Best Practices For Small Businesses To Avoid Cyber Incidents

Many small business owners may think that cybercriminals won't bother to prey on their business, but the truth of the matter is - no business is ever "too small" to be the victim of a cybercrime. You don't have to be a large multi-million dollar company to be a prime target, regardless of what is portrayed in the media. It's a myth that SMBs are "low-hanging fruit" for threat actors. Small businesses are notorious for leaving cyber strategies and defenses on the back burner and not making them a business priority. Most SMBs are less likely to have a strong cyber posture so it is easier for criminals to break through their defenses.

We're here to help small businesses in the GTA navigate cyber threats and protect their business from the havoc caused by cyber criminals. While there is no one-size-fits-all for cybersecurity, there are a few key essentials and best practices to help protect your business.

• Create a cybersecurity policy to support your remote environment

Here are a few key considerations and questions when implementing a cybersecurity policy for your remote workforce:

• Will company resources be accessed remotely?
• How will your employees share information and collaborate with each other?

In addition, you should determine who will be your designated resource to help employees navigate working remotely, especially if and when issues arise. With these considerations in mind, creating a cybersecurity policy will keep your team productive and safe wherever they are.

• Ongoing Cybersecurity Awareness Training & Education

An organization is only as strong as its weakest link. By incorporating a series of cyber training and awareness, your employees will be better equipped to tackle any cyber threats that come their way. You should also ensure that their training is up to date on all the latest scams and threats so that they are aware of everything that can be dangerous to themselves and the organization. For more information on free cyber training and awareness, visit our webinar recordings page here.

• Schedule regular software patching

Cybercriminals can target organizations through several loopholes, including unpatched software and open networks. This is why updating your software with the latest security patches is important. There are two different ways to keep your software up to date. One way is to set your software to update automatically while the other is to manually check for updates regularly.

• Install Anti-Virus & Anti-Malware Protection

There are many software solutions on the market. However, it can be difficult to select the appropriate tools that are right for your business. When selecting tools for your business, you need to consider the size of your business, the type of data you need to keep safe, and how much you can spend. Once this has been determined, you'll need to ensure that all your company devices have them installed and that they are kept updated.

• Utilize Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

These days passwords can be easily compromised. MFA increases your defenses by requiring multiple forms of verification to prove you are who you say you are when signing into business applications. It's part of a 360-approach to full cybersecurity for your business. 

• Use a virtual private network (VPN)

Installing a VPN solution is perhaps the best move you can make to ensure the security of your network, and the files that it transports. Whether you send files between your workplace and home or to remote locations around the globe, VPN can help ensure their safety.

• Deploy Password Management

A password management solution can help to simplify the user login process by allowing them to manage their passwords securely. Implementing a single sign-on solution enables your users to log in much easier by simplifying the process with a central system that grants them access to all their applications and systems.

• Encrypting your sensitive information

Data encryption can be described as converting your data into a code that can only be read with a decryption key. This is done to avoid unauthorized parties from accessing that data. It's a critical cybersecurity tool to help reduce exposure to risk and cyber breaches.

• Disaster, Backups & Business Continuity

There should always be a plan in place for when disasters strike. At any point in time, there can be a system failure, data loss, fire, flood, etc. therefore it is non-negotiable to have a plan, timeline, and process for getting back up and running. You'll also need to test that your backups and disaster recovery solutions are working correctly.

Partnering for Technology Success!

If you’re a small business owner, you may not have the time or expertise to implement effective cyber incident prevention best practices. When small businesses partner with PACE Technical, they can leverage all of our reliable resources to help their business thrive. Learn more about how we can help you protect your business from cyber threats by booking a meeting with us here.