How Can Small Businesses Protect Themselves from Cybercrime?

Share

There are a lot of different elements small businesses have to focus on every single day. And with 72% of marketers saying creating relative content is the most effective SEO tactic, many small businesses focus on marketing, increasing sales, and growing their business. But what happens if a business becomes a victim of cybercrime? All of their hard work could be destroyed. So let’s take a look at a few simple ways small businesses can increase their cybersecurity.

First and foremost, it’s important to carefully train all of your employees. Employees should be aware of safety measures, like not using their personal computer for business and not doing work while using a public WiFi connection. They should also be trained on how to spot scams online and to never open emails or links from unknown users. Running regular cybersecurity training sessions at work is the best way to ensure your employees don’t put the entire business at risk by making one small mistake.

Next, you need to invest in the right software security. There’s a reason that 38% of companies say they used a managed services provider for enhanced security and compliance — having a good security system in place can help prevent information theft. Security systems should consist of anti-virus and malware detection and prevention. Security solutions should be installed by professionals and be updated regularly to ensure they’re working as they should be.

Along with having software security, everything within the business should be password protected. With there being about 12.5 million manufacturers in the U.S., there’s a good chance you have a wide variety of computers and tablets. All devices used for work should be password protected in case they’re stolen. Furthermore, files and important data stored on devices or in the cloud should also be password protected. And the passwords used should be complex and changed regularly to enhance protection.

Important data should not only be password protected, but you may want to have certain information off-limits for certain employees within the business. Restricting access to important data can minimize the risk that it will get stolen or used for ill intent. Sensitive information, like customer payment information, should only be accessed by the employees who absolutely have to access it. And if any employees leave the company, their access should be taken away immediately.

And lastly, when purchases are made for the business, it’s always important to be careful to avoid or catch fraudulent activity. This is especially important when making purchases online — never buy anything from a site until you know it’s legitimate and check your receipts and bank statements regularly to look for fraudulent purchases. It’s also a good idea to keep personal and business card and purchases separate.

Taking these steps can help small businesses prevent being a victim of cybercrime. So keep these tips in mind to ensure your business is as protected as possible.