System Updates – Software and system updates are perhaps the most readily available steps you can take to increase security. Developers are constantly working to improve their programs. As part of their updates, they create patches and fixes for known security vulnerabilities. You can program updates to download and install automatically or do it manually with just a few clicks. Updating should be an integral part of any robust, company-wide cyber security plan
• Limiting User Permissions – In deciding access privileges for employees, take the approach that employees should get the least access permissions required to do their jobs effectively. For example, someone in the accounting department doesn’t need access to files and programs used by the graphics department and vice versa. The highest access privileges should go to a carefully chosen group of employees. Usually, overall privileges are restricted to a company’s C-level executives and trusted IT personnel. If a data breach occurs, limited access can help contain the damage
• Strong Password Tips and Multifactor Authentication – The first line of defense for cyber threat protection is creating strong, unique passwords that are difficult to guess. Password managers can help create and store complex passwords. However, there’s now a crucial second step that works in tandem with your password: Multifactor authentication (MFA), a security protocol that requires two or more credentials before granting access to a program, website or other confidential account. Simply put, with multifactor log-in credentials, a potential hacker can no longer rely on simply stealing a password to breach a network
• Malware Protection – Malware attacks are here to stay. Increased remote access work environments have opened many more opportunities for hackers to breach your SMB’s data. Phishing, ransomware and a variety of other deadly malware attacks can destroy your business, so your malware defenses should be designed and installed by IT experts. With a more than 400% increase in cybercrimes in the recent past, small and midsized businesses can’t take a chance on piecemeal, amateur approaches to malware protection
• 24/7 Monitoring – If your business network is always online, you must have a 24/7 strategy for monitoring your system. Visibility is imperative to ensure appropriate protection. IT experts can help design the best combination of automated detection and response as well as a mechanism for remote and onsite monitoring of network activity and attempted cyberattacks. The correct cyber defense architecture will monitor all inbound and outbound traffic and integrate the data from all endpoints, firewalls and other protection solutions
• Removable Media Controls – Media devices such as USB drives, flash memory cards and other removable media should play a limited role and have strict controls. Although businesses must sometimes permit data transfer by removable media, this privilege must be treated with the same precautions as user permissions
• Mobile/Remote Access – Any time an employee disconnects from a company’s LAN or WAN in the office, cyber risks arise. Create policies and protocols related to remote-access work carefully. Remember, every endpoint is an access point for hackers

Q: Should small businesses invest in cyber security tools and services?

A: Yes, basic cyber security tools such as firewalls, antivirus software and secure WiFi networks are best practices. Additionally, managed IT services or cyber security consultants can help assess vulnerabilities and implement effective protections. While budget constraints may exist, the cost of preventive measures is often far less than the financial and reputational damage caused by a cyberattack.

Who Can Provide Useful Computer Security Tips?

Robust cyber security has never been more vital to running small and midsized businesses. Unfortunately, many SMBs don’t make basic security protocols a priority. In addition, smaller companies often don’t have the time or the budget for a full-time IT department. They also usually lack the expertise to take the necessary steps to protect all their cyber vulnerabilities.

Cyber security experts can secure your network, assess your cyber vulnerabilities, train your employees on security best practices and help you design the best layers of protection for your business data. Connect with us if you are in the greater New York City area to learn about affordable managed services or contact a local IT security firm to protect your business at a price you can afford.

Basic network security costs far less than a single cyberattack. Cyberattacks can take months or years to resolve and can severely impact profitability and productivity. Take steps before your company is devastated by a data breach.